Dear General Tukur Buratai,
I read in the Vanguard Newspapers of 20th December 2016 that the Army was contemplating “raising up cattle ranches in such a manner that in almost all divisions and brigades, cattle will be reared.” It was at the commissioning of Mogadishu Cantonment New Mammy Market in Abuja last Tuesday. Consequently, the newspaper reported, that you have sent “officers of the Army to Argentina to look at how cattle were reared.” The Chief of Army Logistics, Major General Patrick Akem, represented you on that occasion. In that speech, you displayed a good knowledge of best practices in beef production when you noted; “Argentina has a population of 41 Million people, but it feeds about 400 million people across the world with its beef.” Kudos to you, our multi-disciplinary General.
I have a few questions for you, General. I am not pulling any punches. How can I dare even if I got high on pot? You have the gun, you remember? These are just questions from a simple minded-Nigerian. To be sure, I am not a threat to you. I am not as popular. Even my mother sometimes doesn’t remember my name. To console me, my friends say it’s because she is a nonagenarian. But I love this country like you do, even if not more. And I am not bragging. It’s the only country I can call my own. All my investments are here. I have a visible source of income and I don’t do government contracts. So, you see, General, I mean well. Can I go on with my questions now? Thank you so very much.
I would love to start with this line of questions, just for me to be educated. Who added economic development and agriculture to your portfolio? If you are such an economic wizard, why have you not plugged the corruption holes in the military and freed up needed funds for meaningful development? I asked these questions because I might have missed the answers to them in the news. By the way, General, have you rooted out BokoHaram in the North East? This is your core competence area; am I right? And have you been able to arrest the reported restiveness of your men in the war front? I am thinking you were emboldened to make a foray into the fields of economic and agricultural developments because of your excellent performance in your primary role. Please educate me. My General, let’s assume for the sake of academic exercise that a ‘stupid’ state governor refused to allocate you land for your cattle ranches or insisted you do not deploy already allocated land for that purpose. What would you do? Would you bomb the state house and whip the recalcitrant governor into compliance? I am sure you are aware we are no longer in the military regime even though a General is our President. ThisGeneral that is our president today traveled round the country to beg for our votes. Correct me if I am wrong, General; are you aware that the National Grazing Bill was defeated on the Senate floor because the Upper House was convinced such ventures fell under the purview of the states and not that of the Federal government? Take this as breaking news, General. Armed Fulani herdsmen have killed many villagers and sacked many communities without being brought to face the law, leading many to conclude there is a military complicity. My dear General, would your pet project not be an attempt tobring through the backdoor the war that the herdsmen lost at the Senate? Would it not give credence to the complicity theory? Forgive my stupidity, General, but I have to ask this line of questions. What is it about cattle ranches and herdsmen? Is cattle-rearing the choicest profession in Nigeria? Why does the issue of cattle ranches and grazing fields keep rearing up its head? Is it just about meat or is there something you are not telling us?I need your help here to assist me unravel the mystery, so I can explain to my mother the rationale behind your project.
My dear General. I have some experience in entrepreneurship to offer some suggestions if you insist on showing off your economic and agricultural prowess. Of course, you don’t have to take them. But history would judge you rightly or wrongly for whatever actions you take on this issue. I should go on? Okay, thanks. I would advise that you open businesses that benefit and draw manpower exclusively from the local community in which your formation is located. This would make for good military-community partnership and develop local economy. All would hail you for your service. You might even be dragged into the 2019 race by happy and prosperous communities from across the nation. Think of that prospect, General. So, what should you do? You could sell gariin Ijebuland, yam in Tivland, oporoko in Iboland and kunu in Hausaland. Did that sound good? And by the way, General, I have access to a large expanse of land, should you want to grow cassava in Abeokuta. Isn’t that neat?
I am not big enough to caution you. But if you are as humble as I am made to know; this probably wouldn’t offend you. Please leave the contentious ranches alone. It's a hot potato. It's a divisive project. The last time I checked, you were heading a national army that existed to defend the territorial integrity and the unity of the nation called Nigeria.
