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FUNAM And Sponsors Of Hate Speech Bill
The Tide newspaper of Monday, February 3, 2020, carried the following news items, “Group Claims Fulani Ownership of Land From Sokoto To Atlantic” (Page 5). A little known Fulani group: Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) was quoted as giving a notice of a planned conquest of the entire territory from Sokoto to the Atlantic Ocean. President of that group is said to be one Badu Salisu Ahmadu who was quoted as saying that “any attack on a single Fulani is an attack on all. Any such attacks must be countered with triple measure.”
Badu Salisu Ahmadu was reacting to a recent killing in Plateau State by armed Fulani herdsmen, different from 2018 Benue massacre by same herdsmen. He was said to be quite unapologetic about the killings and claiming that the Fulani had been attacked before. A more audacious aspect of Ahmadu’s outburst is the claim of the existence of a Fulani Strike Force, ever ready for acts of brigandage.
There is a growing suspicion across the country that apart from being treated as over-pampered babies, the Fulani ethnic group in Nigeria, tacitly claims to be above the law. This can be a dangerous precedent if such frame of mind is allowed to go with impunity.
Being an old hand in intelligence and security operations, one finds it difficult to believe that the nation’s security network can remain blind to the provocative audacity of a group of “sacred Nigerians.” On a flashback, between February and June 1966, utterances and actions similar to what FUNAM is doing currently, were put together and sent to appropriate quarters as highly classified reports. Strangely, similar silence and attitude as currently prevailing, were the experiences of that time, until massive and organised slaughters began soon after.
Unfortunately for the history of Nigeria, some of the radical zealots of 1966 spoiling for blood, are today seeing what they were unable to see in the past years of madness. It would not be difficult to figure out that there had been some standing agenda in some quarters, hiding under the cover of politics and patiently waiting on the wings for an opportunity to drive home such hidden agenda.
The fact that a patriotic and noble effort to place Nigeria on the path of sanity, was tagged as an effort at ethnic domination, took the nation back to what we sought to escape from.
Today, the nation is paying gradually for the folly, myopia and mendacity of the clever counter plot of 1966. Those who would not want their hidden plots and wrong doing to be brought to light would go to any length to destroy what stands on their way.
For a group that calls itself Fulani Nationality Movement to claim that Plateau-Benue and the rest of Nigeria is an indigenous territory of the Fulani people, is not only a provocative statement but a hate speech. Is such claim not capable of making other ethnic groups to be on their guard? Especially when such arrogant claim is accompanied by acts of impunity and brigandage, are other Nigerians expected to sit and stare when dangers are looming?
Or would anyone deny the existence of dangers when FUNAM is threatening to carry out an old mandate of their fore-fathers? Does the utterance of the president of FUNAM not remind Nigerians of the mandate of Late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto: “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate from our great-grand father, Othoman Dan Fodio…?
Are the “Minorities of the North” not serving as willing tools” and “the South as conquered territories”? Are we not seeing ruthless prevention of a change of power? Where these old mandates are not being accomplished via political and military measures, are the antics of Fulani Nationality Movement, herdsmen and Boko Haram terrorists, not parts of the game plan? Who is fooling who?
Specifically, one would have expected the sponsors of hate speech bill and the nation’s security apparatus to swing into action, to see that FUNAM does not plunge Nigeria into avoidable state of insecurity. It would be fool hardly to regard the utterances and activities of the Fulani Nationality Movement as jokes. If the movement could go to the extent of having a Standing Strike Force ready for possible slaughter, coupled with what Fulani herdsmen had done in the past, then only fools would call them jokers. Surely, they are not!
Known predominantly as herdsmen, the facts that they now go with sophisticated and prohibited firearms, cannot be justified on the ground of protecting themselves from cattle rustlers. They have been known to rape and kill women in farmlands, such that farmers are now afraid to go to farms for fear of herdsmen. Much have been said over this issue that definite actions to check the impunity of herdsmen should have been taken to avert worse security problems. Must we sit as danger looms?
With deadly weapons and perhaps sympathy of powerful groups and authorities, some people may think that they have a monopoly of violence but this is not always so. Justice remains the most valid weapon.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a special legal team to handle election petitions arising from last Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
This comes as the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Abaji, Kwali, AMAC, and Bwari Area Councils, while the PDP secured victory only in Gwagwalada.
The Tide reports that the council elections were held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, across all six FCT area councils, including Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.
Results announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Abaji, Kwali, AMAC, and Bwari Area Councils, while the PDP secured victory only in Gwagwalada.
In a statement issued yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party congratulated its candidates, who emerged winners in the chairmanship and councilor elections.
The opposition party acknowledged the victories, noting that the number of wins was lower than expected but significant given the alleged irregularities during the polls.
“We specifically congratulate the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors who have been declared successful by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This victory, though less in number than we anticipated, is particularly gladdening because it is against the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics, and brazen executive brigandage,” the statement read.
Ememobong claimed that there are reports and video evidence indicating voter intimidation and unlawful conduct that influenced the outcome of the elections.
“Reports and video evidence abound where armed security personnel were used to cart away result sheets in polling units, intimidate voters, and unduly influence the outcome of the elections.”
To address complaints and litigations arising from the polls, he said the party has set up a legal team headed by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, Esq.
The statement urged candidates with legitimate grievances to contact the Legal Adviser promptly, as delays could jeopardise their chances in election petition cases.
“The incredible voter apathy in these polls is a direct response to the anti-people Electoral Act 2026, where the people have completely lost faith in the electoral outcomes from elections conducted under this Act.
“These Local Council polls may just be a foreshadowing of the forthcoming general elections in 2027 if changes are not urgently made,” the statement added.
The PDP called on the National Assembly and the President to take corrective action to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will on Wednesday swear in Justice Joseph Oyewole as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The ceremony is scheduled to be held at 2pm at Courtroom Two of the Supreme Court complex in Abuja.
The court urged guests to adhere strictly to the court’s protocols and security measures.
This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Supreme Court’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr Festus Akande.
The court described Oyewole’s appointment as a step towards reinforcing the capacity of the apex court to deliver fair and timely judgments.
Recall that Oyewole was, until his elevation, a Justice of the Court of Appeal and Presiding Justice of the Enugu Division, and joins the apex court bench as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the judiciary.
The National Judicial Council recommended Oyewole for the position alongside 35 others for various judicial offices, following its 110th meeting held on January 13, 2026, and presided over by Justice Kekere-Ekun.
The statement partly read, “The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, will on Wednesday, 25th February, 2026, preside over the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole, JCA.”
According to the statement, Oyewole served with distinction at the Court of Appeal and as Presiding Justice of the Enugu Division prior to his elevation.
“His appointment underscores the commitment of the Nigerian judiciary to upholding the rule of law, ensuring justice, and strengthening the bench with experienced and dedicated jurists. He brings a wealth of legal expertise and integrity to the apex court to further enhance its capacity to deliver fair and timely judgments,” the statement added.
The apex court further described the swearing-in as “another significant step in rejuvenating the judiciary and ensuring the continued delivery of justice in line with the highest standards of integrity, competence, and impartiality.”
The Supreme Court reiterated its commitment to justice, fairness and judicial independence for the benefit of Nigerians.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed deep shock and sadness over the sudden passage of Senator Barinada Mpigi, the Senator representing South East Senatorial District of Rivers State.
In a tribute to mourn the deceased, Governor Fubara described Mpigi as a brother, a consummate politician and one of the leading lights in Rivers State.
He said that Mpigi died at a critical time when his services were still needed by the people of Rivers State and prayed God Almighty to grant him eternal rest.
The governor commiserated with his immediate family, the Rivers South East Senatorial District and the Senate at large, asking them to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a good life and impacted positively on the people.
Senator Mpigi died at the age of 64. Until his death, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works.
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