THE POLITICS OF GENOCIDE
John Apollos Maton Esq. DRS. ChMC.

I have been thinking about what the best approach to this topic would be for weeks now. I have also spoken with alot of elders and friends, a persistent pain being a certain "Sekyen" and they all say my posts need to be without malice, bias or disrespect to our leaders despite their seemingly endless streak of cluelesly reckless decisions. I must also confess my initial stubborn resolve to insult them, to "shame them to action" if you will, why should those who seem to intentionally fail at fulfilling their promises enjoy the added benefit of our respect? Why must they be afforded an endless benefit of the doubt?
I cannot claim to have had an epiphany, but at some point, while pondering on all these things, I decided to ignore the individuals who occupy these leadership positions and focus on their office. When I approach it from the perspective of holding the government responsible, I should then be able to achieve passionless critique of their policies and arrive at practical solutions to the problems in the society I want to see fixed.

INTRODUCTION
Even though it's no longer trending, as can be seen in the events that led to my petition being overshadowed by newer trends, the loss of hundreds of lives is always easily forgotten by the indigenous people of Plateau State - much less the world. I would like to hope that at some level everyone - even if unconsciously, recognises that the current daily unchecked rate of killings in Nigeria is an unacceptable phenomenon that should be condemned totally and be addressed with immediate absolute necessary force. Nigeria, a country already burdened by so many problems, the least of which is this forced failing relationship different people and cultures were mashed into for the colonisers administrative convenience then later as a means for the three "major tribes" to perpetrate their quest for power, cannot handle the explosion the growing bloodlust of the fulani, a tribe originally foreign to Nigeria is likely to cause.

ANALYSIS
Stopping the astronomically growing death rate in Nigeria, repute that has earned the country promotion to the top ranks of dangerous places in the world (especially for Christians, Women and Children) would be impossible without first acknowledging the problem, recognising it's a genuine, understanding it, then collectively agreeing on policy change and implementation of solutions. The inability to do this has itself evolved into another problem certain groups of Nigerians benefit from, this has been lumped and termed "Politics" which to me just translates as the "reluctance to do the right thing".

FINDINGS
There have been many theories as to the Genocide in the Plateau State that has now spread across the middle belt and to other parts of the country. The theories all fall into these categories;
Fulani Jihad
State Sponsored Terrorism
Government Incompetence
Discussion with many people has also pointed out that while the reason for the Genocide might be one of the above or the other, it is very possible that it could be more than one theory or all of the above.

Fulani Jihad: I recently read alot of books and still listen to lectures and commentaries on the history of Islam and how it spread. I will spare you the lengthy summary, the end of it's influence spread in Nigeria by the bloody campaigns of the migrating Fulani could to some extent be credited to the coming of industrialist's and Colonisers who were hot on the heels of early Missionaries. Plateau State was to find it's hopes that these bloodthirsty campaigns were the legends in history books was obviously wrong, as the Indigenous peace-loving people have been for ages slaved and massacred like animals at the hands of the Hausa-Fulani for the most insane of reasons that range from "humans make better mortar for building", "a woman crossed the road while they were praying", "somebody in Europe drew a cartoon of their prophet" or "their cows are barred from grazing on Plateau farms, then stolen". This is all in a bid to spread their influence and continue the "holy war to annihilate infidels" that abound in Plateau State, Middle Belt and other parts of Nigeria.

State Sponsored Terrorism: The people in power have made this more apparent with the accusations that fly around, especially with the 2019 elections around the corner. Some politicians argue the President is sponsoring these killings, especially in areas he is unpopular. While it may sound absurd at first, closer analysis does give some credit to the claims, if the indigenous people of these communities are displaced to IDP Camps by the Fulani who take over their land with no protest from the Federal Government, who other than the President would be the popular vote recorded in those areas during elections? Worse case scenario, no votes are recorded since most of the Indigenes have lost their voters card - along with all their property in these "Government Sponsored Attacks". Recently, the President sent 1,000 soldiers to fight Boko Haram as against the 30,000 to "Manipulate Ekiti State Elections", this not only questions the priority of the government but it indicates unwillingness of Buhari to bring his kinsmen to Justice.
The President in defence claims the killings started since the administration of Obasanjo, further accuses "The Opposition" for sponsoring these attacks. This might seem insignificant till you investigate that the "Opposition" are Atiku, IBB, Dankwambo and the likes, all northeners with Islamic affiliations, which leads to the inference that the theory of "State Sponsored Terrorism" can be linked to "Fulani Jihad".

Government Incompetence: The failings of government have long since been felt in the declining Nigerian economy, health, infrastructure, human rights and now, law and order. One of the major responsibilities of the government as enshrined in the constitution of the federation, is the protection of it's citizen's lives and property which it seems unable or unwilling to. Countless soldiers and security personnel have been lost, the consensus among survivors being the inadequate and outdated weaponry it is availed as against the sophisticated weapons of the aggressors. Nigeria boasts about having the best military in the world which has gone on countless successful international peace-keeping missions but cannot effectively handle a single local threat, it also would not accept external help in combating this menace which begs to say that the government really is incompetent or Nigerians are victims of Terrorist's sponsored by their own government.
Do not to take my word for it, but the unabated bloodlust of the Fulani and wanton loss of lives and property does testify to the fact "The Government Has Failed". There seems to be no direction, no ambition, no purpose, with the sole aim of going into politics being personal aggrandisement. The citizens provide for themselves everything the government will not, which begs the question "who needs a government?".

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
Most of my perceived solutions are self-explanatory, so I would just list them and have you make of them what you will.
Ban Cattle Grazing;
Stricter Border and Immigration Laws;
Genuine Restructuring that gives everyone a stake in the Nation;
Overhaul all Security Agencies and Parastatals;
Prosecution and execution of sponsors and perpetrators of the Genocide without prejudice;
Make the study of History and Constitutional Law compulsory at all levels.

CONCLUSION
While the Genocide in Plateau State is a very real one, the debate on the cause and the agents for its spread has shifted focus from the genuine search of a long-term solution. I do not aim to burden you with my opinion, I acknowledge it may be flawed, so I will let you come up with your analysis and proposed solution.
I must note that looking at the events at hand and current policies the government has taken to approach it, if a lasting solution isn't arrived at soon, 2019 might well be the year of the next Nigerian Civil War.