Professor Usman Yusuf, a Former CEO of National Health Insurance Scheme, has revealed an ongoing civil strife in the North involving ethnic groups like the Hausas, Fulani, and Tivs, stressing that expecting the military to single-handedly bring peace is unrealistic.
He questioned the absence of elders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders who have a role in fostering harmony.
He advocated for an open and truthful dialogue among the people, emphasizing that the military alone cannot establish peace in communities.
Proposing that the responsibility for peace lies with the people, he acknowledged the military’s efforts in providing an enabling environment but urged a collective step back and a move toward de-militarizing the conflict, considering the sacrifices made by the armed forces on the battlefield.
He said in an interview with Arise TV, ”We must tell our people to have an honest conversation. The military cannot bring peace to our communities, only we can do that. There is a civil war going on in the North between the Hausas and the Fulani. Between the Hausas and the Tivs. And we expect the military to bring peace.
No. Where are our elders? Where are our traditional rulers? Where are our clerics that sold the Muslim Muslim ticket? It is us that will bring peace.
The military can only provide an enabling environment. They are doing a heck of a job. They are losing men and women on the battlefield and we must step back and de-militarise this conflict
