OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR NASIRU EL-RUFAI; ON THE MASKED GENOCIDE AND MASS SLAUGHTER IN SOUTHERN KADUNA.

Sir, the ongoing masked genocide and mass slaughter in Southern Kaduna are worse problems facing the people in those communities, these are worse than the lack of government's presence, the abject poverty staring at their faces and even war. We need to understand why, but it is a great difficulty conveying human beings whose behavior seems to defy understanding, and are beyond belief.

Sir, it is quite true that nobody disbelieves that the mass killings by Fulani Herdsmen in Agatu - Benue State, Enugu State and other States happened, and that the massacres in Southern Kaduna happened and is still happening. What they have difficulty understanding is why its happening, and accepting notions that violate their own common sense understandings of the world.

Sir, there is a certain paradox, because sometimes one accepts very highly, seemingly original, profound theories, and sometimes the explanation is relatively simple. The actual explanations are threatening and unsettling to people. The notion that ordinary people would willfully butcher other people, torture them, including women and children, slaughter them, while the government of the day fail to protect them and their properties, is a very disturbing notion to people, particularly if they are looking upon people with whom they identify. So they seek explanations which are not really more comforting, but less threatening to them.

When religious and ethnic 'leaders' start encouraging their followers to protect themselves and fight back when attacked, then you will agree that Kaduna State is comfortably sitting on a KEG OF GUN POWDER that is waiting to explode. Sir, your administration and authorities empowered by law and with the responsibilities of providing security for the people must make concerted efforts to put a stop to the ongoing AGED masked genocide and massacre in Southern Kaduna. In other to save us from another ANARCHY in Nigeria.

This is real and frown. The Southern Kaduna killings has taken a new dimension, that is capable of resulting to a national ethnic crises. Sir, the President Buhari led federal government have technically reduced Boko Haram from a large group who were killing in hundreds, bombing incessantly, and erecting their flags in communities, to a small nontechnical disgruntled group of devils. We can not contain another SOCIO-ETHNO-RELIGIOUS uprising from Southern Kaduna.

Sir, if you turn blind eye and deaf ears, and go about making soothing speeches, instead of taking pragmatic steps towards putting off the conflagration, INJUSTICE AND OTHER CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY in a State under your watch, then you are as guilty as those perpetrating the evils.

Thank you.

#SaveSouthernKaduna

MA Sulaiman Kazeem
Tweet at: @MrSteam_
02/02/17.

A Blunt and Counterproductive Travel Ban. By Mohamed El-Erian

A Blunt and Counterproductive Travel Ban

Mohamed El-Erian

FollowMohamed El-Erian

Chief Economic Advisor, Allianz;

Some bold and simple policies have merit; Friday’s executive order that temporarily bans the citizens of certain countries from coming to the U.S., and stops indefinitely the entry of Syrian refugees, is not one of them.

As designed and implemented, there are genuine doubts about the order’s effectiveness in meeting its stated objective of preventing terrorism. It also risks a lot of collateral damage and unintended consequences that ultimately could prove counterproductive and harmful to national security, the economy, and America’s moral authority, values and standing in the world. Even the order's merits as a domestic signal are in doubt, and it risks damaging the credibility and effectiveness of future policy initiatives from the White House. 

The travel ban is succinctly stated: “To protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States.” With immediate effect, it forbids entry for specified periods of time to citizens from seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen). 

But this is an extremely blunt approach to an important issue. Early reports on its application suggest that even long-time holders of multiyear visas for the U.S., together with green card holders and dual nationals, are are being refused entry at airports or being prevented from boarding planes destined for America. This includes people who have been living in the U.S. legally for many years, have been vetted, and are productive and integrated members of their local communities. Judging by Google, which stated that more than 100 of its employees traveling abroad are impacted by the order, it also covers tax-paying U.S.-based workers who productively contribute to national growth and, as of this weekend, were on business trips or holidays abroad. They may now be stranded.

It is not clear whether the travel ban also applies to those working at the international institutions that the U.S. hosts, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The uncertainty is enough to stop some staff from traveling abroad on business, thereby reducing the effectiveness of these institutions. Then there are the students at U.S. educational institutions, some of whom are still in the process of returning for their new terms.

No wonder so many people from across the political spectrum are questioning the executive order -- and deploring its highly discriminatory nature and the related threats to what makes the U.S. so special and so admired. The ban risks undermining the U.S.'s moral authority, along with its standing and the respect it commands. In turn, this can undermine the credibility of President Donald Trump's administration, creating potential headwinds to the effectiveness of its future measures in a wide range of areas.

I suppose that some may feel that all this would be warranted if the ban can deliver on its objective. But here, too, there are problems.

Several people have already pointed out that none of the terrorist incidents suffered by the U.S. in recent times, including the horrible Sept. 11 attacks, were perpetuated by citizens from the seven designated countries. The ban could have other harmful consequences. Some have noted that it applies to people who fought alongside American troops in dangerous situations, and includes some who acted heroically, saving our men and women in uniform. This is but one of the adverse signals that the executive order transmits to the many supporters and fans of the U.S. living in the named countries.

I understand, and very much share, the desire to reduce terrorist risks. As currently designed and implemented, the travel ban is not a good way to do so.

This post originally appeared on Bloomberg View.