₦airaland Forum

Recall that the Federal Government had last year planned to establish cattle colonies for herdsmen, but many states kicked against them.

But On May 21, 2019, the immediate past Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, announced that Buhari had approved the Ruga settlement initiative earlier in the same month.

The FG had yesterday announced the establishment of Ruga settlements nationwide (having commenced in 12 states of the Federation), in order to curb the farmer-herder crisis, educate the nomads as well as attract investors.
https://www.nairaland.com/5265087/fg-sets-up-farm-settlements#79663084


But all the five South-East state governors, Samuel Ortom (Benue); Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and the Ondo State Government had rejected the Ruga settlements, saying they would not give out their land for herdsmen’s settlements in their states.

No land for Ruga settlement in Benue, Ortom tells FG

But Ortom said Benue State had no land for the Federal Government proposed Ruga settlements for Fulani herdsmen.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, explained that Ruga settlement policy was imposed on states during the National Council on Agriculture summit held in Owerri, Imo State, in April this year by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

The governor further said the Benue State delegation reminded the summit that the state had a law on ranching which had phased out open grazing.

The statement added that few weeks ago, a director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture with his team in Benue State informed officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture that he had received directives from the Ministry’s headquarters Abuja to establish Ruga which means ‘Fulani settlement’ in parts of the state.

The statement added that the director said three local government areas of the state: Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum had been selected for the Ruga settlements.

“We find the approach of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture not only as a gross violation of the Ranching law but also as an insult to the sensibilities of the entire people of Benue State.

“During the National Council on Agriculture summit which took place in Owerri, Imo State in April this year, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture attempted to impose Ruga settlement on the states but the Benue State delegation seized the opportunity to remind the summit that Benue State has a law on ranching which has phased out open grazing. No one at the summit put forth an alternative method of animal husbandry to counter the state’s presentation.

“The Government of Benue State is willing to support cattle owners to establish ranches as stipulated by the law prohibiting open grazing.

“We however wish to reiterate that Benue State has no land for grazing reserves, grazing routes, cattle colonies or Ruga settlements. The state only has land for the establishment of ranches.”

‘Imo govt won’t accept Ruga settlement for herdsmen’

Also, the Imo State Government said that it would not be part of the proposed Ruga settlements for Fulani herdsmen in all the states of the federation.

The Special Adviser on Media to the state Governor, Steve Osuji, who spoke to one of our correspondents in Owerri on Tuesday, said that no governor in South-East would accept such a proposal.

He said the south-eastern states would not rush to accept the proposal when none of the northern states had implemented it.

He said, “Certainly not. It is not about Imo State; no state in the South-East would accept it. We won’t rush to accept it when no state in the North has implemented it.”

Ugwuanyi backs S’East govs

Reacting, the Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Mr Louis Amoke, said the state was in full support of the South-East Governors’ Forum position on cattle colony.

Amoke added that the governors had made their position known that South-East had “no land for cattle colony, Ruga settlement, or in whatever nomenclature it is called.”

He added, “So the position of Enugu State Government is not different from the position of South-East Governors’ Forum.”

We ‘ll accept nothing other than ranching – Taraba Govt

Speaking in the same vein, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Dan Abu, said the state would not accept anything except ranching.

Abu, who said ranching remained the best option in the resolution of the crisis, called on the Federal Government to key into the ranching policy as the best option in the resolution of the herders-farmers’ crisis.

“We have a policy on this issue already which led to the enactment of the open grazing and ranches establishment law. This policy remains the best practice the world over in animal rearing.

“We implore the Federal Government to key into the ranching policy for the overall interest of herders and farmers. For now, we will not accept anything other than ranching,” he said.

We don’t believe in Ruga settlement – Ondo govt.

Also, the Ondo State Government declared that it did not plan to have any other settlement for Fulani herdsmen because it had already established ranches in some parts of the state.

Speaking with one of our correspondents, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, said the ranches were established in Auga Akoko and Akunnu Akoko in the Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “I am not aware of anything of such (Ruga settlement). However, we have made our position known about that. We have established cattle ranches at Auga Akoko and Akunnu Akoko for people to take their cattle to.

“So, rather than doing cattle rustling, the ranches were established for people to bring their cattle there. So, our position is that we don’t believe in creating anything of such, we already have our own ranches established, with the belief that the cattle there would be healthier and better.”


https://punchng.com/seast-govs-ortom-ishaku-others-reject-fgs-ruga-settlements-for-herdsmen/
lalasticlala mynd44

Nice one Ondo. I know Osun will accept

let them implement the RUGA or whatsoever its called in the north. there's more than enough space there for their rugaing. but we all know dat this is not about ranching or anything similar to it. we know the sinister motive behind it and Dats why all d governors in d south are rejecting it in its totality

tysontim:
Nice one Ondo. I know Osun will accept

no state in the south will accept. Dats d purpose of the meeting they had earlier. the southeast had theirs then came the southwest. its for a united front

Why are they proposing it in Christian state?.

Northwest is bigger than middle belt and south combined so why aren't they setting up ranching there. God punish buhari

We warned yorubas moslem about Buhari, a Fulani ethnic champion but their hatred didn't allow them to see beyond their islamic politics.

Now look at the mess we are contending with.

There's a sinister motive in this. Why force a settlement on people without any kind of similarities
Ganduje offered to accommodate all herdsmen. That offer was neglected
Sambisa forest is also fallow

Please oo ....
Buhari should restrict it to his North West and North East

Ruga the settlements in NW and NE nah.....

Is it by force,haba?