₦airaland Forum

Telkart19:
Both Tinubu and Diezani have issues to answer.

Anyway, let the prosecution continue. When PDP takes over they can chase after APC till we see an end to corruption in Nigeria

Michdear:
By Samuel Nwite

The Rural Grazing Area (Ruga) settlement initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is bringing more chaos than the supposed tranquility. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to register their displeasure over the development with hashtags such as #SayNoToRuga and plan to take to the streets on Friday. There are so far three types of Nigerians involved in the sagacious development.

Those in support of Ruga
Those not in support
Those who don’t know what Ruga is. Upon this triad, the Ruga row rests. But the third category beckons the responsibility to explain.
What is Ruga?
About a week before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) handed over, precisely on May 19th, it sat and discussed Ruga settlement for herdsmen in the 36 states across the federation. In the end of the meeting, multi-million naira contracts were approved in favor of the Ruga settlement. In defense of this decision, the ministry of agriculture issued a statement saying that Ruga is part of NLTP (National Livestock Transformation Plan).

In 2017, when the Nigerian vice president, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo was serving in the capacity of acting president, he used his office and position as the chairman of National Economic Council (NEC) to seek a solution for the incessant crisis between farmers and herdsmen that has resulted in loss of so many lives and property.

To achieve his aim of lasting peace, he started making wide consultations with service chiefs, governors, and whoever has something to offer. It lasted for about two years, and then in 2019, his efforts gave birth to a plan named National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).

So when the ministry of agriculture attached Ruga to NLTP, that is evident of its headship by the vice president, it drew outrage and regional condemnations. The wobbling table holding the implementation of Ruga got messier when the association of cattle breeders, Miyetti Allah, added voice to the statement of the ministry of agriculture, that “Ruga is part of NLTP,” forcing the vice president to refute the claim, stating that Ruga is never part of NLTP.

(The NLTP has 5 pillars that clearly identifies what its plan and strategies of executing them are. The 5 pillars are:

Conflict Resolution
Justice and Peace
Humanitarian Relief & early Recovery
Human Capital Development
Cross Cutting Issues.
Ruga is not in any way mentioned or attached to these pillars of priority areas. The main goal was to foster federal support in implementing the transformation of the livestock sector through the establishment of ranches, improved fodder production, economic investment into associated value chains, and importantly, compensating those affected by the violence for their losses.)

Unprecedented uproar ensued, with the South-East and South-South Governors vehemently refusing the Ruga settlement plan, those in the South West were divided, and so it is in the North. This is one of the reasons: According to the land use act of 1977, all land in a state is the custody of the Governor on behalf of the people. Apart from few areas where the FGN has exclusive jurisdiction over, areas like lands for rail line, seaport, airport etc. In view of this, the Ruga settlement seems more like a land grabbing invasion by the FG, which is instigating curious concerns.

The words on the streets and social media were that the FGN is on nepotistic land grabbing mission. A “misconception” that the FGN tried to clear through the issued statement that explained what Ruga is all about and how the governments plan to make it happen. According to the statement, ‘Ruga settlement’ is a provisional rural settlement for migrant pastoral families. Its aim is to provide them with basic amenities such as schools, hospitals, road networks, vet clinics, markets and manufacturing entities that will process and add value to meats and animal products.

In the light of the insecurity and threat posed by open grazing, the FGN sees it as a means to achieve peaceful coexistence between herders, farmers, and their host communities. The statement also added that participation by state governments is voluntary. So far, there have been 12 states that indicated interest in piloting Ruga through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and that’s enough to start with.

Although the statement explained so many things about Ruga, it didn’t calm the protests. There were suspicious loopholes, and it didn’t take a while to figure them out. For instance, Benue state has for long distanced itself from any programme that requires giving out land for cattle rearing, but to everyone’s surprise, it’s one of the 12 states said to have indicated interest. In fact, the FGN, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, has contracted Clear Sky Broad Band Ventures Limited to execute the Grazing Reserve Project at Otobi road, Oturkpo, before the Ministry of Agriculture wrote to the Benue state government seeking approval for the project.

source: provided by author
More to that, the opinion that has strongly opposed the Ruga development is that Cattle Rearing is a private venture just like every other privately owned business that runs in Nigeria. And it’s wrong for the FGN and states to spend taxpayers money funding private business, especially when there is no provision for that in the budget. The funding depends on the volunteered states and FGN. Each of the states is expected to provide N5billion and the FGN will match up the money. So for the 11 states that have volunteered so far (Benue excluded) N55 billion is expected. The more states indicate interest, the more funds the Ruga settlement plan will have.

What the presidency failed to explain in its statement is where Ruga emerged from. Since evidently it’s not part of NLTP that the vice president and NEC approved, or if the presidency is abandoning the well-articulated NLTP all of a sudden to embrace Ruga without consulting NEC. NLTP was developed through wide consultations involving all the 36 Governors and every stakeholder that matters. For about 2 years, the vice president, Prof. Osinbajo got everyone on board, discussed parts and parcel of it, and in the end, everyone nodded in agreement, prompting the Governors to make provisional budgetary allocation for NLTP in their respective states. This is the ranching deal that Nigerians know about and expected to be implemented. There is belief that the FG has reneged on NLTP, trying to play smart on NEC and the office of the vice president.

The sudden emergence of Ruga is stoking a lateral polity that may eventually set gloom precedents. Disorderliness in the presidency is one of them, lack of trust in the government is another, and more dangerously, the tendency of corporations or business associations constituting a menace just to get the government to dance to their tone.

The office of the president through FEC and the office of the vice president through NEC seem to be in disagreement regarding the best way to solve the farmer/herder crisis. And they are washing their dirty undies in the public.

The people are seeing more reasons to cling to their space of distrust in their relationship with the government. “Don’t believe anything they tell you” is a common sentence with a bitter meaning among Nigerians. It connotes the belief that there is a coated evil in every of government’s plans. Therefore, they should not be trusted even when there is an explanation to their actions.

Most Nigerians believe that the federal government is being economical in the way it’s handling the herder/farmer crisis to the favor of herdsmen. A few or no one has been brought to book, even though the crisis has taken thousands of lives. In 2018 alone, about 2000 deaths were attributed to Fulani herdsmen, and the number keeps counting even in 2019. While the government is yielding to the yearnings of the herdsmen, from funding to settlement, it appears that the government is negotiating its way out of a hostage situation: a predicament with a negative futuristic precedent. The premonition tendency that any other business group or association may violently force the government to bend to their wishes cannot be ignored. If the antecedents are not curtailed, it will become a detrimental norm that the future will hold against the present.

soil4soil:
while spent your money on carbonated drinks. you can enjoy yourself with CITA a non carbonated drinks.
see the flyer for more details.

Celebrityblog:
EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL DRESSING ROOM CELEBRATIONS

Chelsea FC's celebrations continued into the dressing room last night following their 4-1 win over Arsenal, with Olivier Giroud getting more than one use of the Europa League trophy!

They were seen singing, dancing, popping champagne, drinking and having fun.

Watch the video

Source: http://www..com/2019/05/chelsea-europa-league-final-dressing.html?m=1

Mandynews:
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has completely locked down the capital city of Biafra, Enugu, Anambra and Asaba in honour of its war heroes.

IPOB had declared a sit-at-home to honour its men who died in the Nigeria-Biafra war from 1967-1970.

The government through the Police has however warned the group against the planned action.

Check out photos below.

Source: http://mandynews.com/biafra-remembrance-day-enugu-anambra-completely-locked-down-photos/

ijustdey:
https://punchng.com/miyetti-allah-kicks-as-fulani-radio-attracts-more-reactions/

Chamber2000:
You just helped a bet9ja spammer to spam us with new winning

ogorwyne:
Hello ,
When you click on the reply or quote button, you would see something like what I have in the picture I uploaded in response to your post. I took a screenshot of that when I clicked on quote to reply you.

You see that imperfect circle I tried to make with green ink ba? , that's where you go to, and that would also lead you to your phone's gallery where you select the picture or pictures of interest.

LifestyleTonite:
Nairabet owner and lawmaker-elect Akin Alabi has advised people to stay away from the idea of starting a print magazine business.

In a post he shared on social media, Akin Alabi revealed that print magazine business is in comatose and about to die.

Sharing on social media, Akin Alabi wrote:



https://lailasnews.com/akin-alabi-print-magazine-business/

Gistpeeps:
President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. Buhari is in the state to commission some of the projects of the outgoing Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, christened “Legacy Projects”.

His presidential chopper, NAF 540, touched down at Arcade Ground, State Secretariat, Oke-Mosan at exactly 10:18am. He was received by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Others

https://www.nairalink.fun/2019/05/buhari-arrives-ogun-set-to-commission-amosuns-project.html

LittleBride:
Outgoing Governor of Ogun State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, has been accused of closing down the road leading to MKO Abiola Stadium, venue of the inauguration of Prince Dapo Abiodun as Governor of Ogun State.

He was also alleged to have dug a deep and wide gulley in front of June 12 Cultural Centre, where the inauguration lecture is holding today, on the pretext of road construction.

These allegations were contained in a post by Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, a member of the inauguration committee.

The statement was obtained by Igbere TV Thursday afternoon from the Ogun Daily Core’s Group Page.

He wrote, “Not done, Amosun left a huge hip of sand and a bulldozer at the entrance. The question is: Would this have happened is it is Amosun’s puppet that is to be inaugurated as Governor?”

However, Yinka Olayemi, a member of the group reacted: “Yes. I told someone yesterday that those attending today’s event will have no choice than to drive through NNPC via Stadium to Cultural Centre.”

“It is over. The outgoing governor can never and never run foul of the Constitution of the country by extending his day in office.”

Also, Femi Oteweso, made another suggestion: “We saw it today too, but we all expressed the opinion that people can take the M.K.O Stadium to access the June 12 Cultural Center for the event.”

Efforts to reach the Governor's Spokesperson for comments were unsuccessful, an impeccable source in his cabinet, however, confirmed the development — but refused to give any details.

http://igberetvnews.com/708966/outgoing-gov-blocks-road-to-venue-of-gov-elects-inauguration-photos/

Cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44, OAM4J

aminulive:
@POLITICSNGR

ON INEC

1. “Democracy becomes a sham if elections are carried out by people who should be impartial and neutral umpires, but who show no integrity...”


2. “The transmission and collation of results are subject to interference, manipulation and meddling.  If the INEC’s favourite political party wins with all the above infractions, the result will be conclusively declared and if not, there will be a ‘rerun’.”

3. “The track record of the present INEC is fairly sordid and all men and women of goodwill and believers in democracy must be prepared for the worst from INEC and their encouragers...”

4. “Amina Zakari has become too controversial a figure to be able to give assurance of free, fair and credible election for INEC.”

5. “A judge does not sit in judgement over a case once he or she becomes a cause for controversy...  Madam Amina Zakari should, in honour, stay out and not be seen as a source of contamination of the election.”

6. “Amina Zakari is not the only Commissioner that can be in the Collation Centre.  Let the INEC Chairman act boldly and impartially and prove his absolute neutrality and responsiveness...”


ON BUHARI

7. “Some men of God would hold President Buhari to his word on free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.  I am a realist... I am not persuaded by a track record of hollow words, impunity, insensitivity and ‘I-couldn’t-care-less’ attitude.”

8. “It is no use, at this juncture, to keep lamenting about the failure, incompetence, divisiveness, nepotism, encouragement and condonation of corruption by Buhari administration...”

10. “President Buhari and his hatchet men in the coming election think that the judiciary must be primed in their favour.  Hence, the Chief Justice of Nigeria... has been harassed and prosecuted...”

11. “President Buhari and his people believe no stone should be left unturned to rig Buhari in.  It seems to be a ploy to intimidate the judiciary as a whole in preparation for all election cases that will go before them.”

12. “Buhari has succeeded in deceiving us the first time and we will be fools to allow ourselves to be deceived the second time.”

13. “Even when figures, facts and statistics are made clear to Buhari, he keeps repeating what is untrue, either because he cannot understand or for mischief purposes and that places him on the level of a pathological liar.”

14. “[Buhari] believes he can get away with impunity and deceit as he seems to have done on many occasions in the past.”

15. “Bola Tinubu’s statement about Muhammadu Buhari in 2003 is fairly prophetic, “Muhammadu Buhari is an agent of destabilisation, ethnic bigot and religious fanatic who, if given the chance, would ensure the disintegration of the country.  His ethnocentrism would jeopardise Nigeria’s national unity.””

16. “Buhari’s watch can be likened to what we witnessed under Gen. Sani Abacha in many ways. When Abacha decided that he must install himself as Nigerian President by all means and at all costs, he went for broke and surrounded himself with hatchet men who on his order and in his interest and at high costs to Nigeria and Nigerians maimed, tortured and killed for Abacha.”

17. “...we have heard of how Buhari and his party are going about his own self-succession project.  They have started recruiting collation officers who are already awarding results based on their projects to actualise the perpetuation agenda...”

18. Buhari’s “henchmen are working round the clock in cahoots with security and election officials to perfect their plan by computing results right from the ward to local government, state and national levels to allot him what will look like a landslide victory irrespective of the true situation...”

19. “The current plan is to drape the pre-determined results with a toga of credibility.  It is also planned that violence of unimaginable proportion will be unleashed in high voting population areas across the country to precipitate re-run elections and where [Buhari] will be returned duly elected after concentration of security...”

20. “Buhari’s scheme bears eloquent testimony to this road similar to Abacha whom he has praised to high heavens and as an arch-supporter and beneficiary from Abacha, he has seen nothing wrong done by him. “

21. “It is clear from all indications that Buhari is putting into practice the lessons he learned from Abacha. Buhari has intimidated and harassed the private sector, attacked the National Assembly and now unconstitutionally and recklessly attacked and intimidated the Judiciary to cow them to submission.”

ON OSINBAJO

22. “Osinbajo must have gone for, “if you can’t beat them, join them”.  A great pity indeed and which makes people ask the questions, “Any hope?”

23. “Osinbajo has shown the human weakness and proved the saying that the corruption of the best is the worst form of corruption.”

24. “What is the connection between taking the number of PVC of the ‘traders’ and the forthcoming election?  There is something sinister about it, and Professor Osinbajo, of all people, should know that.”


ON DEMOCRACY

25. “This is a time for vigilance to fight to safeguard our votes and defend our democracy.  The price of liberty and sustenance of our democracy is eternal vigilance and appropriate reaction to ward off iniquities... We must all be ready to pay that price and not relying on hollow words of callousness.  The derailment of Nigerian democracy will be a monumental disaster comparable to the disaster of the Nigerian first military coup...Nigeria must not be allowed to slip off the democratic path nor go into anarchy and ruin.  No individual nor group has monopoly of violence or gangsterism...”

https://politicsngr.com/just-25-things-obasanjo-said-buhari-osinbajo-inec/

GudluckIBB:
Fayose always want to be in news
the last time his G wagon caught fire on the same bridge and now its an accident.


By the way what was fayose doing in Lagos when His party and Atiku were in illorin for campaign?