No ‘Ruga’ in South-East, South-South, says Gov. Umahi – TheNigerialawyer

The Dave Umahi of Ebonyi says that there is no plan to establish
Ruga settlement in any part of the South-East and South-South zones
of Nigeria.

Mr Umahi disclosed this in a statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, Emma Uzor, in Abakaliki on Sunday.

Mr Umahi, chairman of the South-East Governors Forum’s reaction
followed controversies and insinuations trailing Federal
Government’s alleged plan for establishment of Ruga settlements in
some states.

Mr Umahi explained that the South-East zone did propose a deal
with the members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association,
MACBAN, as panacea to achieving lasting peace between farmers and
herdsmen.

He, however, denied any plans by governors of the zones to cede
any part of their land for Ruga settlement.

He said: “There is no plan for any Ruga settlement in any part
of South-East and South-South zones; but we made a proposed deal
with MACBAN that can allow the zone to become very good business
with sale of grasses to the herdsmen in exchange for meat.

“There will be no part of the South-East that will be given out
for the purpose of establishment of Ruga, the zone is purely
agrarian with limited landmass for farming and therefore can not
accommodate Ruga establishment.

“We actually proposed a deal with MACBAN to take their cattle to
the Northern parts where grazing reserves were established long
time ago and rely completely on the grasses grown in the South for
feeding of their cattle.”

Mr Umahi, who was the Chairman of Technical Committee on Farmers
and Herdsmen clash carved from the National Economic Council headed
by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the committee had
recommended the revamping of existing grazing reserve in
Nigeria.

He said that revamping of the already existing grazing reserves
in various parts of the North as recommended by the committee was
to enable farmers have unhindered access to their farmlands while
herdsmen rely solely on proceeds from the farmers.

Mr Umahi was the Chairman of National Economic Council sub
Technical Committee on farmers and herdsmen clash and he toured the
states of Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Zamfara and others.

“Part of committee’s recommendations to the federal government
was the revamping of grazing reserves in the North where all the
cattle rearers in the South will take their cattle to these places
and rely on the grasses that are grown in the South.

“The way it works is that the herdsmen will bring down their
cows to the South-East and sell to us as meat while they will load
the grasses which are grown here in the same vehicles with which
they transported their cows to feed their cattle in those grazing
reserve.

“With this proposed deal, herdsmen are expected to embrace anti
open grazing by returning to the ranches in the North and do their
business on the trade by barter basis of selling cows to the South
and buying grass to feed their cows in the North.”

Mr Umahi further called for tolerance among youths of various
ethnic nationalities to solve the problem of hate speech.

He admonished Igbo youths on peaceful coexistence and urged them
not to insult their leaders who were doing everything possible to
protect them from any form of internal and external
aggressions.

NAN