RUGA Settlement: A Scam To The Igbo Nation!

By Chukwudi Ogbu

RUGA Settlement is a scam and a subterfuge means to acquire lands for the Northerners in years tomorrow. The federal government haven failed in its established format of cattle colonies, have drafted a rebranded name as RUGA so that states in Nigeria can willingly give out land to cattle herdsmen. There are many things that the Igbo nation needs urgently, RUGA Settlement is not one of them. Our roads have depleted. Our schools are poorly funded. Our health sector is an eyesore.

The Igbo people have suffered alot from the Fulani herdsmen. Our women have been raped and men killed in cold blood in their farms. Some have been maimed in their homes so that they, the Fulani herdsmen can acquire their fertile like the Biblical Ahab and Naboth. These are people who claims to have come graze their cattle. These are people who claims to come in peace but stretch out their hands hidden behind and stab you with a Suya man knife.

Imagine when they are now given more lands to dwell on?

Envisage the catastrophe that will ensue when they now come in their large numbers to rear their animals in our states!

These lands were given to them by their fathers and the ones before them, to cultivate and grow crops that will serve as a means of livelihood. But these herdsmen have turned those lands to words unspeakable. They have to protect and preserve those lands against these herdsmen vultures, for their children and the ones yet unborn. My own father left my brothers and I some very acres of land in the village. We must protect those lands too.

The farming activities are private businesses to the farmer as cattle rearing is to the herdsman. With this, no private business should infringe with force and dehumanize another’s private business. This is preposterous and alarming.

We know Buhari is the president. We also know he his a Fulani and an herdsman. But we are all aware that cattle colony – RUGA- is not the country’s phenomena. If the government must provide ranches for cattle, they should do it in the confinement of the north and that of the cattle rearers and not use a show of force on those who cares no two thought for cattle rearing.

The Igbo land cannot continue to be marginalised. The south east governors must not slumber. This is a wake up call. They must make hay while the sun shines else they get poked in their eyes with the finger of a leper.

There is no land for cattle ranching in Igbo land. There is no land for RUGA. Give the lands to the Igbo people and for the Igbo people.

Chukwudi Ogbu sent in this piece from Asaba. He can be reached via chukwudiogbu12@gmail.com