Gov Ishaku Tells Buhari What To Do To Ruga Settlements

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel the suspended Ruga initiative.

Speaking to newsmen in Jalingo, the governor claimed that the Ruga scheme is a form of colonialism.

Darius Ishaku noted that ranching is the best modern practice of breeding cattle and solving the farmers/herders conflicts.

According to Ishaku: “Ruga is colonialism; it is not about cattle; it is not even about grasses. It should not only be suspended but should also be cancelled completely.

“The whole Ruga scheme should be cancelled. You can’t do a Ruga in the entire country. I don’t accept it. It is not workable, and it will not work in Taraba state.

“Already, I have in place the Anti-Open Grazing Law in Taraba state that prohibits open grazing but encourages ranching. And we are making a lot of progress on ranching.

“I have submitted a request to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for us (Taraba) to be given a loan for us to do the ranching, but the CBN has refused to approve it, for reasons I don’t know.

“Otherwise, I would have showcased what ranching is in the state. It is the best form of practice in modern days, if indeed you are talking about cattle, grasses and grazing.

“But I don’t think they (federal government) are talking about cattle; I don’t agree that they are talking about grasses. They are talking about something else: colonisation.”