RUGA: Ohanaeze Denies Allocation Of Land To Herdsmen, Slams PDP Chairman

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has rejected claims that South-east governors secretly allocated lands for establishing RUGA settlement for Fulani herdsmen.

Naija News reports that the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) had accused the south-east governor of allocating lands to the Federal Government for the initiative.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees Chairman, Walid Jibrin, had declared its support for the establishment of the RUGA.

Jibrin urged Nigerians to embrace the establishment RUGA as it will bring about the promotion of peace and security in the country.

While speaking further, Jibrin also explained that the programme would boost food security and improve the health and standard of living in rural communities.

Jibrin, who is also the Sarkin (leader) of Fulani in Nasarawa state, commended the federal government for introducing the RUGA programme in the country considering its importance.

Reacting in a statement signed by Mazi Okechukwu isiguzoro, President General of Ohanaeze youths said, “We observed keenly the unpopular agitation and open Declaration of the suspended Ruga Settlements by PDP Bot chairman, Senator Walid Jubril as a means of stability and end up the Herdsmen/farmers clash, as this is a calculated plot to use his position in PDP as BoT chair to intimidate and harass predominantly PDP Governors in the Southern Nigeria to adopt Ruga Settlements in the South.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide is not partisan and will not dictate how PDP run their affairs, but its an open secret that PDP Bot chairman Senator Walid Jibrin is engaging in anti-party activities, and PDP Governors forum should facilitate the machinery to investigate his secret activities and do the needful through recommendation for the suspension of Sen Walid Jubril and relieve him of his position if found guilty based on his anti-party activities.

“We want to assure our Biafra agitators that there’s no proof anywhere that the South-East Governors have the intention of going contrary to their earlier resolutions adopted in their last Enugu meeting, to donate lands secretly for the Suspended Ruga Settlements in the South East.

“Irrespective of that, we are calling on the south-east Governors to ensure they are not instigating uproar and civil disobedience through mingling into the affairs of self-determination of Biafra agitators. We should avoid anything that will bring a declaration of a state of emergency in any State in the South East.

“We urge South-East Governors to allow the sleeping dog to rest, there’s no gain in using confrontation through State machinery against Biafra agitators, and plead on agitators no eschew violence and maintain non-violent posture of Biafra agitation.”