Ruga Settlement: YAPJEN Demands Cancellation Not Suspension

JOSHUA NICHOLAS

A Good Governance, Human Rights and Social Justice Advocacy Group, Youth Advocates For Peace, Justice And Empowerment Network (YAPJEN), has condemned the Ruga settlement programme adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In a press statement jointly issued by the Executive Director, Amb. Timothy Nwachukwu, Advocate Benedict Chidobem Izuchukwu, Director of Welfare and Advocate, Joshua Nicholas, Director External Affairs and made available to newsmen on Wednesday 3rd July, 2019, YAPJEN charged the Federal Government to build hospitals and not settlements; as the Ruga settlement will not only bring division, anarchy, over heating of the Nigeria polity but is also a time bomb awaiting explosion.

The Ruga Settlement has been greeted with widespread opposition from Nigerians as protests are ongoing in different parts of the country.

YAPJEN reacted to a statement credited to an official at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and published in the media, who stated that everything is set for the implementation of the scheme.

“The pilot states for its implementation are Sokoto, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Taraba, Katsina, Plateau, Kebbi, Zamfara and Niger”

“They are actually 11 in number and the governors of these states are coming to the Ministry to learn how the Ruga settlements will be implemented,” a senior official at the FMARD, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

YAPJEN commended the the Delta State Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who was quoted to have said that “We can’t solve problems by issuing out dangerous problems as solutions”.

“Ruga is a futuristic disaster that would strike fears in the hearts of our people and cut short their lives which we can’t be part of.”

YAPJEN advised the Federal Government not to force any tribe or occupation on a very large entity like Nigeria as Nigeria has over 300 ethnic groups, diverse occupations and businesses; and hence any form of imposition is an invitation to anarchy.

The Advocacy group wondered on what would be the future of other ethnicities as there is an ongoing ethnic cleaning been carried out by the herdsmen.

The human Right group stated that Fulani herdsmen, having been declared by the International organization as a terrorist organisation, but still enjoys a cordial relationship, mutual benefit and benevolent gestures from the Federal Government of Nigeria, is an indictment on the Federal Government.

YAPJEN lamented that despite the under reporting of the wanton killings attributed to Fulani herdsmen, the media has been awash by the silent genocide been orchestrated by the internationally outlawed group across the country, sending hundreds of thousands of Nigerians to their early grave.

YAPJEN shows disgust to this inhuman attitude and outrightly condemns the Federal Government for taking sides with the Fulani herdsmen.

“We condemn the RUGA settlements and in zero support of it. The Federal Government should allow people own their lands, and should refrain from using state power to enforce any scheme that is rejected by the populace” the group fumed.

YAPJEN therefore urged the Federal Goverment to look into other sectors and pressing issues the country is facing and proffer solutions to them, stating that the citizens are already losing faith in the Government and their ability to protect them from danger.

YAPJEN called on all Nigerians to lend their voice against the annexation of lands by the Federal Government through Ruga Settlement.

YAPJEN is an advocacy group positively contributing to National Development, ensuring peaceful coexistence in the society and using every available resources within her reach to empower the Nigerian Youths.