Jonathan approved N100bn for Ranches, not Ruga- Omokri

Chidi Samuel

A former of aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri on Tuesday denied the claim by Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong that the Jonathan administration budgeted N10 billion for Ruga settlement.

Omokri, in a statement, said the Jonathan administration only approved N100 billion loan for states who wished to build cattle ranches for “modern processing” of beef.

Omokri who said that the Ruga initiative did not originate from Jonathan’s presidency, is, however, not suprised that the Buhari government is blaming its woes on the previous government.

Omokri’s statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to comments by the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Solomon Lalong, in which he claims that the RUGA settlements currently being implemented nationwide for herdsmen by the Buhari regime are a Jonathan administration initiative and that former President Goodluck Jonathan should be blamed for the crisis occasioned by herdsmen which have risen to a head in recent times.”

“Nigerians are used to the Buhari administration and its privies blaming all their challenges on the Jonathan administration and this latest act of dereliction of duty is therefore not surprising.

“Obviously, the Buhari regime is unaware that they have become a laughing stock in the international community, as evidenced by the total absence of any worthy representation at their recent events because the world knows that you are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the so-called RUGA herdsmen settlements being planned nationwide is not an initiative of the Jonathan administration. We did not conceive or budget for it and we know and want nothing to do with it.

“What the Jonathan administration initiated was a ₦100 billion agricultural LOAN to be disbursed by the Central Bank of Nigeria for states in Northern Nigeria, who wished to build cattle ranches for modern processing of beef which would then be transported nationwide as beef, rather than cattle rearing.

“RUGA, on the other hand, is not a loan, but a government intervention with PUBLIC funds in a purely PRIVATE business, with the attendant acquisition of PUBLIC land to be used for such PRIVATE business in perpetuity.

“I will appeal to Governor Simon Lalong to face god RUGA and leave Dr. Goodluck Jonathan out of it.”