The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo on Wednesday hailed the government of President Muhammadu Buhari following its decision to suspend the proposed Ruga settlement initiative in the country, describing the decision as heartwarming.
Ohanaeze while urging the federal government to go a step further and take immediate measures to disarm “AK-47-wielding herders”, however, noted that “issues surrounding the suspended RUGA scheme indicate the importance of consulting the people before taking certain decisions that will affect them.”
In a statement by Nnia Nwodo, president-general of Ohaneze , the organisation expressed worries about the lingering crisis between farmers and herders, and urged the federal government to deport illegal immigrants to avert “further infiltration”.
The statement read, “It is heartwarming to observe that for the first time the current leadership at the federal level has deferred to people’s opinion on public issues.”
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is as worried about the restoration of peace between farmers and herders in the country as the Federal Government and believes that the ultimate solution to it is to embrace ranching.
“Government should carry out an audit of foreigners in the country and ascertain those with genuine entry papers, deport those illegally in the country as well as ensure that the nation’s borders are properly manned to avert further massive infiltration.
“As a process towards healing, the present wounds and uniting the country, adequate compensation should be paid to relations of victims of the unwarranted killings in the country in recent times.”
The federal government earlier on Wednesday suspended the proposed Ruga initiative aimed at resolving the long-running conflict between herders and farmers following public outcry against the scheme.
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