Foremost Ijaw Leader, Edwin Clark has described the proposed Ruga Settlements for Herders as an ‘abomination’ which can lead to disintegration of Nigeria.
The convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum also advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to re-introduce the scheme but abolish it.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us. It is true that this country has been depending on oil and gas. One appreciates the efforts of the FG to diversify into areas of agriculture, but the recent introduction of RUGA is an abomination to the entire people of Nigeria. It is obnoxious, it is unacceptable.
“We cannot remain in a country where various different groups of people live to make Nigeria since 1914 and today you are introducing some sort of settlement of a particular group of the country in every part of the 36 states simply because you believe you are solving the problem of herdsmen and farmers. That is not the issue; you are not solving it.
“Ranching is the solution. If you want to maintain cattle rearing, it is ranching. That is what operates everywhere in the world. Even in less civilized developed countries in Africa. If you go to Brazil and East Africa, ranching is what they are doing.
“Even our founding fathers in the first republic established ranches. There were ranches at Obudu Cross River State, Ondo State and in the north. Nobody kicked against it but for you to introduce a settlement for resolving the problem between herdsmen and farmers is unthinkable.”