Re: Benue Assembly rejects planned settlements

My attention has been drawn to the way and manner, the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba issued a threatening statement against the proposed Ruga settlement, a federal government initiative to settle nomadic so as to encourage them acquire Islamic and western education. The statement read thus: “I hereby clearly state that […]

My attention has been drawn to the way and manner, the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba issued a threatening statement against the proposed Ruga settlement, a federal government initiative to settle nomadic so as to encourage them acquire Islamic and western education. The statement read thus: “I hereby clearly state that the federal government of Nigeria cannot freely allocate land for the establishment of Ruga Fulani settlements in Benue state and the state government will not give out Benue land for the Rugga settlement initiative. Therefore, Benue state House of Assembly as a parliament condemns in totality plans by any individuals, group of persons or federal government to allocate any portion of land within Benue state for such a questionable project. To this end, I hereby categorically state that the Benue state House of Assembly rejects the move for Fulani Ruga settlement in Benue state and instead of support the full implementation of open grazing prohibitive and ranches establishment law 2017”

When you read this statement, you will never believe that it came from the Speaker of the House of Assembly. You will think it is either from a militia leader, a leader of cult group or a member of a fascist organization. The Speaker speaks as if Benue is a country within Nigeria. Furthermore, the so-called lawmaker thinks the Benue’s anti-grazing law is above the constitution of Nigeria. Already the Speaker has directed that the gang and other militia to remove any signpost put by the FG on the proposed Ruga settlement. The mindset here is Fulani are strangers in Benue, they don’t have any entitlement. I think this is going too far. The federal government is gradually relaxing the post-civil war policy of dealing with fascists. Gradually as one writer puts it, fascist organizations and their members like Titus Uba are getting legitimacy drumming regional and ethnic supremacy. The agitation for state police and regional autonomy are part of the game plan we know. Therefore, the federal government should wake up from its slumber to protect the corporate entity of this country.

Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar Unguwa Katsina.