The Accord Party governorship candidate in the last 2019 general elections in Abia State, Emeka Uwakolam has claimed that a certain cartel in the All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government are pressuring President Muhammadu Buhari to reintroduce the suspended establishment of Ruga settlements for Fulani herdsmen.
Uwakolam, who spoke with reporters in Umuahia, while reacting to the suspended Ruga Settlement being proposed by the federal government, claimed that the programme was another move by the Buhari-led administration to gradually islamise Nigeria.
The Accord Party chieftain insisted that the programme if allowed to stand, would destroy Nigeria as a federation.
He said, “I found out in President Buhari, as a man being forced to establish Ruga Farm settlements in the sense that, there are cartels, whose agenda is yet to be identify in this country, that wants to destroy this Nigeria. Come to South East zone, we don’t have that land for Ruga settlements. Government knows we don’t have that land.
“Why would there make it a national issue. And moreover, the security challenges in this country is worsening. So, there is no place, the people will allow herdsmen to take away their lands. People said, is an Islamization agenda, which is true. But, we cannot fold our arms and watch the Ruga settlements to happen.
“The constitution guaranteed freedom of religion. And also, you look at Land Use Act, because, federal government cannot just come and take away a land in a particular territory. Nigeria is a federation for goodness sake. And secondly, if you look at the government proposed Ruga Settlements, you will find out that, is ill-conceived and ill-moderated programme. The truth is that Nigerians are not foolish.”
Uwakolam added, “We are aware of what they are intending to do, and it cannot happen. That is why I’m calling every governors from South east and South South zones to stand their ground like Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State”.
