The Catholic Archbishop of Archdiocese of Lagos, Dr. Alfred Martins, has added his voice to the myriads of reactions that have continued to trail the suspension of the proposed exclusive residence for Fulanis (Ruga settlements) across the country by the Federal Government.

In a statement issued recently by the Directorate of Social communications of the Archdiocese, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Martins advised the government to jettison the idea of acquiring lands across the federation for the purpose of creating rural grazing areas altogether.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his bold step in suspending the Ruga project in response to the high tension the issue had generated, Archbishop Martins also implored President Buhari to resist the temptation of going back to it or any similar project that leave an impression of wanting to promote the welfare, economy and preservation of any one section of the country over others. He further warned that if such a move is encouraged, will undoubtedly; further divide the nation along ethnic and possibly religious lines, thereby impacting negatively on the well-being of all Nigerians.

He said: “At the moment, we gathered that despite the suspension of the RUGA scheme, there is a plan by some to move for the repeal the Land Use Act in order to accommodate the scheme. Any step in that direction will leave no one in doubt that the Government is really not interested in settling the so-called herdsmen/farmer clashes.

“A bill to tamper with the present land use arrangement at this time cannot but heat up the polity, if indeed, it is being contemplated.

“Any proposed solution to the problem should be put in the public domain for discussion so that it may have the desired effect. It is not enough for the Federal Executive Council, National Economic Council or any other organ of government to sit in a room and take the decision without sampling the opinion of citizens, given the volatile nature of the issues at stake.

“It is even more ridiculous that a ministry without a substantive minister is presuming to announce and implement such a monumental ‘decision’. The Ruga Scheme as presently conceived for implementation is ill-conceived and skewed to create disaffection and divide the country and must be totally abandoned so that a better solution to the problem can be reached.”

Rather than dissipate energy on the RUGA settlement project and other similar ideas, Archbishop Martins advised the President Buhari-led government to commit more resources to securing our national borders, mop up small arms that are so easily available and be decisive in bringing anyone who unleashes violence on others to book irrespective of who they may be.

“That would create confidence in the attempt of government to deal with the so-called herdsmen/ farmers clashes,” he added.

He warned that if the perpetrators of the killings and kidnappings across the country were not urgently identified and dealt with according to the law of the land, it may give the wrong impression that impunity, murder and reckless disregard for constitutional authority by a group of outlaws remains the surest way of attracting the favour and patronage of the government.

The Archbishop urged well-meaning Nigerians to pray for the peace of the nation and for those in government so that common good-will guide of the actions and decisions of those who govern at all levels in the nation. (New Telegraph)

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