The apex Igbo cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has commended the Federal Government for suspending the Ruga settlements project in the country.
A statement by the President General of Ohanaeze, John Nnia Nwodo on Wednesday through his Special Adviser on Media, Emeka Attamah said it was a piece of heartwarming news.
The statement said, “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.”
It urged the Federal Government to take immediate measures to disarm the AK-47-wielding herders throughout the country, saying that “issues surrounding the suspended RUGA scheme indicate the importance of consulting the people before taking certain decisions that will affect them.
“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.” (Agency report)