Ruga: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Knocks Northern Forum Over Threats, Asks Igbos To Defend Themselves

The President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, has slammed a group called the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNGs) over its 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to rescind its suspension of the Ruga settlement scheme for herdsmen in the country.

The CNGs had after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the suspension of the Ruga scheme, warned state governments who opposed the scheme of dire consequences should the decision not be reversed.

The coalition had said: “While we warn all state governments that stand against the implementation of the RUGA Initiative to desist and give peace a chance, we place President Buhari and the Federal Government on notice that they must completely stop this raging madness within 30-days beginning from today, Wednesday,” the group’s spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, had said.

But reacting to the group’s threat through its leader, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which is the apex socio-cultural organization protecting Igbo’s interest in the country, described CNGs ultimatum as “irresponsible and treasonable”.

Nwodo charged Igbo people across the country to prepare to defend themselves against “northern war mongers”.

His statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to a broadcast by Abdul Azeez Suleman, speaking for a coalition of Northern Groups in which he had the audacity to give the Federal Government an ultimatum of 30 days to rescind its decision on the suspension of its RUGA settlements policy. Abdul went further to threaten the expulsion of Southerners resident in the North at the expiration of his dateline if the Federal Government does not rescind its suspension decision.

“This irresponsible, unlawful and provocative outburst reminds me of the quit notice from Northern Youths two years ago.

“Ohanaeze insists that the RUGA policy is an Islamization and a Fulanisation policy. It is a violation of our constitution and Supreme court decisions on the Land Use Act. It’s suspension without cancelation leaves the Federal Government still in violation of our laws.

“The threat to evict law abiding Nigerians from their places of abode in Northern Nigeria is treasonable and obviously like the gun trotting herdsmen will go unnoticed by our Federally controlled law enforcement agencies. Let Abdul, the Federal Government and others like them take notice that Ohanaeze has no objections to all Igbos in the North returning home so long as all Northerners in the East leave the East and we dismantle the Federal structure imposed on us by the military and return to Autonomous Federating Units.

“The nepotism exhibited by this Federal Government, her duplicity of standards in law enforcement, her undisguised Fulanisation policy is repugnant to rule of law and good governance. We will no longer tolerate any further threats from these Northern war mongers.

“After all, who should be the aggrieved under the circumstance?  The millipede that has been marched is whimpering, but the person that marched it is complaining that his foot has been soiled. The South that is bearing the yoke of oppression from cattle herders are trying their best to coexist with their aggressors, yet it is the aggressors that are threatening further mayhem. This cannot be.

“I call on all Igbos to be ready to defend themselves. Enough of these threats,” said Nwodo.