Anglican Bishop warns against revisiting RUGA

Anglican Bishop of Afikpo Diocese Ebonyi state, Rt. Rev. Paul Udogu Friday warned against revisiting the suspended RUGA settlement for herdsmen.

Udogu who predicted that federal government may still reverse the suspension, warned that establishing it would cause  crisis, war  and possibly disintegration of the country.

In his presidential address/ charge at Good Shepherd Anglican Church Ozizza Afikpo, Ebonyi state during 1st session of the 5th synod of Afikpo Diocese, Udogu alleged that president Muhammadu Buhrai’s government is treating herdsmen and cows as special class of people.

He said “the federal government plan to establish Fulani herdsmen radio and alleged gift of N100billion to Miyetti Allah gang gives the impression that the herdsmen and their cows are treated as first class citizens.”

He condemned nefarious activities of armed herdsmen which he described as alarming saying  that almost all the geopolitical zones of the country are under herdsmen siege.

He therefore called on President Buhari to rise to the challenge before it becomes too late.

Udogu said “few days ago, we heard that the federal government has suspended RUGA . We know that when you suspend something today, you can come back to it tomorrow but we want to say without mincing words; enough of that policy is enough. In this country, we don’t want it.

“Three days ago, a group of  people in Northern Nigeria, issued

30-days ultimatum to the federal government for them to reverse back the RUGA programme. But we are trusting God that the federal government will think twice and save this country from disintegration, war, and crisis.

“The directive to all Nigerians to surrender their guns to the police whether legally or illegally acquired is ambiguous and suspicious. Nigerians expect our security agencies to first disarm the Fulani herdsmen who are moving around with AK47 and other deadly weapons before asking innocent citizens to surrender arms. We do not advocate for illegal acquisition of arms but all over the world, people have right to self-defense in case of unprovoked attacks.

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