Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing has demanded for total cancellation of RUGA settlement programme recently suspended by the federal government.
The group also enjoined entrepreneurs from the Southeast geopolitical zone to invest on cattle ranching.
The National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Nze Arthur Uchechukwu Obiora, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen after meeting with Anambra state chapter of the socio-cultural group, advised the federal government to outrightly cancel the RUGA programme.
According to Obiora, the entire Southerners especially the Igbo speaking states preferred channeling water to herders through pipelines to the north to sharing their farmlands with them.
He said the entire South South, South East, South West and Middle belt, would in the week, make known their total stands on RUGA saga, and urged entrepreneurs and other well to do Igbo speaking people to invest in cattle business.
“I am an importer of organic fertilizer. I have travelled to Phillipe, Thailand, Argentina, Paris and several other countries. I have conducted several researches on cattle and other field of agriculture. Countries known for cattle business invest in cattle ranch. I have organic fertilisers which are very good for cattle rearing and farming. There are also species of cattle one can rear for 8 months and sold or eat. If we get these kinds of cattle in our land, we will have more to eat and sale.
“We can’t stop eating cow meats because they are nutritious. But we can start our own. Cattle ranching will create jobs for our teeming unemployed creative youths. Our people should also stop attending burial, wedding, events and other festivals with cattle when they can actually use rope and package money in envelopes instead,” he said.
Earlier in a meeting, the Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Anambra state chapter, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said the chapter were behind the taken by South East Governors Forum, John Nnia Nwodo, the General President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Arthur Obiora led national youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on RUGA settlement and other national issues.
Okpalaezeukwu also commended the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Anambra state led by Chief Damian Okeke Ogene as Chairman, and enjoined every Igbo speaking person anywhere in the world to get ready to participate on the forthcoming registration of Igbo people to be embarked upon by Ohanaeze Ndigbo for proper documentation, among other socio economic values.
“The registration is for every Igbo man or woman within the age of 18 and above. Those living within the Southeast region or Igbo speaking areas in the South South can register at their LGA of origin, while those living outside the region including those in Diaspora can do that through Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership nearest to them. This census will help us to easily access, identify and reach out to our people for help in all areas of life,” he stated.
