RUGA: A RECIPE FOR DISASTER

By Olu-Ojegbeje Ololade

The Ruga policy has been passed into law. Implementation has begun. The Fulani herdsmen have started moving into different states of the country to settle permanently. They have built schools, clinics and formed their own colony. Does this not ring a bell? Yes, colonization! It started this way. The British colonists came, dwelt amongst us, introduced their religion, education and culture. They colonized us. It is about to happen again. This time, by Fulani herdsmen and it will be brutal.

Before now, Fulani herdsmen have displayed impunity in the various attacks launched on people at different times, killing, raping and destroying farmlands. Nigerians have therefore been on the edge since the bill was passed into law.

Just months after the letter by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing the federal government of Nigeria of plans to Islamize and Fulanize Nigeria, the Federal government passed a bill into law which allows Fulani Herdsmen to have grazing areas in every state of the country. This has caused uproar among Nigerians and many have kicked against it. While some state governors welcomed the policy with open hands, others kicked strongly against it.

After the release of the letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing the federal government of plans to Islamize and Fulanize Nigeria, it is therefore against reason to implement a policy that drives in that direction even if it means any good. This is because it will be difficult for Nigerians, especially the Southerners to see any good in the Ruga policy. What if the policy is truly a way of infusing the Fulanis amongst every tribe to cause havoc?

Although the federal government argued that the idea of Ruga settlements was to put a stop to the unending crisis between farmers and herdsmen, the policy is a recipe for disaster. The country has not been a safe haven as Fulani herdsmen attack communities, killing, kidnapping, raping women and destroying farmlands. It is therefore only natural for the people to kick against a policy that would make people with gory intentions settle in their midst.

As against the Federal government’s claim that the policy will foster peace amongst farmers and herdsmen, the policy will only heighten suspicion and further killings because then, the herdsmen will feel supported to wreck havoc—they have been given a sense of impunity, destroying and killing without any regret.

Although the Federal government claimed that the Ruga policy is in the best interest of Nigerians, very many Nigerians have not forgotten how the Fulani became a part of Nigeria through the Fulani War of 1804–1808, also known as the Fulani Jihad or Jihad of Usman dan Fodio. The war began when Usman dan Fodio, a prominent Islamic scholar and teacher, was exiled from Gobir by the King Yunfa, one of his former students. Usman dan Fodio assembled a Fulani army to lead in jihad against the Hausa kingdoms of the north of Nigeria. The forces of Usman dan Fodio slowly took over more and more of the Hausa kingdoms, capturing Gobir in 1808 and executing Yunfa. The war resulted in the creation of the Sokoto Caliphate. With this history, it is almost impossible to think the Fulani herdsmen mean any good even if the Ruga policy is in the best interest of Nigerians. This is because these herdsmen have overtime shown wickedness and arrogance through the killings, rape and kidnappings perpetuated in recent times.

While the killings and kidnapping by Fulani herdsmen have not been curbed, it is most ridiculous to expect that anyone would want the herdsmen dwell with them in their lands. It is more like telling a man to make a room in his house clean for the thief to dwell. This is therefore not a very good time to introduce such policy if it must be introduced.

Although the policy had been suspended, suspension is not enough, it should be ruled out. The only solution to the problem of grazing is ranching, not Ruga.