The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has cautioned Nigerians against
politicizing the suspended Federal Government Rural Grazing Reserved
Area, otherwise known as RUGA, for herdsmen.
The Islamic human
rights organization, which gave the warning through its Director,
Professor Ishaq Akintola on Thursday, said; “Nigerians should stop
listening to rogue politicians.”
The group noted that there was
nothing like Fulanis planning to install Emir of Oshogbo, Emir of Enugu
or Emir of Asaba. It is all balderdash, adding that these are false
alarms being raised by unscrupulous politicians and expired demagogues.
The
group observed, “For decades in this country, we have always had Seriki
Hausawa in almost all the cities of the South just as we have always
had In a Yoruba and Igwe of the Igbo in almost all the cities of
Northern Nigeria.
These were mere symbolic leaders of those
tribal groups residing in states and cities other than their own.They
were there for ease of administration and inter-tribal relations and
they peacefully co-existed with their host communities.
“But
suddenly rogue politicians and merchants of hate speech began inciting
Nigerians against Northerners, particularly Fulanis and herdsmen. All
sorts of crimes were ascribed to them, especially kidnapping and armed
robbery. It is as if the Oyenusis among the Yoruba have suddenly
disappeared while the Evans among the Igbo have melted away like ice
cream in the desert sun.”
MURIC said the views of people amounts
to gross mischief and incalculable disservice to humanity to use this as
a reason for rejecting the RUGA plan.
“RUGA, which means rural
grazing area is being misinterpreted to gullible Nigerians as an attempt
by Northerners to install Emirs in the South or an attempt by them to
invade Southern communities. This is far from the truth,” the group
explained.
MURIC condemned the politicization of RUGA. “We
frown at the stereotype of any ethnicity or group of persons anywhere in
the world, particularly Nigeria.
“All tribes have their own
share of criminals just as there are decent and industrious citizens
among all ethnicities. We are alarmed at the rate of deception, outright
lies and make-beliefs cal slated at inciting Southerners against
Fulanis and Hausas,” it added.
MURIC called on Southerners to resist political charlatans who are out to spread hate and ignite widespread hostilities.
It
advised, “We call on Southerners to think out of the box as there are
many angles to the concept of RUGA. For instance, we can start looking
at the quantity of cattle sales in a place like Lagos where about 6,000
cows are slaughtered daily. This is big business for crying out loud.
“Any
visionary governor from the South will accept the RUGA policy purely
for economic reasons. We cannot afford to remain naive and blinded by
ethnic jingoism. 10 per cent commission to the State coffers is not
pittance especially as it runs into billions of naria.
“As we
fold our mats, we charge Southern governors to think more of the
economic gains of RUGA and not the rumoured, unfounded and quixotic
installation of emirs in Southern communities.It is a farce.
We should be looking at the message, not the messenger. We call on
Southerners to ignore disgruntled politicians and stop idolizing demons.
Nigeria needs unity now more than ever before and this is why we must
move closer to all non-indigenes residing or doing business in our
communities.”