Lawyer Femi Falana has advised President Muhammadu Buhari over the suspension of Ruga settlement which was proposed to be established in 36 states of the Federation.
The plan was suspended by Buhari after it received heavy rejection from many Nigerians who saw it as a Fulani expansionist agenda.
Reacting to the suspension, Femi Falana stated that the idea of Ruga settlement should be replaced with ranching.
“As far back as 2016 the Buhari administration had opted for ranching.
“To actualise the ranching policy 11 states had made available 55,000 hectares of land.
“Ranching has also been adopted by the National Livestock Policy of the Buhari administration.
“What is now left is for the immediate implementation of the ranching programme,” Falana said in a statement.
Falana expressed believes that Ruga settlement was an idea from fifth columnists in the administration of President Buhari.
He added: “Ruga should not just be suspended but cancelled completely by the federal government. It should be replaced with ranching funded by state governments and individual stakeholders with the assistance of the federal government.
“However if the federal government is interested in establishing ranches in the states, it should apply for building approval from the state governments because the supreme court has held that physical planning is not in the exclusive legislative list.”
