Malik Yahya/
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has faulted the Federal Government’s initial attempt to implement the Ruga programme in states where indigenes are not Fulani.
Ganduje said, rather, the suspended Ruga programme should only be for states that voluntarily subscribe to it.
The governor, who addressed journalists in Sokoto yesterday after attending the wedding of the son of a former governor of Kano State, Senator Kabiru Gaya, also said he was not happy with the manner in which Fulani are treated in the country.
His words: “I think the suspended programme was really misunderstood. Ruga is supposed to be for a state where Fulani reside; you cannot implement Ruga where the indigenes are not Fulani.
“The programme should be for those states that will cater for Fulani and the issue of herdsmen should be socio-economic in nature and not a socio-cultural.
“That is why in Kano State, we decided to develop a grazing area in form of Ruga where Fulani herdsmen will all live in one place and can be monitored.
“They will get other social services that are being provided for the people of Kano State, which include health, security and education. Not only that, their businesses would be improved upon so that their cattle can produce more nutritious milk for the people.”
Ganduje said the best way to address the Fulani herdsmen issue is through the Ruga system, which would ensure they are settled in one place instead of migrating from one part of the country to another.
He further noted: “Otherwise, Fulani will be suffering and the security problems will continue. I am not happy with the manner in which they are being treated in the country.
“At the same time, I am not happy with the way they behave too because of their lack of education, which is gradually graduating into banditry.”
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