Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on Friday engaged in a war of words over the suspended Ruga settlement policy.
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, proposed the Ruga settlements to bring an end to the frequent herders/farmers clashes across the country but suspended it following backlash.
An Arewa group, Coalition of Northern Youths, however threatened to evict all Southerners in the North, if the Federal Government does not rescind its decision to suspend the Ruga settlements for Fulani herders within 30 days.
Taking to his verified Twitter handle on Friday, Fani-Kayode urged Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2019, to state his position on the Ruga settlement policy and the Arewa group’s threat.
The ex-minister tweeted:
I have 3 questions for @atiku, the man who I believe won the 2019 presidential election.
1. What is your position on RUGA?
2. Why have you not said one word about it?
3. What is your position on the threat and 30-day ultimatum made by Arewa youths against southerners?
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 5, 2019
Replying, Atiku wrote:
My position on Ruga is the same as articulated by the Governors elected under the banner of my party, the PDP. My position has been well iterated by our Governors & the PDP is one. I will not dignify that threat with a response. There is no North or South. There is just Nigeria.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) July 5, 2019
Fani-Kayode thanked Atiku for his prompt response but observed that the PDP governors did not have a single position on the Ruga settlement policy, stating that while majority of Northern PDP governors supported the policy, the Southern PDP governors rejected it.
See tweet:
@Atiku thanks for ur prompt and interesting response to my question.The problem is there is a division of opinion within the PDP Governors on RUGA.Some northern PDP Governors like Mohammed and Tambuwal are for it whilst ALL Middle Belt and southern PDP Governors are against it.❤
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 5, 2019
The difference between @atiku and @MBuhari is that the former attempts to answer complex questions whilst the latter cannot. The former is sharp,clear and crisp whilst the latter is dull,slow and archaic. The former is sensitive and profound whilst the latter is brash and crude.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 6, 2019
The former views the Arewa youths that threatened to evict, attack and kill southerners that reside in the north with scorn, contempt, disdain and disgust whilst the latter loves, protects, encourages and pampers them.The former thirsts for peace whilst the latter lusts for war.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 6, 2019
The former does not recognise "north" or "south" but sees Nigeria as ONE nation of equal citizens, each with rights and obligations, whilst the latter sees Nigeria as a conquered space and a cruel vassal state of overbearing northern masters and lily-livered southern slaves.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 6, 2019
We must stop being disingenious and we must be honest and clear. There is NO "common position" of PDP or PDP Governors on RUGA. ALL the core northern PDP Governors SUPPORT the full implementation of RUGA whilst ALL the Middle Belt and southern PDP Governors oppose it vehemently.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 6, 2019
Ditto on the issue of the threat to the lives of southerners by the Arewa youth in the north. I have not heard ONE northern PDP Governor condemn it publicly. This is sad and wrong. We either have an opposition party that cares or we do not. Lives are more important than votes.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 6, 2019
The APC is in the same boat. Every single northern APC Governor supports RUGA whilst every southern APC Governor opposes it. We cannot wish away the north/south dichotomy and claim it does not exist in the name of political expediency or political correctness. It is REAL!
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 6, 2019
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