BRING BACK IGBO 'RUGAs' NOW

Bring Back Igbo "Rugas" Now  by Aniedobe


My grandfather, 1895 to 1985, worked as interpreter for ndiocha at Nkwere Farm Settlement in Anambra State in the 1940s. It is now defunct.

My father worked as an Electrical Engineer at Nkalagu Cement Factory but as a kid who grew up in Nkwere farm settlement, the farm settlement mentality never left him. He was full time civil servant and part time farmer.

He cultivated everything we ate from melon to okra to vegetables to corn to yam. We had a poultry of over 1000 birds. We sold okuko and eggs. We also raised ewu Igbo. At some point, we had over 200 goats.  He was a one man farm settlement.

Our house at Nkalagu was paradisaical. We were surrounded by the best species of cashew, mango, guava, sugar cane, oloma. We had a mini plaintain plantation. Banana was everywhere. And our house was lined by hibiscus flowers.

My father couldn't have done it without Ezilo farm settlement about 20 miles from Nkalagu.

Like Nkwere farm settlement, Ezilo farm settlement was an agricultural settlement complete with farms, poultry, ehi Igbo, ewu, vegetables, fruit trees, and worker's quarters. Just like my grandfather lived and raised his kids at Nkwere farm settlement, farm workers also lived with their families at Ezilo farm settlements.

Anyone could stop by to buy  goats and ehi or yam or whatever they had to sellat the farm settlements.

But their mission was even greater than that. Working with the Departments of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicines in the University of Nigeria,  the farm settlements were a repetoir of best practices and reservoir of best cultivars and species.

We got our guava and mangoes and cashews seedlings and Popo and other fruits from the farm settlements. My father trusted their brand as the best.

A worker from there visited and administered antibiotics to our chicken in the poultry. He helped us set it up and mentored to us in the poultry business.

Whenever my father had any questions, he went to Ezilo farm settlement to get expert advice.

For instance, there was a time when our goats shrank in number due to high mortality. Disease was wiping them out. No apparent reason. Emma, a farm settlement worker came to our rescue. Too much inbreeding he stated Emma brought nkpi from farm settlement and our goat population revived. From then on, we began to hire nkpi from the farm settlement for genetic diversity.

What happened to these brilliant concepts called farm settlements? 

They all died. Too much politics. State creations  displaced many trained workers and replaced them with state indigenes who didn't know their left from their right. Crude oil killed the rest. It was easier to collect rent from the center than to grow a viable economy.  So those farm settlements died.

During Okpara regime and even Ukpabi Asika regime, civil servants were encouraged to farm. Food was abundant. Ehi Igbo was available. Farm settlements were very much part of the local economy. Ndigbo were food sufficient.

And then things fell apart.

Today ndi Fulani are trying to Rugarize us all because we killed our own Rugas.

It is time to bring back Igbo Rugas. Farming is big business. Let's learn our lessons and get right back into it. Every local government in Igboland should have a farm settlement starting from yesterday.  In addition to raising our own ehi, ewu and okuko, a trillion naira business by the way, vegetable oil from aku is one of the highest prized vegetable oils. Cassava flour in America is priced like gold. We were once the fastest growing economy in the world. Today, we live in fear of losing our homelands all because we can't stop eating ehi Fulani and start feeding ourselves.

Aniedobe

THE IGBO NATION INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

OHANEZE NDI IGBO SHOULD BECOME MORE FOCUSED AND PRAGMATIC IN DRIVING THE IGBO NATION INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

It is over a year now since Ohaneze Ndi Igbo announced the establishment of a committee and secretariat led by the irrepressible Professor Chukwuma Soludo and Mao Ohuabunwa to help drive the Igbo upnation integrated economic development master plan. 

However, since the inauguration of that committee and secretariat, we are yet hear or read much from them about their Igbo nation regional economic integration programs and agenda. We are yet to see any properly articulated concrete, time-lined and measurable projects design, structuring, funding and implementation strategy in the various sectors they listed on the day of their inauguration.
We have not seen or read again any further arrangements, strategy or tactical initiatives to ensure the infrastructure, political and socioeconomic integration plans for the Igbo nation.

WAY FORWARD:
It will be in the best interests of the Igbo nation for Ohaneze Ndi Igbo to maintain a 24/7 functional and fully funded secretariat that is staffed/ manned by top notch / highly knowledgeable development economists and professionals versed in designing, structuring and funding variant models of PPP projects/infrastructure development initiatives for Ala Igbo. 

This secretariat working with the Soludo led committee will develop a medium to long term multi-sectorial infrastructure and economic development partnership blue print for the states that have significant Igbo population under robust and properly defined PPP arrangements. 

The blueprint shall contain holistically/comprehensively what we plan to do, how to do it, when to do it, what resources required to do it, how to source for those resources, stakeholders to be involved and responsibilities and integrated partnership roles expected from our state governors. 
Ohaneze Ndi Igbo must design very transparent and accountable ways of funding this secretariat and her other activities. 

For instance, how do link up the whole of the Igbo nation from Asaba to Igwe Ocha via Onitsha-Awka-enugu Abakiliki-okigwe-umuahia-aba and via Onitsha-owerri –mbaise-obowo to Umuahia. Via Owerri to Igwe Ocha by Rail?. How do we ring-fence Ala Igbo via well planned/laid out rail infrastructure development master plan that is PPP driven.

How do we develop new roads or expand the existing road networks across the Igbo nation to become world class?
How do we deepen the exploration and processing of the natural resources that the Igbo nation is blessed with, eg. Coal, Lead, Oil and Gas, Gypsum, barite, clay, limestone etc.? 
How do we bring the consular presence of the US, UK, EU, China, etc into Enugu and Owerri? It does not make sense for my aged mum to travel to Lagos or Abuja for her visa and immigration needs, when she can secure such services in Owerri or Enugu. 

How do we create truly international sea and air gateways in and out of the Igbo nation?  It does not make sense for my aged mum to fly to Lagos before she can get a British airways or Air Peace flight to the UK or US or Dubai. It does not make much sense. When should we have this implemented and how and what resources/partnerships do we need? 

How do create industrial hubs and clusters in Ala Igbo to ensure that we become the integrated, commercial, trading, manufacturing and industrial hub for sub-Sahara Africa , following the signing of the Africa Free Trade Agreement, AFTA by Nigeria? 

How do we support our entrepreneurial brothers, who practically imports every consumable and hardware items into Nigeria to get their global suppliers and vendors from Europe, America and Asia to set up factories for the manufacturing of those same commodities in Ala Igbo under robust MPPP arrangements? 

What enabling business and investor friendly arrangements do we put in place in Ala Igbo?

How do we support the vision of buy and patronize Igbo nation manufactured products first before others, just like the Jews? 

How do we make the Igbo nation the Health, Education and Entertainment Tourism Capital of Africa? 

How do we develop other critical sectors like Power, ICT hubs, Housing in Ala Igbo in very integrated and holistic sense?

How and what do we do to protect Ala Igbo from enemies within and external. Ensure and make Ala Igbo the most secure region in Africa?

How do create and develop a leadership selection/succession culture in Ala Igbo that puts the best, most selfless, most creative , most passionate and honest amongst us into leadership positions  to help us drive the Igbo renaissance ?

How do we restore to its full glory the long fading Igbo culture and tradition of industry, hard work, enterprise and loathe for evil and stealing.  It used to be the most shameful thing in Ala Igbo to be tagged “Nwanne Onye Oshi” or “Nwanne onye aka na akpa or nnapu”, not to talk of being the thief yourself. 
How do we restore our lost glories as the greatest and most progressive/enterprising ethnic nation created by CHUKWU OKIKE ABIAMA.? 

Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, led by Dr Nnia Nwodo must never drop the ball. This is the time to rise up and galvanize our people. Sustained enlightenment, consultations, reach out, reconciliations, and practical works are needed now.  He must drive the vessel with utmost focus, consistency and uncompromising boldness. This is not the time to park the car to take a nap. 

We are facing very tough existential threats today, just akin to what we faced between 1966 to 1970.  That Ohaneze Secretariat must work and work for 24/7, churning out ideas and pursuing it to execution working with all stakeholders within and without. 

God Bless Ala Igbo

OBIARAERI, Nnaemeka Onyeka

THE END OF FULANI & THEIR LOW NUTRITIONAL VALUE CATTLE IN 5 YEARS

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN EVERY CHALLENGE: THE RESULT OF RUGA IS THAT BUHARI HAS PUSHED IGBOS INTO CATTLE BUSINESS , NOW NO MORE  CATTLE BUSINESS FOR THE FULANIS. 

Bye Bye to Fulani Cows in South East and South South. Now is the era of Computerized Cattle Ranching with Israel Top Agricultural Innovation here in Igbo Land     

If you push Igbo youths towards cattle rearing business,forget it, the market price of cattle will crash within 24 months. Better don't turn their attention towards dat side. So dat ur Fulani brothers will be making the small profit they are enjoying currently. You never imagine how many brands of cow u will have Wen Igbo  business men mean the business. Be making noise until you start seeing Ogbuawa Cattle Nnewi, Cutix Cattle Nnewi, Chikason Cattle Lagos , Innoson cattle Nnewi,  Orange cattle Akokwa. Oga ndi Oga cattle Abbatete, Holy Ghost Cattle Enugu, Ebube Cattle Ukeh, Top Rank Cows,  Bolton White Ehiii. Ellington Cows. Ibro cattle, Oshanga cattle, Osumenyi Cows, Ifeanyi Ubah Cows , ObiJackson Cattle Okija, Overdo Cows Aguleri, Arthur Eze Cattle Ukpo , Osadebe Cows  Atani ,  Chijioke Cows, Nwamaobi Onyenze Cattle Ogidi, Umu Obiligbo Cow Nteje, manobi Cow Neni, Phyno Cows, Flavour Cows, Charlie Loz Cattle Awka Etiti  ,  Emeka Morrocow Cattle, Mama Ada Cattle, Nwanyi Awka Cattle ,  Enyiukwu Cows, Efab cattle  and some u haven't imagine . Don't push them biko. For d sake of your Fulani children's children but now you have awaken their consciousness toward that direction. Federal Government of Nigeria should be ready to release 100Billon to the Igbos for modern cattle ranching business. Mpiawa azu Special , No wasting time
#Lets teach Buhari and his brothers how to do cattle business. 
No cattle Route
No cattle colony alias RUGA
No destruction
No Fighting
No Farmers clashing
No Herdsmen and villager clash   

Igbos lets demand our own 100Billon for cattle business.

BOYCOTT FULANI BEEF .DON'T PAY FOR THEIR BULLETS

 *NATIONAL COWMEAT BOYCOTT PROJECT*

There was a united outcry against RUGA; and it was suspended. So, who says the people cannot unite for a cause?

Now, let's take this united action to the next level, to achieve a bigger success.

The date is *JULY 21*.
From this day, all lovers of life; all who are worried about the killings of innocent Nigerians by the heartless Fulani herdsmen, will team up to embark on the project to break the backbone of these arrogant people who have more regard for their cows than human lives.

We will cripple their cow business and prove to them that humans own the land, not cows.

All forms of cow meat will be boycotted:
beef,
suya,
cowleg,
cowtail,
ponmo or cowskin, etc.


Please, for ourselves and our generations unborn, consider this action a national call and a service to humanity.

Share this as widely as possible, for maximum participation and impact.

Beyond Ruga: Fulani's War on Nigeria

 Beyond Ruga: Fulani's War on Nigeria 

How many of you know that the civil war in Central African Republic started because the Fulani's who were less than 6% of the population did a coup to seize power.

The president then began installing Fulanis in top govt positions. All business, economic, military positions were held by Fulanis. Churches were attacked and ransacked. Lands were taken and grabbed by the Fulani's.


Then the indigenes planned and strategised. One solemn night, they attacked. Killing hundreds of soldiers guarding the president with Dane guns and matchetes. Some accounts say they butchered the soldiers like cows and goats.

The president fled the country and a civil war broke. Over 80% of the Fulanis have fled CAR. Those that remained, their cows were slaughtered and their lands given to the rightful people.

So the question is, what is happening to the remaining 80% that were driven out of CAR? Remember that the CAR civil war broke out in 2013 and the expulsion of Fulanis began in 2014. 


If you're good in basic maths you'll realise when Fulani herdsmen started killing in Nigeria was in 2015 right. Good.

Also remember that El Rufai said that the people killing weren't Nigerians. Remember? He was right. They aren't. They're Fulani nomads and they're looking for land. 

Nigeria is the perfect place for them to conquer. The south is divided and their Nigerian brethren have already conquered the North. The only reason they couldn't conquer CAR was because they country was united against the Fulani from the onset. Although new powers are looking to gain control in the country.


If Nigerians will learn from history, no Fulani man should be allowed to rule this country. And even if by chance they rule, they must never be given the powers that have been given to PMB. PMB govt resembles the strategy deployed by the Fulani in CAR. Where the Fulani will head all important govt agencies.

Those who fail to learn from history, are already doomed to repeat it. 

Copied with thanks from Daniel Honour

DEFEND YOURSELVES.. Ohaneze tells Igbos

Ruga: Nwodo reacts to northern group’s threat, asks Igbo to defend themselves

PublishedJuly 5, 2019

Raphael Ede, Enugu

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, on Thursday described as irresponsible the 30-day ultimatum, a Coalition of Northern group gave the Federal Government to rescind its decision to suspend the RUGA policy.

Nwodo called on the  Igbo to be ready to defend themselves against any threat from any quarter.

Nwodo in a statement said, “My attention has been drawn to a broadcast by Abdul Azeez Suleman, speaking for a coalition of northern groups in which he had the audacity to give the Federal Government an ultimatum of 30 days to rescind its decision on the suspension of its RUGA settlements policy.“Abdul went further to threaten the expulsion of southerners resident in the North at the expiration of his ultimatum if the Federal Government does not rescind its suspension decision.

“This irresponsible, unlawful and provocative outburst reminds me of the northern youths’ notice to quit the North to southerners two years ago.”

While describing the RUGA policy as an Islamisation and a Fulanisation policy, Nwodo said that Ohanaeze would resist it.He  added, “The threat to evict law-abiding Nigerians from their places of abode in northern Nigeria is treasonable and obviously like the gun-trotting herdsmen will go unnoticed by our federally-controlled law enforcement agencies.

“Let Abdul, the Federal Government and others like them, take notice that Ohanaeze has no objections to all Igbo in the North returning home so long as all northerners in the South-East would leave the South-East and we dismantle the federal structure imposed on us by the military and return to autonomous federating units.

“The nepotism exhibited by this Federal Government, her duplicity of standards in law enforcement, her undisguised Fulanisation policy is repugnant to the rule of law and good governance. We will no longer tolerate any further threats from these northern war mongers.

“After all, who should be the aggrieved under the circumstance?  The millipede that has been marched is whimpering, but the person that marched it is complaining that his foot has been soiled.

“The southern Nigerian people that are bearing the yoke of oppression from cattle herders are trying their best to co-exist with their aggressors, yet it is the aggressors that are threatening further mayhem. This cannot be.

“I call on all Igbo to be ready to defend themselves. Enough of these threats!”

FULANI INVADERS HERE AT LAST?

 **FULANI INVADERS HERE AT LAST?** (A write-up from Fr. David Ihenacho, Ahiara Diocese. This was copied from his facebook page where he posted it) 
In the last couple of weeks, there have been insinuations and conflicting signals about what the notorious Fulani herdsmen might be up to in the Southeast region of Nigeria. 

• First, there was the leader of the so-called Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) announcing to the whole world that the Southeast region of Nigeria would soon boil and perhaps burn as well because of their stubbornness and refusal to turn over their farm lands to the invading Fulani herdsmen for the grazing of their cattle. Of course, there was the predictable immediate denial of the truth of the announcement by the already embedded members of the herdsmen in the region.
• Second, it was reported on June 21, 2019, that a meeting in Enugu featuring Southeast Chambers of Commerce with the Governors Forum of Southeast Zone also featured the representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association who came up with the "brilliant" idea that the youths of the Fulani herdsmen should be given a vigilante role in the Southeast zone to complement those of the local vigilantes of the different communities of the zone. Again, predictable so, the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo scoffed at the childish suggestion. John Nnia Nwodo, the leader of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo lambasted the suggestion with vehemence saying that such a move would be resisted to the last. 
• Third, it was reported also in the social media on June 21and 22, 2019, although without any authentic verification by the mainstream media, that some military-like landings were being sighted in the forest of Enugwu Ukwu in Enugu State. Pictures of military helicopters with some military  combat exercises were presented as evidence of the allegation.  No serious reaction has so far been given about this latest serious revelation. It appears that a great majority of the Igbo people are sleepwalking while the security of their entire zone is being imperilled every day. The reality of the moment is there are indications and insinuations everywhere suggesting that some Fulani danger men might be planning something nefarious against the Southeast region, home to ethnic Igbos who are predominantly Christians. All these announcements, suggestions and all what not cannot be wished away completely. Rather they must be taken very seriously.  Such should lead any conscious Igbo man or woman worth the sort to think critically about what could be done right now to prevent any outbreak of hostilities between the invading Fulani herdsmen and the home-dwelling Igbos of the Southeast Nigeria. The truth of the matter is the invaders are already embedded in the Southeast region. It turns out that the long-held rumour that all the "megards", shoe-shiners, quack tailors, jewelry and embroidery sellers who have been in Southeast and plying their trades among us for quite a long time now may in fact be Fulani invaders bidding their time and waiting for some sort of a signal from their high command somewhere in Nigeria to attack us. But if this has any possibility of being true what can the south easterners do to protect themselves? 
• First, I will not subscribe to the suggestion that anybody, be he or she a Nigerian or a non-Nigerian, plying his or her trade anywhere in Nigeria or elsewhere should be expelled or molested in any way. Nobody's human rights should be infringed upon under any pretences whatsoever. That is to say, let the Fulani "traders" in our midst stay and pursue whatever they call their trades or professions unmolested. But what is needed for people's safety and security is for the general public in the Southeast to know that these harmlessly-looking people may not be all genuine and harmless after all, that, some of them may be harbouring some terrible motives that could be detrimental to the safety and security of innocent people. So, every community should and must keep a wary eye on every one of them. Also, all those who depend on them for their personal security should have a rethink.  
• Second, the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the Ala Igbo Foundation, Southeast Governors' Forum, IPOB, MASSOB, WORLD IGBO CONGRESS and all other sociopolitical and sociocultural organizations in Igbo land and all other Igbo-affiliated groups must come together in a big conference at the end of which they must announce to the whole world their resolve to remain a nonviolent people. They must also demand the Nigerian government to take a firm control of the invading Fulani Herdsmen in the Southeast region. The large Igbo conference must make it abundantly clear to the world and to the government of Nigeria  that the Igbos do not want any war with anybody, that they must be left alone to live free in their God-given homeland. They must make a serious plea to nations  who may have some sympathy for the survival of the Igbo people in Nigeria to prevail on the  Nigerian government to check the attacks to the Fulani herdsmen. Such nations should be able to warn the Nigerian government that any attack on the Igbos will be treated as an attack on freedom loving civilized world.
• Third, the Igbos must make some contingency plans about their self-defense. It is no longer to be taken for granted that the Southeast will not be attacked. The truth is the invaders may be already in our midst. They have finished their espionage. They are now waiting for the command to begin their attacks. Those who are asking to be given a vigilante role in our communities are already in our midst and they know the terrain and have in fact mastered the routes to our homes. So, it will be childish for any of us to think that the Fulani soldiers are still very far away from us. In fact they are already here with us. 

I think what could save Igbo communities is what saved the American communities during the American war of revolution around the middle of the 18th century. What saved them was community militia. As the British attacked with their well trained army rural America responded with their community militias. The militias contributed immensely to the defeat of the invading British soldiers. The same could apply to the Southeast. If the nearly three to five thousand autonomous communities in the Southeast were to raise and maintain strong vigilante or militia formations there is hardly any way the Fulani herdsmen invaders will have the better of us. And this is the way the South easterners could begin to arrange for their security and defense against what is appearing very certain to happen at some point in our near future. As the Fulani invaders appear to strengthen and consolidate their presence in the Southeast, let the Igbos think security first. The danger against their safety and existence in Nigeria is more real than ever before. Let them recollect and remind themselves of What Okoko Ndem said at the end of his newscast during the civil war: ONYE NDI IRO GBARA GBURUGBURU NA-ECHE NDU YA NCHE MGBE NIILE.