Ruga: OPU Asia Rejects Settlement, Charges Yoruba Monarchs To Rise Against Banditry

The Yoruba sons and daughters in Asia continent, under the aegis of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) have condemned the establishment of Ruga Cattle ranches in Southwestern states by federal government.

They made their position known through a press statement issued and made available to journalists on Friday, saying they reject the establishment of Ruga in all the Yoruba speaking states.

It would be recalled that the immediate past Minister for agriculture, Audu Ogbe, had informed the Nation of President Buhari’s approval of the Ruga settlements of Fulani in all states of the Federation, with the pilot scheme in 21 states. This was just before the winding down of the last administration.

OPU Asia however condemned the incessant cases of kidnapping, banditry and all sorts of criminality allegedly perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in the southwest, saying it is high time for all the Yoruba son and daughters to stand tall against the menace.

“We the Yoruba sons and daughters in Asia continent, under the organisation of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) rejects the construction of cattle colonies in Yorubaland that has been approved by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

“With the recent kidnapping, killings of our parents, brothers & sisters back home by the Fulaani, demanding ransom to release them, gave us serious concern.

” As we are looking for our “daily bread” we can no longer have rest of mind here in abroad because we do not know the situation of our family back home.

“We call on the Ooni of Ife, the Alaafin of Oyo Yoruba, the Aare Ona kankafo of Yorubaland, the Yoruba leaders, the social cultural groups to stand tall and in unity to kick against the banditry.

” Ile ni abo sinmi oko, no matter how long we live in abroad, we will eventually return home, so please save our land, our leaders, for the future of the unborn children”

They however congratulated all the Yoruba monarchs, the Aare Ona Kankafo of Yorbaland , Iba Gani Adams, the South west governors , for the success of the recent Security Summits in Ibaban, Oyo State Nigeria.