The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has vehemently rejected the proposed creation of a Ministry of Livestock by the Nigerian government led by President Bola Tinubu. Igboayaka Igboayaka, the National President General of OYC, addressed journalists in Enugu, Enugu State capital, on Monday, urging President Tinubu to abandon the idea, warning that it may lead to tribal conflict between Fulanis and other tribes.
Igboayaka recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s attempt to introduce RUGA was met with resistance and rejection by Nigerians. He stated, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should hasten up to cancel the proposed ministry of livestock as initiated by ethnic land grabbers of Fulani political oligarchy through Miyetti Allah.”
The OYC leader alleged that President Tinubu was misled into inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms, which he believes is a reintroduction of RUGA. He emphasized that the proposed ministry would arm Fulani herders and pose a threat to Yoruba farmers, who have suffered at the hands of Fulani herders.
Igboayaka criticized the creation of ministries based on the interests of a single section or tribe, rather than national interest. He described the livestock ministry as a Fulani livestock agricultural project aimed at penetrating and grabbing lands belonging to other tribes.
The OYC leader vowed that the people of the South-East would resist any form of cattle colony in Igbo land, stating, “Will resist any form of cattle colony in Igbo land that serve interest of Fulani herders…with the last pint of our blood.” He urged other ethnic groups and the middle Belt to rise up and resist the implementation of the livestock Reform.
