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The Urhobo Rennaisance Movement (URM) has described the proposed nationwide RUGA settlement for Fulani herdsmen by the Federal Government as an affront on the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The movement like other groups and state rejects in entirety the proposed settlement.
The movement’s decision was revealed in a statement signed and released by its chairman, Prof. Hope Eghagha and Assistant General Secretary, John Uwa
Recall that the proposed RUGA settlement has sparked criticisms by both states and interest groups across the country.
The URM’s full statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT BY URHOBO RENNAISANCE MOVEMENT ON THE PROPOSED BILL TO GRANT WATER RESOURCES TO MIGRANT PASTORALISTS IN THE NAME OF RUGA
Motto: Egba r’Okugbe
We members of URM are indeed shocked by the sheer audacity behind the proposed bill before the National Assembly which plans to grant control over water resources in the hands of the federal government. We see this as a subversion of the letter and spirit of federalism and the will of the people, generally in the southern part of Nigeria and especially the Urhobo people who depend on water resources for their daily existence. It is an affront on the 1999 Constitution and should not even have been conceived in the first place.
We therefore call on all elected representatives of the Urhobo nation in the National Assembly to pitch tent with their kith and kin and resist the obnoxious Bill. Water is crucial to the survival of the Urhobo people and this natural resource should be left in the hands of locals to control having been forced to part with the natural oil resource. We also call on all patriots who can read between the lines to kill the Bill which had earlier been rejected by the same National Assembly.
The federal government should immediately withdraw the Bill in the interest of national unity and cohesion.
Thank you.
Signed:
Professor Hope Eghagha John Uwa
Chairman Assistant Secretary