Efio-Ita Nyok|9 July 2019
The Chairman of the Christian Council of Nigeria, South-South Zone and Bishop, Angelican Diocese of Calabar, Most Rev. Tunde Adeleye, has faulted the recently suspended Ruga settlements for Fulani herdsmen across the country, describing it as a deliberate attempt to Islamise and Fulanise the country.
NEGROIDHAVEN understands that the Federal Government last week, succumbed to nationwide outcry that greeted the proposed Ruga scheme which sought to secure lands across the country for Fulani herders to graze their cows, by suspending it.
But Adeleye, who spoke on Monday during the 2019 Synodal press briefing of the Anglican Diocese, which held at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Anglican Communion, Calabar, said the suspension of the Ruga settlements project was a welcomed development, however maintained that it was 'still scary and dangerous', since the project 'has only been suspended not out-rightly cancelled.'
Decrying the level at which religious bigotry has gotten to, the Man of God said: 'It is a common fact that Nigeria is now divided along religious lines.' He continued: 'It has been so terrifying. There is a heavy promotion of one religion over and above others in Nigeria. This explains why the herdsmen are able to freely kill and maim people at will without inhibition. The Federal Government seems to be totally helpless in the matter.
'There were fears all over the country that we were being gradually Islamized in Nigeria. The fear is quite palpable and can be proven. These mass movement of cows in the country is a ploy to Islamized the country.'
While speaking on the newly approved national minimum wage, Adeleye, who is also the Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of Niger Delta, described the N30, 000 minimum wage as ridiculous. He explained that 'when the minimum wage was fixed at N18,000, it was worth about one hundred and eleven dollars; N30,000 is now worth less than eighty-three dollars. Can we say this is a meaningful increase or actually a disgraceful reduction? Something is still very wrong and shameful here.'
The clergyman however expressed the believe that state police and restructuring are some of the ways to address the challenges confronting the country.
He said: 'we believe that the establishment of state police in Nigeria will be accepted by everybody. This is a strategy of policing that focuses on building ties and working closely with members of the community. It will help to curb the rising tide of insecurity and other social vices at the local level.
'Nigeria is ripe enough for restructuring. The present structure is obsolete and cannot carry us far. Restructuring will affect some old structures of Nigeria's socio-political and economic policy. It will involve honest dialogue. There is now injustice, marginalization, resulting to a failing state. We therefore need to redesign Nigeria.
'Government in Nigeria is currently too centralised. This has ridiculed our so-called federal system. We require decentralization of powers. Many of the items concurrently on the exclusive list in the constitution, should either be shared with the state government or handed over to the state government completely. Example is education. This restructuring should be now!'