Thread by @Papadonkee

@obyezeks Happy to Ma.

1. The VP @ProfOsinbajo under his office as Chairman of the National Economic Council decided to find a solution to the farmer/herdsmen crisis.

2. As far back as 2017 he started a series of consultations with an aim of finding a solution that was acceptable to all.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 3. He took a special interest in the crisis when he was Acting President in 2017. He deployed troops to Taraba, and summoned a meeting with the security chiefs and Gov. Taraba.

4. Crucially, he said the FG would not dictate to states how they would use their land.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 5. Now fast-forward to 2019. In collaboration with state governors and representatives of farmers and herdsmen he presents the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which again is to be driven by States and is 100% optional.

6. The NLTP was approved by NEC in January 2019.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 7. In May 2019, Prof launches his plan, that has been 2 years in the making, and that’s when everything starts going crazy.

8. A week before handover FEC sits and approves million Naira contracts for Ruga settlements for herdsmen across the 36 states.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 9. Then the Ministry of Agric comes out to say Ruga is part of the NLTP.

10. Myetti Allah come and say not only is it part of the NLTP, but that itvis being driven by Prof Osinbajo.

11. Uproar immediately ensues. The SE Governors and most of the NEC reject Ruga.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 12. Benue state says staff of Min of Agric come to Benue and are told the Land Use Act vests land administration with the Governor and they (Benue) do not want Fulani settlements.

13. The Min. Of Agric officials leave, but return the next week with contractors to build the rugas

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 14. In an unprecedented move, Osinbajo distances himself from the Ruga initiative and states it is NOT captured by or forms any part of the NLTP.

15. The Presidency then issues a statement saying they will ‘begin’ consultations and that this consultations will be led by the SGF.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 16. The first pillar of the NLTP was not any settlements, it was conflict resolution and compensation to indigenes for losses they suffered from the conflict,

17. It also sought to establish sustainable business livestock practices for ALL Nigerians, not just Fulanis.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 18. All of this meticulous work has been jettisoned for a provocative land-grab and a shadowy billion-Naira contract award process that has seen broadband companies get construction contracts.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 19. This is what the controversy is about. From a rationale conversation trying to find a way for us to peacefully co-exist, shadowy interests within Aso Rock has created a crisis that might lead to loss of life.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 20. Already herdsmen are being chased out of some communities, and people up North are already talking about retaliation.

The FG needs to immediately halt this project, and resume the dialogue with the Governors.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 21. Finally, I saw this article from Gov. Kebbi. I’m happy one of the architects of this heist has surfaced.

22. Note he said N23bn has been budgeted for farmers. Do you know how he came to this fictional amount?

23. The FG would match funding commitments made by Govs.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo 24. 7 states voluntarily signed up for the pilot. Each state would bring N5bn and the FG would match it. That’s in theory a N35bn commitment from the FG.

25. It’s from this fictional N35bn that N12bn has been made available for contractors to build rugas.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo * Correction:

FEC approved contracts for the Ruga initiative in the 8th of May.

Contract award letters were issued on the 21st, a week before handover.

@obyezeks @ProfOsinbajo @threadreaderapp please unroll