Government and the Politics of Ruga Settlement Implications for the Unity of Nigeria

Farmers in Nigeria have ceased to worry about the imminent dangers of climate change and field attacks from rodents, pests, and diseases on their crops in the field. They have shifted their worries to the menace of the nihilist nomads of the Fulani extraction. Following this is the concern in recent times of the imminent danger in the plan to establish for the nihilist Fulani nomads, Ruga which in Hausa is a settlement for herders and their cattle, also known as cattle colonies, throughout the nation by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. This study examines the fundamental issues surrounding the conflict between Fulani herdsmen and sedentary farmers, and the politics surrounding government's intent to establish Ruga settlements all over the country. To achieve this, the study uses qualitative and explorative research methods, while it derives relevant data from secondary sources such as books, journal articles, newspapers, official documents and Internet materials. The study adopts Chabal's 2009 twofold conflict theory and the Richard Hofstadter 2008 and Peter Knight's 2003 conspiracy theories to juxtapose the causes of the conflict between Fulani herdsmen and sedentary famers in the country, and ascertain the implications of establishing cattle colonies across the country by the Federal Government. Considering these, the study proffers useful recommendations that will benefit the sedentary farmers and herdsmen on the one hand and, the nation in general, on the other hand. Overall, the research noted that a total compliance to the doctrine of true federalism and respect for the rule of law enshrine, among others are recommended. Oluka, Nduka Lucas | Ativie, C. Ailende | Efeosa-Temple, Gladness Chinwe "Government and the Politics of Ruga Settlement: Implications for the Unity of Nigeria" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-3 | Issue-6 , October 2019, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd29386.pd