We would like to believe that this disclosure was meant to fly a kite and test the waters of public opinion as to whether Nigerians are supportive of the so-called MOU. If that is the case, then let it be known that no MOU signed with any foreign country with regard to the spending of Nigeria’s public funds can override the constitution and the laws of the country.

There is still so much hunger, unemployment, poor power supply and insecurity linked to insurgency, herdsmen’s attacks and criminal banditry. A large number of people who operate in the agricultural sector has been displaced and the law-enforcement agents appear unable to cope.

Already, some of the states listed for the pilot programme, such as Ebonyi and Benue, have rejected it outright. Also, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, has issued a statement rebuffing the proposal. These are clear signs that this manner of pursuing the ranching programme will not promote peace in the states where it is being rejected.

THE Islamic State, one of the major terrorist networks ravaging the Middle East and other parts of the world, has now established a beachhead in Nigeria. The Department of State Services, DSS, confirmed this after the 2018 New Year Day Benue massacres.

The Federal and state governments responded with predictable reactive precision: Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State slammed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the affected local governments, a step which in the past, never helped to curtail the massacres. President Buhari also issued a condolence message and as usual, vowed that the Federal Government “will never rest” until the killers are brought to book.