Food Price Hike: Afenifere Suggests Way Out … Supports Kabba, Egbe People On Agric And Medical Science Varsities
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has called on governments in Yorubaland to show more commitment to agriculture with a view to making food more available for their people and to boost the economy of the region.
According to the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, this was part of the resolutions made during the recent Caucus Meeting of the body that held in Akure, Ondo State.
He said that the meeting, after considering the centrality of food in any society and high cost of food items in Yorubaland, nay Nigeria, today, “called on governments, particularly in the South West, to adopt a better attitude to agriculture. For instance, policy papers on how Farm Settlements were established and run when the area was known as Western Region and Western State should be revisited and reviewed in line with the present reality for implementation purpose”.
He added that in reworking the farm settlements programmes, complete or near-complete mechanization of farming and agricultural practices generally must become the norm.
“Besides, local government councils should be given the mandate and leverage to establish farms in their respective areas. Farm inputs be made available to the farmers at subsidized rates. In the same vein, food items can be made available to the people at subsidized rates”.
Asked about the efforts of the Yorubas in Kogi State to have tertiary institutions in their area, Ajayi said that Afenifere is “very much in support of the desire and efforts of our people in Kogi State and elsewhere to enhance their opportunities for education.
“As a matter of fact, the matter came up during our last Caucus meeting in Akure. At the meeting, the federal government was called upon to upgrade the School of Agriculture in Kabba, to a full-fledged federal university. This is in keeping with the aspirations of the people to improve the quality and standard of teaching and products of the institution as well as boosting agricultural practices.”
In the same vein, the desire of our people in Egbe to have Federal Medical Sciences in their area is also fully supported.
It would be recalled that the people of Kabba in Kabba-Bunu local government of Kogi State have been agitating for the College of Agriculture in Kabba to be upgraded to a federal university.
Obaro of Kabba, His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Oladele Owoniyi Otitoleke Oweyomade I, registered his people’s desire in this respect.
He spoke at the said Afenifere meeting through the of Oba (Dr.) Muyiwa Ibeun, Elulu of Mopa.
The Senator representing Kogi West in the Upper Chamber, Sen. Sunday Steve Karimi, last week disclosed that the bills on the proposed universities have already passed the second reading in the Senate and third reading the House of Representatives.
