By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Edo State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Joel Usiagu, has commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for his government’s support to farmers in the state, hailing the administration’s life-changing agricultural development initiatives.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, the farmers’ association chairman debunked claims that the association had endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections.
He noted that the association has not endorsed any candidate, noting that the supposed endorser, Bako Dogo, is still under suspension from the association and cannot speak for the association in any capacity.
He said, “Alhaji Bako Dogo has no right to speak for farmers in Edo State as he is not the chairman of the State’s chapter of the association. He is a suspended member of the association. He has no standard and we are dissociating ourselves from him
“If any political party or candidate wants the support of AFAN, they should come to the association’s secretariat with their manifestoes showing their plans for the development of the association to address us. We don’t need your money; we need to see your plans for us.”
Acknowledging the Obaseki-led government’s agricultural development programmes which have translated to improved livelihoods for the farmers, Usiagu noted, “The Edo State Government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki has supported 1,376 smallholder farmers with inputs under the independent farmers initiative; constructed warehouses for farmers; supported 1,305 and 1,903 farmers in 2020 and 2021 respectively in crop, livestock and fisheries production; established mechanization hub via the procurement of tractors and harvesters.”
He added, “The state government has also developed over 1,050 hectares of land across the three senatorial districts of the state for cluster farming; distributed 50,000 cashew seedlings and 10,000 cocoa seedlings to Edo farmers; supported 20 beneficiaries in mushroom enterprise; attracted agro investors including Saro Africa, ARPN, Agripalm, Fayus, among others.”
Usiagu further enjoined the general public not to be swayed or deceived by Bako and his claims of being the chairman of the association.
