There’s a cheering news that in spite of the Boko Haram and Bandit attacks, farmers are fully back on their farms in many parts of the North.
According to the Governor of Kebbi State who doubles as Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, not much of the farm land is currently empty across the North.
“I drove from Kebbi State to Daura, and stopped to pick the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, and realized that for the eight hours of coming here, we didn’t see more than 10km of land that was not cultivated.”
Governor Bagudu, spoke today, July 22 when he led other governors under the umbrella of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at his Daura country home in Katsina State.
The governor said that the efforts of the President to mainstream agriculture as mainstay of the economy is yielding results.
“It goes to show that the efforts to improve security is also paying off. Farmers are taking advantage and planting.
“In six weeks, Your Excellency, you have commissioned projects in Lagos, Kano, Katsina and Borno States, and also launched some projects virtually.
“We appreciate the projects the federal government is doing in every state of the country and supporting governors, even those that are not so progressive.”
Governor Bagudu said that three governors: Professor Ben Ayade of Cross River, David Umahi of Ebonyi and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara left their former parties to join the APC because of the fatherliness, equitable character and focus of the President on bottom-up development.
“We are proud to have you as our leader. Your achievements and ideals are inculcated in all of us.”
Responding, President Buh said that the future of the country would be shaped by the diligence and honesty of those who document history and provide analysis of situations, knowing the value of what obtained in the past, and afterwards.
He said that it would be unfortunate to mislead electorate with lies and personal bias, reiterating the need to put the larger interest of the country beyond other colorations.
“For the time remaining, and for those who have one more term in office based on the provision of the constitution, the elections are important to the parties. Intellectuals and historians should be fair to us so that those who are looking for leadership positions will not exploit the political ignorance or lack of knowledge of the people.”
The President advised the governors to remain steadfast on delivering their promises to the people.
“We have done our best and thank God for what we have been able to achieve with the available resources, otherwise we would have been in trouble.”
The President said that the security situation has improved compared to the instability in the North East before 2015, and the South South, where some parts of the north were directly under the control of terrorists, while the south was facing serious challenges.
“The subsequent development in the North West is the most amazing, where people who lived together, spoke same language and shared common faith started killing each other and rustling cows.
“I had to change the security chiefs and we had to get down to the fundamentals of providing security. If you look at the situation in relation to time and resources, you will find out what we have been able to achieve.”
He said that oil prices fell from more than 100 dollars to less than 38 dollars under his administration, and the output that was 2.1 million barrels a day dropped to about 500,000 barrels, yet a lot was achieved.
The governors at the meeting with the President also include Prof Ben Ayade of Cross River, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, John Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who is Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, Simon Lalong of Plateau and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger, Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa States were also part of the homage to President Buahri’s country home.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 22, 2021
