Integrated Farmers Association of Nigeria decides to back Obi in presidential election

FORMER Anambra State governor Peter Obi has received the backing of the United Integrated Farmers Association of Nigeria (Unifan) in this month's presidential elections who said they believe he will help turn the agricultural sector around.

On February 25, Nigerians go to the polls to elect a new president with the main frontrunners being former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. According to Unifan, incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari has done very poorly in tackling the nation’s food crisis.

Unifan president Pastor Akinlami Aduragbemi, said there has not been any serious government intervention to ensure that Nigeria has sufficient food since the current government came on board eight years ago. Speaking in Abuja, he said he endorsed Governor Obi with the optimism that he would do well for the agricultural sector.

According to Pastor Aduragbemi, their support for Governor Obi was as a result of his track record in the agricultural sector when he served in Anambra State. He said farmers in the country had no choice than to support Governor Obi’s candidature as a result of numerous challenges bedevilling them.

Apparently, one of the cardinal policies of Governor Obi is to shift attention from a consuming economy to a productive one, with farming taking the centre stage. Stephen Osunkeye, Unifan's grand patron, based in Chicago, said that in the last few years, there had not been any serious intervention in the food crisis, adding that farmers have not been supported adequately, especially those at the grassroots.

Mr Osunkeye said: “Apart from always being at home, calls from family, friends and images we see and the cost of food makes one feel unhappy. Even the staple common food and produce become so expensive and unavoidable for the average Nigerian.

“In my opinion, from the last few years till now, there has not been any serious intervention in the food crisis and hunger. Farmers have not been supported adequately, especially farmers in grassroots with agricultural incentives.

“From what I have heard from Obi, in terms of making Nigeria a productive nation, he should give high support to farmers, settle issues of farmers and herders, provide low interest and soft loans to farmers. He must also make sure agriculture has a reasonable budget. All the country’s food baskets should be secure and receive funds for expansion.”