The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), in Ogun, during the last general election, Comrade Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, on Friday, in Ibadan, Oyo capital, underscored the critical need for President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to tackle food insecurity in the country in order to address hunger and growing cases of suicide.
He noted that the backlash of attacks on farmlands in some parts of the country during the regime of former President Muhammadu Buhari is already taking its toll on prices of food commodities in the country.
Speaking to journalists on the side of an award ceremony organised by the Oyo State Canteen Workers’ Union, held at Ibadan Recreation Club, Oguntoyinbo stated: “The biting effects of previous killing of farmers, attacks and mass destruction of farmlands by herders in the North and some parts of the South West, which were rampant during the past government of Buhari is now more visible.”
“He stated: “We raised the alarm then and some stakeholders also sounded the bell of warning, but the insecurity situation, especially in most farm settlements in the North East and some parts of the South was left adequately attended to by relevant security agencies.
“Now we are paying dearly for it. With the current high inflationary rate, occasioned by the wobbling economy in Nigeria, prices of food commodities have been further pushed up beyond the reach of the common man. Productivity of large-scale farmers has been negatively affected because sizable number of farmers in agricultural value chain have fled their farms due to attacks by deadly bandits and hoodlums.
“There is hardly a day one is not disturbed by sad news of Nigerians committing suicide. This is the more reason President Bola Tinubu should re-assess his economic blue print and map out strategies to ensure effective security of all parts of the country and also checkmate high inflationary rate. The Federal Government under his watch must also create enabling socioeconomic atmosphere capable of attracting investors to give way for employment generation,” Oguntoyinbo stated.
The NNPP chieftain, who was honoured with the award of Golden Son of Yorubaland by the Oyo State Canteen Workers’ Union, was accompanied to the event by the popular Fuji artist, Alhaji Abass Akande Obesere.
Others in his entourage include the Public Relations Officer PRO) of the NNPP in the South-West, Honourable Kilamuwaye Badmus; the Ogun State PRO of the party, Comrade Olowu Olayemi Omokehinde; Fatai Adenaya, Akingbala Semiu, amongst others.
