Joel Usiagu, the chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Edo State, has praised Governor Godwin Obaseki for his administration’s assistance to farmers in the state and praised its measures for the growth of agriculture, which have the potential to change people’s lives.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the chairman of the farmers’ association refuted claims that the association had endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for president in the next general elections.
He pointed out that the association has not given its support to any particular candidate, and that Bako Dogo, the alleged endorser, is currently on suspension from the association and is therefore unable to speak on behalf of the association.
He declared: “Alhaji Bako Dogo has no authority to speak for farmers in Edo State because he is not the association’s chapter’s state chairman. He is a suspended member of the association. We are separating ourselves from him because he has no standards.
“Any political party or candidate seeking AFAN’s support should visit the association’s secretariat and approach us with their manifestos outlining their goals for the association’s growth. We need to know your plans for us, not your money.
Usiagu acknowledged the Obaseki-led administration’s agricultural development initiatives, noting that they had improved farmers’ livelihoods: “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 the Independent Farmers Initiative as a state program; and established the Independent Farmers Initiative as
The state government, he continued, “has also developed more than 1,050 hectares of land across the state’s three senatorial districts for cluster farming; distributed 50,000 cashew seedlings and 10,000 cocoa seedlings to Edo farmers; supported 20 beneficiaries in mushroom enterprise; and attracted agro investors such as Saro Africa, ARPN, Agripalm, and Fayus, among others.
Usiagu further urged the public not to be misled or swayed by Bako’s assertions of being the chairman of the association.