A former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has stressed the need for Nigeria to return to agriculture in order to enhance the food self-sufficiency quest of the country.
Daniel, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Ogun East, also warned the political class against taking the electorate for granted as the country prepares for the 2023 general elections.
He spoke yesterday at the palace of Alaperu of Iperu, Oba Adeleke Idowu Basibo, where he paid courtesies to all the traditional rulers in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.
The event, which was part of Daniel’s ongoing ward-to-ward tour across the nine local government areas in the Ogun East Senatorial District, preceded the empowerment and award of scholarships to indigent students in Ikenne Local Government.
Speaking against the backdrop of global food shortages, the former governor said Nigeria urgently needs to return to agriculture as a viable way of increasing local food production and ensuring a sustainable economy.
He explained that his interest in revitalizing agriculture and complementing the sector with necessary infrastructure informed why the idea of an agro-cargo airport was conceived during his tenure as governor about 15 years ago.
He added that his administration acquired the land for the airport project in Ikenne, paid compensation to affected landowners and did the airport designs before leaving office.
“There is global food shortages, there is hunger in the land. Nigeria needs to return to agriculture as alternative means of generating revenue and foreign exchange and also increase local food sufficiency.
“Our belief in agriculture is the same reason why we started giving out Agriculture Tractors as part of our empowerment programme. It is telling the people the next way to go which is agriculture.”
Daniel commended the incumbent governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for continuing with the execution of the airport project which, he noted, was already nearing completion.
The former governor, who stated that Nigerians are now increasingly becoming politically conscious, asked political leaders to always carry the people along toward ensuring inclusive governance and popular participation.
He said despite the lack of formidable opponents against him in the 2023 senatorial race, he will not desist from engaging with the people to know their yearnings and get first-hand information about their expectations from him.
Daniel further said it was a great honour for him to be nominated to represent Ogun East in the National Assembly like many illustrious indigenes of the state, including late Senator Abraham Adesanya, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye and Senator Adegbenga Kaka.
He said, “We had done 31 wards in three local governments visited so far and in all these locations, we are yet to see one poster of any party for that senatorial slot. We have not seen one of the opposition and people keep saying, why are you then still going around?
“First, the biggest mistake you can make is to take your people for granted. And as you know, even my best friends, I never take them for granted. To represent Ogun East Senatorial District is a great honour, that was the position that we have many great people from this state.”
“I think it is therefore very important that before you represent any people, you must go out, listen to them, even if they say 10 things, perhaps you can make use of two or three from them. And I can assure you, our ward-to-ward tour has been an eye-opener.”
Amidst jubilation, Daniel toured several communities in the local government, including Ogere, Iperu, Irolu, Ilishan and Ikenne where he solicited massive support for all APC candidates in the 2023 elections.
A major highlight of the ward-to-ward tour is the Gateway Front Foundation Free Medical Screening program which over 800 aged and babies attended to as well as an Empowerment raffle where branded Toyota saloon car, five Motorcycles, 2.5KVA generators were won as well as over 500 other items, including sewing machines and grinding machines.
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