Regenerating Edo State remains my bounden duty all things considered. That there is hunger in our state is not in dispute as this has taken toll on the nooks and crannies of the state. Many of our people have been killed by severe shortage of food as many families fear to go to farms resulting from the activities of Abuja-backed armed militias masquerading as herdsmen. A good number of farms and our people have been destroyed and killed as a result of the armed invasion of Edo communities by Janjaweed armed militias with the government in Benin City tacitly egging them on instead of raising the alarm to attract the attention of the international community.
The APC-controlled government in the state has not helped matters either and this worsens food production in the state.
The Obaseki administration in Edo State has done virtually nothing in agricultural financing and development which speaks volumes for poor development of the agricultural sub-sector.
Many of our people in the Diaspora who relocated home to start agricultural and livestock farming were turned adrift and those who managed to set up farms had their farms destroyed by an invading band of Fulani marauduers with no compensation from the state government.
With insecurity staring our people ominously in the face many of the returnees have gone back overseas leaving the devil to pay.
There is a great danger inherent in over-reliance and dependence on food from misguided miscreants from a region that sees us as worthless objects of permanent subjugation and destruction.
A state ravaged by hunger but blessed with vast agricultural potentials whose labour she cannot positively mobilised is not ready to solve her food crisis.
It is, therefore, my interest and desire not only to revitalize but develop the agricultural subsector – a feat that will benefit our people in the long run.
My green revolution programme will create jobs for our young school leavers whose hopes have been dashed by the visionless Oshiomhonle/Obaseki administrations.
Daunting as the task may seem it is not unachievable.
The Netherlands which is about three times smaller in size than Edo State raked in no fewer than €92 billion in 2018 from the sale of agricultural products. That is to say we can make much more than that if Edo State follows suit.
These and many others are what we are set to achieve to regenerate our state thanks to the joint resolution drafted at the end of the historic 2018 TURIN DECLARATION in Italy which was well-attended by delegates of Edo State extraction from across the European Union.
Join us today to bring the products of good governance to reflect on the lives of our people with experience gathered over the years overseas.
Iyoha John Darlington
Edo State Governorship Candidate Designate
Peoples Party of Nigeria
