Ohanaeze fears food blockage, tasks Govs to adopt Late Michael Okpara’s agriculture programme
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has charged governors of Igbo extraction to adopt the Agricultural revolution programmes of the Late Premier of Eastern Region, Michael Okpara to ensure food sufficiency and security in the land.
This is coming as there are reports that some northerners have decided to stop the transportation of food items, including cows to the southern part of Nigeria.
This, it was gathered, was as a result of the crises between southerners and northerners, especially the Shasha market riot in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital as well as the herders-farmers clashes in different parts of the region.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a press statement by its Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, on Friday, said it is the right time governors and citizens of Igbo nation invest in agriculture, warning that the region would not condone any attempt to intimidate or insult their collective survival by any section of the country.
The highest Igbo organization further called for maximum security in every nook and crannies of Igbo land during this farming season to forestall herders and farmer’s clashes.
According to Ohanaeze: “in-as-much as we advocate maximum security and protection of Igbo farmers during this farming season, the Governors must ensure they provide adequate security.
We wish to categorically state that Agriculture is the next destination for investment in Igbo land. By so doing, we are calling on Ndigbo to invest in Small Scale agriculture. Some governors should emulate Gov Dave Umahi led government Agriculture revolution to ensure food security for Ndigbo from now to 2023.
“The Northerners should be worried about a few elements who will portray the north in bad light. We have never forgotten that the high food blockage was used as warfare against Ndigbo in 1967 civil war.
“Ndigbo should prepare themselves and never allow food blockage from North become determinant factor to use against Igbo project in 2023. The food blockage was in an attempt by the northern cabal to thwart the collective ambition of Igbo nation in 2023, “the Igbo group claimed.
Daily Post