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Publicise MOU with Zimbabwean Farmers, Saraki Told
A frontline member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Aliyu Aremo Salami, has called on Governor Bukola Saraki to make full disclosure to the general public, contents of the Memorandum of Understanding he signed with Zimbabwean Farmers, in connection with the ceding of land.
"The matter is too fundamental to the destiny of Kwara indigenes and generation yet unborn, to be finalised in the privacy of Dr Olusola Saraki's residence," Salami said.
He added that "any student of history will remember the gravity of land occupations as evidenced in the bloodshed in Israel, Palestine, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Angola and other countries. More so, the current investigation in the Kwara State House of Assembly is quite revealing. After granting these foreigners Kwara land free of charge, the governor is also involved in the arrangement to organise funding of their activities through local Nigerian banks (not foreign banks) namely Intercontinental Bank, United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank and Standard Trust Bank."
He wondered what the interest of the state government is in giving loan guarantees to foreign farmers, who had the land free and did not bring in funds from where they are coming from, adding, "this is a clear evidence of personal interest on the part of the state governor.
Salami said, "immediately on assumption of office, Governor Bukola Saraki transferred state fund to the Societe Generale Bank where he was executive vice-chairman. This is an evidence that the governor is interested in his family's enrichment and not working in the interest of Kwara State.
"At the assembly hearing, the attorney spoke of the original and new agreements. Both of these agreements should be made public through newspaper publication. This is more especially so, that Saraki had procured from each legislator, a letter of resignation, in order not to allow them freedom to scrutinise his official activities.
"The best judge therefore is the general public. This is necessary so that Saraki do not put up Kwara State for sale to the white farmers or to his family," Salami said. |
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Kwara: Pioneering commercial farming
The PUNCH, Tuesday, August 10, 2004
LAST week Tuesday’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kwara State Government and some displaced farmers from Zimbabwe appeared to be the tonic needed by Nigeria for the commencement of commercial agriculture by the white men. At least, so said the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who signed the MOU on behalf of the state government at a ceremony in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. Messrs Allan Jack and Ray Passaport signed on behalf of about 15 farmers who are part of the pioneer team.
Saraki, in his speech at the event, said that the promise by his government to alleviate the suffering of the people led to the decision to find an alternative source of revenue other than relying solely on the known sources. He said, “The volatility of international oil economy that we so much depend on certainly does not permit this. We must therefore build an alternative economic base. In doing this also, we must choose that which best represents our capacity and capability, and that which holds the greatest opportunities for the greatest number of our people.”
To achieve this, Saraki said his government opted to pursue commercial agriculture using the white farmers that were ejected from their lands in Zimbabwe. He said that agriculture was a natural opportunity for the state and a response to the conviction that sustainable development could only be achieved in Africa through food security. He said that it was only through agriculture and agro-allied economy that Africa can begin to claim space in the global market arena.
He said, “With this modest step of ours, let it be recorded for us that Kwara State has started. From now on, there is no looking back. As we sign this agreement to commence commercial agriculture in Kwara State, we wish to assure our people that we shall at all times do that which is in the best interest of the people of Kwara State. And for those of us that would be the immediate hosts and make the best use of the opportunities that their presence among you would bring.”
Part of the MOU was that about 1,000 acres of land would be leased to the white farmers for 25 years in the first instance and renewable after. The white farmers, according to the MOU, are also expected to commence the cultivation of the land allocated to them within three months, teach the local farmers the technologies for the best practices in farming and make the host communities the major beneficiaries of the project by giving the local people the opportunity of supplying the raw materials for the farm.
Jack said the farmers were prepared to put in their best into the project. He said that the farmers had mapped out a strategy that would enable them transfer the best technology in farming to the local farmers in Songa area where they have the 1,000 acres of land for the project. He equally said that the pioneer set of farmers were prepared to commence work immediately on the land, adding that the only thing remaining was to tidy up the financial details of the project with the banks that had shown interest in making loans available.
Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji A.S. Boriya, said the state would benefit from the programme in numerous ways. Boriya said the yields per hectare for such crops as maize, which at present is about a tonne, could be raised to between four and 10 tonnes per hectare. He said the programme would also give small scale farmers the opportunity to benefit from the practical experiences of the commercial farmers. |
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© 2004
REDEMPTION
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