By Jon Egie
Ahead of the August 1, 2024 planned nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance, a group, Tinubu/Shettima Universal Initiative (TSUI) Back to Farm Campaign has called on Nigerians to consider going back to the farm for agricultural revolution their focal point rather than planning to go to the streets to cause mayhem in the name of protest against hunger and bad governance.
The call was contained in a statement issued by the National Coordinator of the group, Engr Felix Akpoyibo shortly after a strategic meeting in Lagos, Saturday, July 27.
He said before the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria the country had a stable economy based on agriculture and agric produce like Cocoa, Coffee, Cashew, Palm produce, Groundnuts etc.
In the face of the prevailing harsh economic realities, TSUI said an aggressive campaign for agricultural revolution through a determined effort to mobilise Nigerians to go back to the farm salvage the economic situation that has spiked hunger level should be the drive.
” It is only the availability of food on the table of every household that can be accepted as the panacea to the present economic challenges and the reasonable approach to solving the problem is to take our protest to the farmlands. ” He said.
While appreciating the effort of the Federal Government in addressing insecurity challenge in the country, TSUI called on President Bola Tinubu to expedite action to eradicate terrorists from farmlands and provide security for farmers and livestock owners across the country.
” Herdsmen have become a threat to agriculture and agric ventures; killing farmers, land owners, creating terror in farmlands and making farming practically impossible for old and prospective farmers.
” We call on concerned and capable Nigerians to join hands in the campaign to dislodge herdsmen from the country’s farmlands to enable agricultural revolution thrive.”
TSUI thanked the Osun State coordinator and the national Secretary of the group for successful registration of over 2000 members in the campaign to mobilise farmers and indigenes of Osun State to go back to the farm. He also thanked all coordinators in 36 states of the federation for their robust input so far.
He said TSUI has a vision of mobilising at least ten million Nigerians to join in the campaign in the next three years to help get Nigerians out of the woods of hunger.
” We call on all states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja to join the campaign. We appeal to all stakeholders: Local Government Council Chairmen, State governors, State Houses of Assembly members, Senators, House of Reps members, all members of Federal Executive Council (FEC); the private sector, faith based organisations and civil societies to key into the Mr President Go Back to Farm Campaign for the overall good of all Nigerians.”