We should settle for Irrigation for our Agriculture like the North – Olubadan and Traditional worshippers advise Seyi Makinde, others

The paramount ruler of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan, and traditional worshippers in Nigeria have advised the Federal government and the South-West governors to adopt irrigation farming as a matter of emergency and necessity in a bid to survive forecasts of food scarcity in the year 2021.

The Oke-Ogun region of Farmers association in Oyo State have just confirmed that there would be a shortage of maize in 2021 because of what they tagged a failed climate forecast, in 2020, which they followed and had drought eat up all their labour.

Olubadan of Ibadan urged that for Nigeria to stave off food scarcity in the year, actions should be proposed towards mass irrigation farming to avert the effects of bad weather during farming season, and farmers need total protection from hoodlums that raid their farms.

Olubadan of Ibadan stated this at the coronation of Dr Fayemi Fakayode as the Mogaji of Onibudo family at the Ibadan House, Oke Aremo, Yemetu, Ibadan just this last weekend.

Chief Shina Olatunji Aresa, the Mogaji of Okiti Family in Ibadan, was the Olubadan’s representative at the event, he explained that every Nigerian should be disturbed with the news of possible food predicament in the year 2021 as the economy is not people-friendly, due to the pandemic.

“We should see that the time has come for us to realize that the way we practice farming here in South-West Nigeria cannot sustain us in food sufficiency, the year 2020 food shortage projection by some Nigerians is predicated on so many reasons ranging from bad weather, insecurity and largely poor funding from the government.

“We can avert hunger and food crisis if the federal government can come to the aid of farmers and provide security for farmers, situations, where farmers were killed and maimed in their farmlands, situations where crops were destroyed by cattle, will not attract young Nigerians to farming.

“We are also using this opportunity to call on our governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to sign the Anti-grazing law of Oyo State to make the perpetrators of farm destruction and attacks on farmers have a rethink before committing such crime, this will also give assurance to those that are interested in farming.”

Dr Biodun Agboola, Secretary-General, International Council for Ifa Religion, told newsmen the time was ready for the Southwestern States to work together in ensuring food sufficiency in the year 2021.

Agboola, lectures at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, at the Faculty of Agriculture, said irrigation system only could put a lasting remedy to a food crisis in Nigeria, citing the example of the full adoption of irrigation farming in Northern Nigeria.

“As a farmer myself, I have come to realize that the problem farmers encounter id lack of good facilities and infrastructures in the farm and for the citizens to escape hunger, we must produce more food, the South-West governors should collaborate and evolve solutions to this problem.

“They should adopt mass irrigation farming as the permanent solution to a food crisis in our region, they are already doing that in the North, their governors gave support to farmers, the federal government is doing the same thing for them through the federal agencies, we should adopt same.

“We have Ikere Gorge Dam at Iseyin, we have Erelu Water Works, Asejire and others which can be used to assist farming settlements along these areas to be free from poor weather and natural occurrences that affect farm cultivation.”

Utilising his own words, the new Mogaji Onibudo who preceding his installation was the Secretary, Traditional Religion Worshippers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State branch, Dr Fayemi Fakayode appreciated the Olubadan-in-council, led by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji (Aje Oguguniso 1) and the Onibudo family for ordaining him as the Mogaji Onibudo of the Onibudo family, Oopo Yeosa, Oke Ayeye in Ibadan.

His appointment and installation as Mogaji was correlating with the improvement steps of the Olubadan to spread social development to the far corners of Ibadan, he stated.

A former member of Oyo State Inter-Religious/Ethnic Committee between 2014 and 2019, Mogaji Onibudo has participated in the socio-cultural growth of Ibadan

The Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadan, Chief Emiola Onidewure, who was the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Odunade Ademola Aare-ago, Chief Mogaji Ariyori, Chairman, Ibadan Mogajis and the Araba Olusese of Ibadanland, Chief Araba Ifalere Odegbola, we’re among the notable icons present at the event.