From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Former Ogun State governor, Aremo Segun Osoba, has emphasised the need to urgently address banditry and herdsmen-farmer conflicts, saying they were severely affecting agricultural productivity in the country.
Osoba, who spoke to newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja, said Nigeria has the potential to feed itself but was being held back by the insecurity plaguing rural areas.
“Food sustenance is the major issue we are facing right now,” Osoba said, and pointed to banditry and ongoing clashes between herders and farmers as critical obstacles preventing Nigeria from achieving self-sufficiency in food production.
According to him, the state of insecurity, particularly in farming communities, has drastically reduced access to farmlands, leading to lower agricultural output.
“The bandits are not allowing many of our farmers to go to the farm, and we are having clashes between herdsmen and farmers,” he lamented, stressing that the country’s agricultural potential was being undermined by the persistent conflicts.
Osoba’s remarks is coming at a time when food security has become a national concern, with experts warning that Nigeria’s dependence on food imports could lead to further economic instability. Despite the country’s fertile land and favourable climate, food production has been significantly hampered by banditry, communal clashes, and herdsmen-farmer disputes, particularly in the northern and central regions, which are key agricultural zones.
“Nigeria can feed itself,” Osoba asserted, drawing attention to the paradox of a nation rich in agricultural resources but struggling to meet its own food needs.
“It is unfortunate because this is not just an African problem; it happens all over the world,” he said.
He compared Nigeria’s situation to global political dynamics, recalling past tensions between political leaders and their deputies as a metaphor for the broader governance issues affecting the country.
The former governor urged the government to take decisive steps in curbing insecurity and fostering good governance to ensure Nigeria can fully leverage its agricultural potential. “We need strong leadership that can tackle these issues head-on,” he said, emphasising that securing the nation’s farmlands from bandits and fostering peaceful co-existence between herdsmen and farmers is essential for achieving sustainable development.
He also touched on the difficulties facing Nigeria’s political system, particularly the strained relationships between governors and their deputies, which have led to frequent impeachments and political instability at the state level. Drawing parallels between Nigeria and other countries, he referenced the political dynamics between former United States president, Bill Clinton, and his vice president, Al Gore, as an example of how deputies often struggle to rise within political hierarchies.
“You can’t amend the constitution against governors using their influence and power to impeach their deputies. There’s nothing you can do,” Osoba remarked, explaining that governors, who hold significant powers over state legislatures, often have the ability to remove their deputies with little resistance.
“If the House of Assembly is friendly with the governor, the governor can impeach the deputy with ease,” he said.
He cited the example of former president Goodluck Jonathan, who rose from being a deputy governor in Bayelsa State to becoming the nation’s vice president and eventually president, to illustrate how deputies can succeed despite the challenges.
“When you look at the system, so many PhD holders who are former deputy governors are highly qualified,” Osoba pointed out, noting that political ambition and competence do not always translate into straightforward success due to the entrenched power dynamics.