By Zika Bobby
United State-based lawyer, Chief Owolabi Salis, has commended Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the Smart Garden Initiative.
Salis who in 2019 contested for governorship on the platform of Alliance For Democracy described the move as a right step latent with the auspicious prospect to transform the agricultural sector from its present rudimentary bare-subsistence to immensely transformative proportion for national self-sufficiency, if properly handled with sustained and intensified consistency.
He lauded Chief Afe Babalola, who at an event, said he often source his food needs including meats from his own farm and would never purchase food outside.
“Indeed this epic revelation by Chief Babalola is an exemplary action that commends itself for emulation by us all, because this is a man, who has all the financial resources in this world to afford whatever he desires, yet he jettisoned that option and rather decided to show us a worthy example in self-sufficiency,” he said.
He added: “The move by the First Lady is indeed unprecedented. It really shows that she cares, and not only that she cares and has the motherly empathy to feel for the poor, she also strives in her own way to contribute her own quota towards ameliorating their plight, as we can all see during the unveiling of her Smart Garden Initiative.”
“She could have reclined in the cozy comfort of her presidential residence, but rather chose not to do so, touched by the severe plight of the people, especially the poor.”
He described the initiative as properly conceptualised and well thought out.
“Crops like Ewedu, Okra, among others, which the First Lady started with are not only the common staples, they are also highly nutritious and medicinal as well. Moreover, the competitive spirit with which she kick-started it with N25 million to be won, will go a long way to excite popular interest,” he stated further.
He also advocated the need for the First Lady to evolve a more enduring and effective mechanism to harmonise and integrate the states and the local governments, coupled with the effective participation of the Ministry of Agriculture, in a collaborative synergy aimed at elevating the scheme to a formidable mechanism to lift the frontiers of agricultural production to remarkably phenomenal heights.
He urged Nigerians to take a cue from the initiative, adding that the food crises currently pervading the nation, has attained such an emergency situation that only an emergency solution could stave off the impending danger.