The former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba has called on the federal government to take decisive action to curb insecurity in the country.
Osoba, in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Abuja, said that Nigeria has the potential to feed itself but is being held back by the insecurity plaguing rural areas, which demands urgent attention.
He also said that banditry and herdsmen-farmers conflicts, which are severely affecting agricultural productivity in the country, are major issues to tackle, to pave the way for sufficient food supply.
Osoba said, “I’m happy that this forum has discussed serious national issues, including food sustenance and good governance. Food sustenance is the major issue we are facing right now.
“Banditry and ongoing clashes between herdsmen and farmers are the critical obstacles preventing Nigeria from achieving self-sufficiency in food production.”
He stressed that the current state of insecurity, particularly in farming communities, has drastically reduced access to farmlands, leading to lower agricultural output.
He said, “Agricultural potential is being undermined by these persistent conflicts. Come 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 favorable 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.”
Osoba, comparing Nigeria’s situation to global political dynamics, recalled past tensions between political leaders and their deputies as a metaphor for the broader governance issues affecting the country and urged the government to take decisive steps in curbing insecurity and fostering good governance to ensure that Nigeria can fully leverage its agricultural potential.
He emphasized the need for strong leadership that can tackle these issues head-on, to secure the nation’s farmlands from bandits and fostering peaceful coexistence between herdsmen and farmers to achieve sustainable development.
He also said that the difficulties experienced in 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, are an unhealthy rivalry that needs to be tackled through sustainable reforms.
Osoba said, “The governors, who hold significant sway 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.”
