Nass Republic
NASS REPUBLIC: As Lawan harps on food security. Two other stories, and a quote to remember
Last week, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, revealed his worries over the possible negative effects of the never-ending farmers-herders clashes.
Already, the clashes have bred mutual distrust between ethnic groups and even snowballed into a series of unpleasant exchanges between governors from different regions of the country.
Lawan’s concerns, like those of many other Nigerians, are looking to manifest in real terms as the consequences of the crisis are beginning to take their toll on ordinary Nigerians.
This, and other stories made the rounds past week as the National Assembly (NASS) carried on with its legislative duties.
Lawan’s food concerns
On February 25, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, expressed fears over the prevailing farmers-herders clashes describing it as a threat to food security in the country.
Speaking while playing host to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catrriona Laing CB, Lawan had said: “I’m of the view that because the rainy season will be here in the next two, three months, we need to secure the whole environment because for the peasant Nigerian, what is crucial to him is to be alive and go to his farm.
“If the environment is not secured, farmers will not be able to go to farms and that will be a big challenge to us because it is not going to be easy for us to provide food for all the Nigerian peasant farmers.”
Lawan’s fears are not new. They merely re-echo the ongoing discourse on the future of food security in the country and the seeming inaction or helplessness of the Nigerian state to contain security challenges posed by bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.
These security threats have seen to the destruction of crops and, in some cases, loss of lives. The massacre of no fewer than 43 rice farmers in Garin Kwashebe community, Borno State, by the Boko Haram insurgents, on November 28, 2020, is still fresh in the minds of many.
Besides, reports abound of how bandits levy farmers before they can work on their farms.
The accompanying skirmishes and mutual distrust recently led to an embargo of food and animal supplies to the South.
Indeed, the challenge of food security in Nigeria looms large and no keen observer needs a Lawan to sing the reality tune.
Lawan and other political leaders must realize, therefore, that this is not the time to play politics but a season to build necessary synergies across political divides to stem insecurity and guarantee food on the table of Nigerians.
NASS MEMORY LANE
Who said;
“The perpetrators of the invasion and looting were not #EndSARS protesters but coordinated hoodlums. They even broke down doors to rooms in the house to steal valuable assets. It was a pure daylight robbery. The actions of the hoodlums are condemnable and it is very disheartening that some bad elements in our society are hiding under the guise of #EndSARS protests to loot and disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Nigeria. I thank God we did not record any fatality, despite the violent invasion of my Oluyole House, looted materials and vandalisation therein?”
Answer: See end of post
Two other stories
Ndume’s anti-graft move
Senator Ali Ndume, on February 27, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sign an Executive Order on Unexplained Wealth as a productive means for financial investigation in the country.
“Unexplained Wealth Order must be domesticated in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari should sign an Executive Order on Unexplained Wealth to enable the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa to work.
“If one is in a house more than his salary, government should go after such a person to explain how he got the money. Mr. President should send a bill to that effect to the National Assembly to work on and pass,” he said while speaking to journalists in Abuja.
Read also: NASS REPUBLIC: As Bima labels Buhari incompetent. Two other stories, and a quote to remember
Ndume’s moves suggest a resolve and commitment to fighting corruption. It is also a call for value reorientation, with its possible implications for the anti-graft war as Bawa settles into his new task as EFCC Chairman.
However, as good as Ndume’s request sounds, it can only come to manifestation if Buhari fancies the idea. Hence, he should regard his work as not completely done until he is able to persuade Mr President to initiate an Executive order in that regard.
The other hard task, which may be considered suicidal, is to try and persuade his NASS colleagues to commit class suicidal by publicly giving up all that they had illegal acquired as most of them are certainly living above their means.
Gbajabiamila’s musings
On February 25, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, reaffirmed the resolve of the 9th Assembly towards laying the foundation for great achievements.
Gbajabiamila gave the assurance while receiving the report of the Sectoral Roundtable Session (SRS), on Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.
He had said: “We lay claim to the foundation for the revolutionary achievements we recorded. We have the Green Chamber magazine that educates the public about what we do. We now have the Green Book on sectoral engagements.”
Gbajabiamila’s attempt at self praise is understandable. By his disposition, he is the chief marketing officer of an assembly perceived by many as pursuing narrow group interests.
What would be of interest to countrymen, indeed, is whether Gbajabiamila’s aggregated achievements would pass the robust integrity test of Nigerians.
A probable shortfall would clearly indicate that Gbajabiamila’s claims to successes are mere acts of grandstanding.
Answer: Senator Teslim Folarin
He made the statement on October 25, 2020, after hoodlums invaded his house in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and looted several items, most of which were empowerment materials bought with public funds by a Federal Government Agency which were given to him for distribution. Folarin represents Oyo Central in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly.
By John Chukwu…
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
German Police bust alleged Nigerian scam dating ring
German authorities have arrested eleven individuals suspected of being members of a Nigerian mafia group involved in a large-scale dating...
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...