Daud Olatunji
Former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, has called on Nigerians to embrace “Operation Feed Yourself” as a solution to the escalating food crisis in the country.
Speaking at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Leadership and Mentorship Conference in Abeokuta, Osoba revealed that he and his family have been practising backyard farming, growing various crops within their compound to mitigate the high cost of food.
Osoba, who was honoured with an award by the NMA’s Ogun State Branch, emphasised the importance of backyard farming in addressing food scarcity.
He pointed out that similar initiatives in the past, such as school farming, significantly contributed to food sufficiency and could be revived to combat the current crisis.
He attributed the food shortage to the Boko Haram insurgency, which has prevented many farmers in the North from accessing their farms.
“The situation in the country is tough and rough. Feeding has become a challenge for many Nigerians, with five balls of tomatoes costing as much as N500 to N1000,” Osoba lamented.
“We must return to farming. It is the only solution to this hunger crisis. America feeds itself, and we can do the same. Nigeria is blessed with fertile soil. We need to grow what we eat. My wife and I grow our spinach, watermelon, bitter leaf, and more. We no longer buy certain things from the market; we eat what we grow.”
Turning to the topic of restructuring, Osoba criticised the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari for rejecting the report of the committee led by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, which recommended restructuring.
Osoba claimed that a cabal within Aso Rock influenced the decision to discard the report, which he believes would have prevented the country’s current precarious situation.
“Those who think restructuring Nigeria is against them will live to regret it,” Osoba warned.
He urged Nigerians to continue advocating restructuring through peaceful means, stressing the importance of addressing the numerous challenges facing the country.
He also highlighted corruption as a significant obstacle to national development, noting that the loss of core values has contributed to Nigeria’s current low point.
Osoba called on leaders to be resilient, focused, and determined to act in the best interests of the people.
He also appealed to Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in addressing the nation’s issues.
In his remarks, Dr. Kunle Ashimi, the State Chairman of NMA, commended Osoba for his insightful contributions and noted the significant achievements recorded during his two-year tenure in office.
He said the Leadership and Mentorship Conference, now in its second edition, aims to inspire positive change and effective leadership amidst challenging times.
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