Kogi guber: 'Our future is secured with Bello'

Cashew farmers under the auspices of Kogi East Cashew Farmers Association (CECFA) have declared support for Governor Bello’s re-election bid, ahead of November’s governorship election in Kogi State.

This was the resolution reached by the group and made public in Anyigba today Monday, October 7th.

CECFA National President, Paul Idachaba JP declared that the group’s future is brighter with Yahaya Bello as governor, hence their support for consolidation.

He said the endorsement became imperative in view of the efforts the governor had made to drive cashew production in the state and make it more profitable for the farmers.

“Just like other state have their natural resources which they benefit from, Kogi State is reputed for cashew production and we are among the leading states in this venture. Although cashew farmers didn’t get the needed support from previous PDP governments in the state despite our support for them, the administration of Yahaya Bello has demonstrated enthusiasm to promote cashew production in the state and make it more profitable for us.

“We are very much aware of the plans to establish two cashew processing factories in Kogi East and other programs that are for the mutual benefit of both the farmers and the state, that is why CECFA resolved to support the re-election of governor Yahaya Bello come November 16 with massive votes.”

He said the governor’s commitment to agriculture through various schemes was an indication that Kogi will soon end challenges of hunger, poverty, food security and unemployment as cashew carries the potential of raking huge revenue for the nation.

According to Idachaba, the re-election of governor Yahaya Bello is to ensure self-sufficiency in cashew production. He also said the step would help the state in generating revenue from the product and move the state from overdependence on federal allocation.

“We have over ten thousand members across Kogi East and we are all speaking with one voice, we promise our unalloyed commitment in making sure that bulk of our votes go for governor Bello to achieve the desired transformation for the state.” he added.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Kehinde Oloruntoba said Governor Yahaya Bello is a farmer-friendly governor who has revolutionized agriculture in Kogi State.

He said the governor acknowledged the huge potentials of cashew to boasting the revenue base of the state, that is why he lobbied the federal government to establish processing factories for the cash crop in the state.

He said the efforts of the governor paid off, which has made the federal government to approve two factories for the state, both of which will be sited in Dekina and Ofu local governments of Kogi East because the region produced over seventy percent of the crop in the state.

In his reaction, the running mate to Governor Yahaya Bello in the November 16 governorship election, Chief Edward Onoja said agriculture tops the priority list of Governor Yahaya Bello, stating that government have robust plans to ensure that cashew farmers benefit from the venture.

He said that Kogi State is the largest producer of cashew in the country, and bulk of the cashew comes from Kogi East, hence the decision of the government to establish processing factories in the area to ensure value for production.

He said apart from the industrialization of cashew production in the area, the establishment of these plants will create employment opportunities for many and contribute immensely to the development of the area.

Onoja pointed at the various projects embarked on by Governor Yahaya Bello in Kogi East, saying that they are all a testimony of his love for the people of Kogi East and his desire to even the dividends of democracy across the state.

He appreciated the cashew farmers union for their decision to support a government with a clear cut agenda for the development of the land, and promised that the union will not regret their decision.

Earlier, Chief Edward Onoja alongside the Zonal Chairman of the APC, Hon Ahmed Attah inaugurated the party’s campaign council for Dekina local government with a charge to work and deliver maximum votes for the party in the November polls.

The Director General of the campaign council, Hon. Usman Ochidi, pledged on behalf of the council to work effectively to deliver the local government to APC.

He urged the party leaders not to be disturbed by the fact that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party is from the area, and said that the PDP and her candidate are not popular in the local government.