President of Farmers Association of Nigeria, Edo State branch, and President-General of Kogi Indigenes in Diaspora Worldwide, Bako Dowgu, speaks with BEN OGBEMUDIA on a wide range of issues, including insecurity, impending food crisis, and politics ahead of the 2023 elections.

You were recently in Abuja for the investiture of a patron into our association, what prompted the move?

After the meeting in Abuja, I felt it was important to invest mentorship in Femi Adesina because he also has a passion for farming despite being a Journalist. The second schedule of the constitution, allows civil servants to become farmers or to belong to farmers’ associations. Farming is a chain that involves people participating either in buying and selling or planting and harvesting. We are appealing to the government at the federal and state levels that it will no longer be acceptable to farmers in Nigeria to appoint a minister or commissioner of agriculture without first registering with the umbrella body of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria. It is now mandatory that one must be a registered farmer before appointment as either minister or commissioner for Agriculture. The person should know about farming. We will soon embark on wide protest and sensitization for the President and Governors to be aware.

Is that the only way we can have food stability in Nigeria?

Yes, that is the only way. If you look at the crisis going on in Nigeria, for us to be able to achieve sustainability in farm produce we must have an expert who is in charge. We want only those who know about farming to occupy those seats. We are gathering not less than 100,000 signatories, and 100,000 registrations under the body that we are going to support. Any politician who fails to partner with farmers cannot join us.

We heard of different loans to farmers from the central bank. How well has the association benefitted from these loans either at the federal or state government levels?

We didn’t have capable hands but now we have farmers, and capable leadership like Farouk, these people are also farmers and have vast knowledge about the challenges and needs of farmers. The NASA loan, we didn’t benefit from it, rather they used people to make money for him and his family. Farmers didn’t benefit from the loans. Maybe their friends did. We are trying our best to put an end to corruption. This is planting season for farmers and we have over a $400 million loan from China all that is left is for the EFCC to sign in to its distribution. Machines that can be used to evacuate farm produce are being produced right now and when it arrives in Nigeria, it is going to be shared amongst the states. Under this new leadership, things will happen for good and many civil servants have joined to become farmers because of the new leadership.

As a farmer what is your advice to the government of Nigeria?

My advice to the government of Nigeria both at the state and federal level is to partner with the umbrella body and not with mediocre. The government should go through the umbrella body which will give the lists of farmers in the state and local governments.

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Are you a politician?

Yes, all traditional rulers are politicians. I am a traditional ruler, a politician, and a farmer. I studied Political Science in school, which I still practice today.

2023 is fast approaching and a lot is going on. In your assessment of the APC and PDP, do you think these parties can rescue Nigeria from the challenges facing the country?

Nigeria does not need a saint at this point, Nigeria needs a repented criminal that can rescue the nation. From APC and PDP, we have repented criminals and one of them must emerge. We need people who know much more about the economy, people that have the people’s interests at heart, and who will block the leakages exploited by corrupt leaders.

As a politician what in your view is the solution to the spate of violence and killings sweeping across the country taking into account the murder of Deborah in Sokoto.

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As a Muslim it is wrong, you don’t fight for a prophet, allow the prophet to fight for himself. I will not subscribe to the act of killing a fellow citizen. The person did not believe in your faith and you have no right to kill the person. You can only challenge those who believe in your faith according to the Qur’an. I’m calling out all Muslims to please stop the killings.

How can the government tackle banditry, kidnapping, and other issues fuelling insecurity in the country?

Our President is sleeping, if he is not sleeping, the issue of banditry will not arise. When we have a vibrant President who employs the youths and ensures education is mandatory, the issue of banditry and insecurity will be a thing of the past.