By Matthew Ochada
The Forum of former political appointees who served under the previous Wada administration in Kogi State has pledged to go back to farming in order to tackle the issue of food scarcity in the state. However, they are requesting that the new governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, pay them their outstanding salaries so they can invest the money into agricultural activities this farming season.
Addressing journalists in Lokoja on Friday, Hon. Isiaka Kokori, who heads the newly formed “Operation Feed Kogi State” Food Production Committee within the forum, assured Governor Ododo of their readiness to channel the outstanding salaries towards boosting food production in the state.
“With the large number of our members determined to return to farming, we are confident bountiful harvests will be recorded, thereby solving the problem of food scarcity in Kogi State once and for all,” Kokori stated.
He added that politics is now over after the forum worked for Ododo’s victory in the last elections. “It is time to pull our resources together for the greater interest of Kogi State. Going back to farming is not a big deal, but we need money to get the required farm inputs,” Kokori pleaded with the governor to expedite payment of the outstanding salaries.
The forum believes that with its members, who are former political office holders, going back to tilling the land, Kogi can reap a bountiful harvest and become food sufficient in the coming years if adequately funded by the state government this farming season.
