JUXTAPOSING THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN NIGERIA, IN THE AREAS OF AGRICULTURE, POLITICS AND LEADERSHIP AGRICULTURE

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Agriculture was the foundation of the early development in the west, but unfortunately the West had remained stagnated in this area, most of the State governors in the south west have done almost nothing, and are still not doing something meaningful to support private-agro-companies or major individuals with capacities and capabilities to farm large hectares of land, which can improve and expand farm produce using advanced-modern agricultural system.

Take it or leave it this is an area where the west strength lies, but have failed to develop it. What most state governments do in south west is to play to the gallery and corruptly enrich the people saddled with the responsibility to develop the sector.  What more can we ask for? Is it land, good weather condition, or human resource?

Only Lagos State keyed into rice revolution by partnering with Kebbi state which has resulted in the production of LAKE RICE. Ekiti State has the capacity to produce local rice in large quantity but nothing reasonable is happening in the state, as far as rice production is concerned.
Is Ondo State on the right path on Cocoa and Palm production? This is a subject to be explored in my next write-up.

70% of farm produces we consume locally is being cultivated in the Northern part of Nigeria, this is a verifiable fact. The scarcity of tomatoes, Onions and pepper last year is still fresh in our memories. Farming in the north has gone very big, both individuals and private companies are farming as if their lives depends on it and truly their lives depend on it. Dangote is one of the major leading companies in the north working day and night to produce enough to support her processing factories. The farm produces are being exported to other neighboring African countries (This is an Indication of how successful their Irrigation and fertilization efforts are)

POLITICS AND LEADERSHIP

The Hausa and Fulani have always had clear understanding of loyalty, unity of purpose, followership, trust, and believe in the leadership. To most people in the west, the northerners are mere abokis but funny enough they have dominated the political sphere of this nation for far too long, they hardly betray one another and pull-him-down politics does not exist in their dictionary. Sultan of Sokoto and the Emir of Kano represent the highest authority and the unifying factor of their people.

While in the west, we are enlightened and politically exposed, we have the minds of our own and are most of the times divided. This is our strength but a great weakness when it comes to national politics. Some leaders are happy to pull down Tinubu so that they can be relevant, just as it was done to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, some Obas will run-down Ooni of Ife and Alaafin Of Oyo just to score irrelevant points, it is clear we have a long way to go.

Gone are the days when the Yorubas used to speak with one voice and the whole nation will tremble, but today, it is from dual Afenifere to OPC, from multiple south west elders to many political leaders.

I hope the efforts of Ooni of Ife to unify the west receives genuine support and hopefully leaders at various levels can come together for a united west, where they can speak with one strong voice for the development and progress of the west.

Olak.