The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, (Ojaja II), has commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for his initiative to partner with the Kebbi State government on lake rice project. The lake-rice was made available for Lagosians at subsidized prices during the last festive period in December 2016.
Oba Ogunwusi made the commendation on Wednesday, January 11, 2017, when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Ambode at Lagos House, Ikeja. He, however, called on the State government to extend its partnership to South West States by looking beyond rice in order to boost the agricultural potentials of the states through cash crops production.
In his view, South West region was known for production of cash crops and that many people in the region are now residing in Lagos. According to him, this makes it pertinent for Lagos to partner with the state governments to produce food for their citizens in Lagos State.
In noting that Lagos was home for many Nigerians, the Monarch said that other states, especially in the South West, needed to partner with the State on Agriculture.
The Arole Oodua, who was fielding questions from journalists had this to say: “We are here to appeal to the Lagos State government and the Governor to look beyond rice and embark on so many other products that could encourage unemployed youths to leave Lagos for other states, where lands are available, work as farmers and back their produce to Lagos state.”
The Oba also called governments to partner with traditional institutions to boost food security and promote national unity and peace. He said that with the involvement of traditional rulers in the youth employment and empowerment process of government, there would be peace, security of lives and property.
He was of the belief that traditional rulers closer to the citizens and therefore, their contributions would go a long way in their development. The Ojaja II suggested that a focus on agriculture would help in reshaping the country’s economy and engaging teeming unemployed Nigerian youths.
As a result, he noted that it would reduce violence and other social vices in the country. In his view, the government cannot do it all alone but needs the support of the traditional rulers. To ensure this, he stated, he had begun a campaign for unity among the traditional rulers.
Governor Ambode in his reaction unveiled plans by his administration to integrate the six States in the South West region to the food security drive of the State Government especially in addressing the demand and supply deficit for the overall benefit of the people and also vowed his commitment to the economic growth and promotion of the traditional values and culture of the Yoruba nation.
He recalled that in the last one year, the State Government joined the Oodua Investment Group in addition to the acquisition of land in Ogun and Oyo States for agricultural purposes, saying that government would scale up the economic integration of the South West States as well as the cultural heritage of the region.
While commending the Ooni for his achievements in office so far, Governor Ambode said the visit to Lagos was historic in the annals of his administration coming barely few weeks after the first year anniversary of the coronation of Ooni.
He said: “One year after, it has become very evident that everything and every step that Ooni has taken has been for the positive good of the Yoruba nation. The Ooni represents the cohesion that we are looking for in Yoruba land and for that reason, we will do everything to continue to ensure that this government support the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.
“We are glad to note that within the last one year also, Lagos State has been able to join the Oodua Investment Group as part shareholders of that economic vehicle that we will use to power the economic integration of the Southwestern states. We want to assure your majesty that what you stand for is what this government also stand for.
“We believe that we cannot afford to waste away the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and we are to start from a platform where it moves away from economic integration to socio, political and also cultural evolution of what we think the Yoruba people stand for and that is also what I stand for.
“I believe strongly that the test case of what we are trying to do about food security in Lagos State is just more or less like an elixir for what it should be across the western region and on that note, we want to say that we have already acquired land in Ogun and Oyo States but what is imperative for us to move forward now is that we would integrate all other Southwestern States into the food security mechanism of demand and supply for us to move forward,” he said.
The Governor said Lagos, as a cosmopolitan State and the economic hub of the Yoruba people in terms of commerce, must be at the vanguard of promoting commerce in the region, assuring that his administration would vigorously pursue such to the benefit of the people.
He added: “Everything Ooni has said on food security is in consonance with our believe and we believe that if we move forward, Nigeria will also move forward. The future is brighter as we see it and we will not relent to ensure that our traditional values and culture are enhanced further than what it is presently.”
Besides, Governor Ambode thanked the monarch for promoting continuous communication among traditional rulers and government for the purpose of enhancing the future of the Yoruba people, while also acknowledging his immense contribution to the development of tourism, trade and commerce in Lagos State.
