FG must invest more in agric to tackle hunger, poverty – Kalejaye

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Kunle Kalejaye has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari- led government to genuinely strive to alleviate poverty and hunger in the country by investing more in agriculture.

Kalejaye gave the counsel yesterday while addressing journalists at the 2019 Christmas Carols of the Nine Lesson he organized at the Florentina Event Center, Basorun in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. In attendance were: Prof Mukaila Olujide, Justice Kunle Adeigbe (retd), Justice O. Olatunji, Dr. Akin Onigbinde, SAN and (former Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly), Mr Sam Okosun (SW Divisional Manager Conoil), Pastor Biodun Aladekomo (retd Director, NTA), CSP Uduak Edet (DPO Ikolaba Police Station), Chief Mrs Olufela Oduntan, and Revd. Canon Jaye Fadayomi who delivered a sermon, among others.

While expressing his worry about the rate of hunger in the country, the legal icon stressed that unless the Federal Government quickly arrested the situation through agriculture revolution, the situation may soon get out of hand, and may further sink the country’s image among the comity of nations.

Reliving a sad incident he witnessed recently that prompted his call on President Mohammadu Buhari to act on time, Kalejaye said, “What I witnessed at a party about two weeks ago made me sad. I had never witnessed such in my life. I saw young people struggling over leftover food that they were not only consuming, but that they were packing to give to their parents at home. This is very sad.

“I sincerely believe that the only solution is for government to invest more in agriculture. With this, more foods will be available to feed our people and more jobs will be provided and thereby reduce the alarming rate of unemployment among our people, particularly among our youth”, he said.

To compliment his suggestion on aggressive agriculture drive, Kalejaye declared his support for the closure of the Nigerian borders by the Federal Government, emphasising that: “President Buhari’s government has done well by closing all the borders because to me there is no need for us as a Nation consuming what we cannot produce. With this action, it will also help in development of our agriculture and agribusiness which will eventually improve our economy”.

He therefore called on Nigerians to always pray for the country and be closer to God during this Xmas celebration. He advised the people to celebrate the season moderately in line with their financial capacity, rather than going a-borrowing, coveting others or engaging in criminal activities to satisfy their lust.

“I implore Nigerian masses to celebrate this year’s Xmas in moderation with contentment according to their financial capacity. Rather than going to borrow to show off, or engage in any criminal acts to satisfy their lust, they should be contented and live within their means, believing that next year’s will be better celebrated”, Kalejaye advised.