- Set to provide seedlings to farmers in South East
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned the people of Southeast against looming famine in the country.
Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful who handed the warning in a statement he released to newsmen on Tuesday however said that returning to agriculture is the only way to avert the food crisis.
While promising to provide quality seedlings to the farmers in the Southeast to embark on massive agriculture, he equally called on philanthropists and investors to invest in farming for food sufficiency.
His statement read in parts “We the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great confident and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu calls on Biafrans to invest heavily in Agriculture this planting season.
“It is time for us to create food sufficiency in Biafra Land because we have the means and the fertile lands to make it happen.
“IPOB calls on every Biafran to start farming all agricultural products, particularly cash crops, to avert the impending famine in Nigeria.
“There is famine looming in Nigeria, and Biafrans must be prepared to avert the impending danger of starvation.
Hence, IPOB is calling on all Biafran philanthropists to support farmers in their communities by purchasing seedlings and other farming implements for them instead of giving them temporary food items.
“Farmers should be encouraged and supported to go into farming instead of sharing consumable foods with our people. Investors should start Agricultural Cottage Industries to process and preserve agricultural products for export.
“Biafrans have fertile and able lands for good yield. Other than cash crop production, our people can also invest in animal husbandry. Moreso, Biafrans should invest in agricultural research centres for quality research and development focused on growing our native food products efficiently. Ndigbo, it’s time to learn how to fish instead of just buying fish to eat.
“On the part of IPOB, we will provide high-quality seedlings to some selected farmers to plant this planting season. Most importantly, IPOB/ESN has made appreciable gains in securing our forests, bushes, and farmlands against the marauding Fulani herdsmen jihadists to create a conducive environment to allow our farmers to return to their farms.
“ESN Operatives are combat-ready to ensure that marauding Fulani herdsmen jihadists will not destroy our farmlands,” Powerful stated.