The Emir of Yashikira in Baruten local government council of Kwara state, North Central Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Usman Sariki Sabi Kpasi the second has called on all tiers of government to invest heavily in mechanized farming to improve food production lamenting that the old traditional method can no longer feed the nation.
He stated this while speaking in Yashikira during the celebration of this Year’s annual Gaani Festival, a cultural festival in the area.
The first class monarch opined that the Federal, State and Local Governments should invest more on agricultural inputs to boost crop production and thereby reducing hunger which the country is seriously battling with.
He added that lack of regular meal available to the people was responsible for the current security challenges in the country as a hungry man is an angry man.
He observed that many youth in the country are unemployed adding that they are difficult to control when they experience hunger.
The monarch also called on the youths to shun all kinds of social vices and focus on education, vocation learning and genuine trade which will give them a livelihood.
On insecurity, the Emir who said that rural areas are mostly affected by attacks from insurgents and bandits urged the Federal government to tackle the challenges headlong.
He said, “The government should find a lasting solution to the challenges by engaging the youth in full employment, because elimination of bandits cannot provide total solution to the problem, by the time we eliminate all the bandits, the problem of youth unemployment will still be with us.”
He said that the government should encourage self employment among the youth while the youth should be encouraged to learn some trade.
The traditional ruler therefore called for more unity among the people in the boarder communities of Nigeria and Benin Republic to foster security and combat smuggling and other criminal activities in the west African region.
Also speaking at the occasion the Senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Sadiq Umar called for the support of the people to government in bringing the dividends of democracy to the nooks and crannies of the country.
Highlights of this year’s Gaani festival was visitation to historical sites, horse Dubar, traditional dances from difference social cultural groups from within and outside Nigeria, as well as enlightenment, counselling and free testing of HIV/ AIDS by the Kwara state Action Committee on Aids KWASACCA among others.
