Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti says his administration is committed to addressing the lingering leadership crisis involving the state chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) which has led to the emergence of factions and other splinter groups.
Governor Otti who stated this during a meeting with AFAN members, the Commissioner for Agriculture, and other stakeholders at Government House Umuahia, assured that his administration will work with relevant stakeholders to restore peace, accountability and transparency within the association.
The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, expressed concern that the division at AFAN’s national level has also permeated Abia State, stressing that such disunity is unacceptable and would not be allowed to continue.
Governor Otti maintained that his administration will not recognize nor work with any of the factions until the group puts in place proper leadership structure, adding that an audit of AFAN’s activities in the state would be conducted following allegations of misappropriation and poor accountability.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, emphasized that government’s priority is the welfare of farmers, not AFAN’s leadership, assuring that the present administration is willing to work with whoever emerges as duly elected leader of the group.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Prince Chris Enweremadu, urged AFAN members to unite and support the administration’s agricultural programs, warning that the group’s internal divisions are hindering farmers from fully benefiting from government interventions.
In their various contributions at the meeting, the key factional leaders of AFAN in Abia state including, Mrs Gift Ogbonna, Mr. Ndudim Ikelua and Lady Precious Uwaoma, narrated how each of them emerged as State Chairmen at different places respectively.
In separate interviews, some of the members of AFAN, who were at the meeting including Chief Herbert Ogbonna, Mr. Dike Onyemaeze, Mr. David Umeh among others, attributed the crises in the state chapter of AFAN to selfishness of various members who insist on being at the helm of affairs of the association.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Prince Chris Enweremadu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, Rev’d Father Christian Anokwuru and the General Manager, Abia State Debt Management Office, Dr. Kingsley Nwaigburu were present during the meeting.
Our correspondent reports that AFAN’s members thanked the state government for their intervention, assuring that they will abide by the decision of the state government on the matter.
