The factional National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabiru Ibrahim, has called for unity among the factional parties of the association for the benefit of the sector.

Mr Ibrahim, who doubles as the President of the Agribusiness Group, made the call during an interview on Thursday in Lagos.

He noted that without unity, local farmers would not be able to enjoy the interventions of the government, and private stakeholders’ investment in the sector.

He stated, “If we are not together as farmers, the results we will get will not be very good, because people will have doubts on who to relate with. If we are not together, you cannot follow a course, because many people will follow different courses, and then end up with nothing. AFAN has been bedevilled by this problem of cohesion from inception. The opposing party in AFAN division took us to court even when our tenure was yet over. No court of law can really determine for us who will be our leaders, because we are a non-governmental organisation. If there was cohesion among us, the first thing that should have been done, was not to entertain this matter of leadership in a court of law.’’

He noted that the inner wrangling with the association would negatively impact the progress of the average local farmer.

He added, “Some factions of AFAN have disowned our leadership in publications, when the case is still in the court and we have appealed to the Supreme Court. So, that is why we insist that there must be cohesion amongst farmers for us to be able to reap the best results from the government and private stakeholders willing to invest in our value-chains.

“So, unless we come together, we will not succeed and all these benefits that the private sector, corporate organisations and the government are placing before us will be lost. We will not be able to reap these benefits if we are not together. What we need to do is to get our house in order and be able to speak with one voice, but that is a work in progress. But we are going to sit together very soon, and I am sure common sense will prevail. Everybody will be called together, and then we will resolve this, because this is not a matter of court.’’ 

(NAN)