Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
The Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media, Crusoe Osagie, has fiercely criticized former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, for his derogatory remarks about Governor Godwin Obaseki’s agricultural reforms and the state’s feeding programme for the vulnerable.
Osagie accused Oshiomhole of spreading false information for political gain.
In a statement, Osagie expressed deep disappointment that a figure of Oshiomhole’s stature would use national television to disseminate untruths. He emphasized the achievements of the Obaseki administration in alleviating the hardships faced by Edo residents due to national policies.
Osagie urged the Federal Government to study Edo State’s effective model of supporting the vulnerable to improve their own flawed system.
Osagie stated, “The Edo State Government is disheartened by Senator Oshiomhole’s unfounded criticisms of our agricultural reforms and feeding programme for the vulnerable. It is expected that a sitting Senator would have a better grasp of the situation in his home state.”
Highlighting the success of the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), Osagie noted that 70,000 hectares of oil palm estates are currently under cultivation, with plans to allocate an additional 50,000 hectares to large-scale commercial farmers. He pointed out that food processing and manufacturing companies in the state are already sourcing raw materials from these large farms and smallholder farmers.
Osagie also addressed the broader challenges affecting agricultural production, blaming the Federal Government’s failure to tackle insecurity, banditry, and farmer-herder clashes for the hunger crisis. He criticized the government’s economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and devaluation of the Naira, for exacerbating the suffering of Nigerians.
“Despite the Federal Government’s policies, the Obaseki-led administration has worked diligently to shield Edo people from the worst effects of bad governance. On September 21, Edo people will show their support for the PDP and Governor Obaseki’s leadership,” Osagie concluded.