By Aaron Ossai
Group of farmers in Niger State under the umbrella of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN have endorsed the member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency of Niger State, Hon. Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi and the Governor, Umar Bago for re-election in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
As a confirmation of the endorsement, the farmers have purchased the All Progressives Congress, APC nomination forms for the lawmaker and the Governor to enable them participate in the primaries and the general election.
Presenting the nomination form to the lawmaker in Abuja, the farmers stated that, they purchased the forms to show their appreciation for the enormous attention and contribution to agriculture in the state by the lawmaker and the Governor.
According to the farmers, the lawmaker is a great asset to all the state farmers and has engaged in numerous activities of easy farming activities in the state and has single-handedly constructed irrigation facility in Badegi and has gone further to create an expansion in Begi.
They added that, he has created an environment for women in farming, recruited many and sent them for training in IITTA.
“So we are proud today. Him and his excellency, the farmer governor, all farmers in the state decided to buy this form for the third term election. We want him to continue for the good work he has been doing.Because we expected that when he comes back next, he’s going to be the next speaker of the National Assembly”, they said.
In his address, the Deputy National Financial Secretary Poultry Association of Nigeria and the vice chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Niger State, Muhammed Saba Usman, said, they purchased the forms for the duo to appreciate their track records in agricultural transformation in Niger State.
“So, for us, we are looking at track records. We are looking at what you are doing as far as agriculture is concerned. I know you can see a lot of transformation and re-engineering of agricultural activities in Niger State, which is being propelled by our former governor, ably assisted by Honourable Sa’idu Musa Abdul SMA.
“So, this is a payback period. They’ve done their best for us. We’ve seen the deployment of necessary equipment and farm inputs, ranging from fertiliser to tractors and improved yield for our farmers, which has generated a lot of employment.
“And we’ve created a lot of employment, too, through these activities, because a lot of people who were working on one hectare farm before can now work on two, three. People who are used to old ways of doing things, using cutlasses or hoes, are now using tractors, mechanised farming”, he added.
Responding, the lawmaker, Hon. Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi, appreciated the farmers for the gesture and assured them that, he will continue to support them in anyway to utilise the vast agricultural potentials of Niger State as being projected by Governor Umar Bago.
“I think there is nothing that can be more gratifying to the mind than what we have seen here this evening.We are like ambassadors, messengers of the people. They have sent us here to come and represent them. We’re going all out to ensure that we do not disappoint them”, he added.
