RE : GOVERNOR AHMED'S SSA MEDIA - SHONGA FARMS, THE PETTINESS OF THE KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT

I want to sincerely commend the SSA Media to the Executive Governor of our dear State; Dr @phemmmy Akorede for clearing the air on some of the issues raised yesterday in my article titled "Shonga Farms and the Pettiness of the Kwara State Government".

I also want to address some of his responses.

1. He said  "Shonga Farm is owned by @kwaragovt, banks and Farmers. We should focus on the benefits from the farm".

2. He also said "Valentines Chicken at Asa-Dam road sells chicken 4rm Shonga Farm, Kwara Hotel &other eateries in town".

3. His view was also that "Shonga Farms has provided jobs for over 1000 people, and there are still more opportunities."

Let me humbly state that I am not contending the ownership structure of the Shonga Farms and I wasn't trying to paint the State Government black. I am of the view that the benefits coming to Kwarans from Shonga Farms Ltd is so meagre compared to the #2 billion Naira being injected into the farm.

The benefits that would have accrued, if the #2 billion Naira had been disbursed to subsistence farmers isn't commensurate with those benefits Shonga Farms would offer Kwarans.

I feel development and /or productivity should be greatly assessed by Kwarans and not by a few organizations.

I know the deed is done. I was only of the opinion that venturing in masses' oriented programs and policies at the expense of massaging personal interests would indeed be appreciated at a time like this, when poverty and hunger is rampant in the State and in the Nation.

God bless the State of Harmony.