Ekiti farmers restate commitment to unity, deny rift in association

Farmers in Ekiti State under the aegis of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ekiti State chapter, have denied any rift in their ranks and described the association as a duly registered non-governmental, non-political, non-religious organisation that should not be subjected to ridicule or illegality.

At a press briefing in Ado Ekiti in reaction to a publication, Mr Adebola Alagbada, the chairman of the Ekiti State chapter of AFAN, and Pastor Rufus Oni of the dissolved Arch. Kabiru Ibrahim faction of the association said attempts to break the group are illegal, not welcome, and therefore condemnable and unacceptable.

According to the association, the body is duly registered as a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious organisation that should not be subjected to ridicule nor indulge in any illegality, saying “All Farmers Association of Nigeria is a National body registered as a non-governmental organisation limited by proxy.”

The body lamented the actions of some agents of government in the association’s election, saying “conducting election or selection of an AFAN executive council by the government is an aberration, illegal, and an abuse of authority.”

AFAN added that “dabbling into an unresolved matter before the Supreme Court in Nigeria is an illegal act and a height of contempt of court, undermining the judiciary and capable of truncating courts proceedings.”

ALSO READ: Borno ambush: Army clarifies death of General Braimah

It argued that the action of a government agent “does not follow the due process of the AFAN constitution. Article 14: Election and voting stipulated that before the conduct of any election within the association, there shall be a three-month mandatory election guideline notice as one of the steps, among other steps to be followed before the conduct of the election.

“The kangaroo election was midwifed by one SSA in his office with the aid of some individuals known for their fraudulent short-changing practices by the farmers and even the security operatives.”

According to AFAN, the purported reconciliation of the factions of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in the state was not properly done, as leaders of the association like Mr Adebola Alagbada and Pastor Rufus Oni were not in attendance, as claimed by the SSA to the Governor on Agric Extension, Dr Sikiru Olowoyo, who said he had brought together members of the Adebola Alagbada and Rufus Oni factions in the state.

The leaders said, “There is no faction in Ekiti AFAN, not to talk of harmonisation of any group.”