Ogun federal lawmaker counsels pro-Biafra agitators
http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Hon.-Oladipupo-Adebutu...Member-House-of-Representatives..jpgNIGERIA: FROM a Federal lawmaker has come a piece of advice to the Biafra agitators.
Honorable Oladipupo Adebutu counseled the pro-Biafra fellow citizens to find means of coming to the round table to discuss with the Federal Government for a peaceful dialogue towards their demand.
Adebutu, who represents Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, gave the advice on Saturday at his investiture as the Otunba Nawoola of Odogbolu.
He was honoured by the Alaye of Odogbolu, Oba Onagoruwa at his palace in Odogbolu town of Ogun State.
The legislator stressed that dialogue remains the best way to resolve whatever the grievances the pro-Biafra agitators may have.
Adebutu noted that there was no alternative to peace for Nigeria than that, just as he acknowledged the fact that each component of the federation has one grievance or another, but that resolving such differences at the roundtable is the best option.
His words: “I say there is no alternative to the nation Nigeria because it is my clarion call. Nigeria as constituted today might not be appealing a 100 per cent to the people; we can have differences and grievances in the federation which is not unusual, but the truth of the matter is that the alternate to when we don’t have one Nigeria is unthinkable.”
“All we have to do is watch the television, watch Syria, Iraq and 101 other instances. No matter the conditions that we are not happy with in the federation, we must continue to strive to stop to think otherwise,” Adebutu, who is the chairman, House Committee on Rural Development, said.
He further stressed: “Every conflict should end in dialogue, and that is why I am saying one Nigeria all the time, that is my belief.”
On the current financial challenges facing the nation, the lawmaker suggested that a serious turnaround investment in agriculture through involvement of rural dwellers including the youth is the way out.
Adebutu suggested that serious mechanised farming must be introduced by all tiers of government for in-depth agricultural practice, even as he stressed that provision of social amenities in the rural areas to discourage urban drifting as well as making people embrace agriculture which is the most flourishing business in the rural areas should be given priority.
According to him, the ideas he suggested would go a long way in reducing poverty rate in the nation as more people would go into agriculture practice thereby shoring up the gross domestic production in terms of farm produce.
“I have been back to rural Ogun State since January 1, 1991 and I live there till today. I have interest in the rural areas because I believe that is our future. Once you can provide the basic needs for the rural areas, you would find out that urban drift would reduce, poverty would be alleviated,” Adebutu said.
He added: “When the urban drift is reduced, you will now know what to do about the places that have been overstretched at the moment. There is no gainsaying about it.”
“The way forward for Nigeria is that we must improve our arrangements for agriculture and rural development. Once we can do that, everything else will come to us,” Adebutu maintained.
