Recession: Monarch Harps On Agriculture

The chairman Imo State
Traditional Rulers’ Council, Njaba, Eze Vincent Duru has called on Nigerians to revert to agriculture to cushion the impact of the fall in crude oil revenue.
Duru, the traditional ruler of Okponakuma in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo made the call during his 2016 annual ‘Iri Ji (Eating of Yam) festival at his Umuduruori-Umuakuma, Okponakuma palace recently.
“Nigeria requires a revolution in reverse order, that is to say that Nigerians should massively reverse to agricultural activities so check the negative impact of the fail in petro-dollar economy’’, he said.
He recalled that agriculture was the main stay of Nigeria’s economy before the commercial discovery of crude oil, adding that aside waiting for government’s support the people should hit the ground running by venturing into smaller agricultural activities.
“Before the oil discovery, our people were not known for mechanised agriculture and yet Nigeria was a force to reckon with in agriculture.
“If impressive population of Nigeria should revert to agriculture, it will reduce the excessive importation of rice and other processed food into the country and by extension revive the already sick Nigerian economy’’, he noted.
Duru, a retired Deputy Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) explained that venturing into agricultural activities should not be left for already aged farmers in the rural areas but workers and rural dwellers alike.
Commenting on the Iri Ji festival, Duru said the event offered the community opportunity to thank God for a fruitful harvest as well as look inward on the challenges faced by the community.
Duru announced that he would fund the maintenance of the road leading to St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Okponakuma to check flood and gully erosion now impeding free movement of road users.
“I will engage ten workers who will be paid monthly stipend by me for one year to enable them regularly maintain the road leading to St. Joseph Okponakuma for one year.’’
Duru, a knight of the Catholic Church also announced that his wife, Cecilia would sew a befitting uniform for the St. Joseph’s Catholic Choir, Okponakuma to encourage them.
Rev.Fr. Brian Ukomadu, the Parish Priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church Opkonakuma who participated in the iri ji event explained that the festival was in line with enculturation policy of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu.
“Enculturation as conceived by our diocese is going deep into the culture of the people, bring out those values that are good, refine them and use them in praising God’’, he said.
He called on Nigerians especially Igbo youths to embrace agriculture and appealed to government to improve on infrastructure and inputs that will encourage people across board to venture in agricultural production.