The Kano State Chapter Chairman of the All Farmers Association Of Nigeria (AFAN), ABDULRASHID MAGAJI RIMIN GADO has reiterated that his association is promoting agriculture despites so many challenges affecting the sector. He made the disclosure in an interview with our correspondent JABIRU A HASSAN. Excerpts:
You are the Kano State Chapter chairman of the All Farmers Association Of Nigeria popularly known as (AFAN), what success stories can you share under your leadership?
First of all, let me thank the Almighty Allah for interacting with this famous newspaper that we always refer to, whenever we need accurate stories of what is really happening around the globe. And I am happy to inform you that we have done a lot in improving economic progress under our dynamic association, AFAN.
Time will not allow me to bring out all what we have achieved, but i am certain that our leadership has brought so much development to agriculture and the team work amongst the farmers across Kano State with optimum results, and I am of the opinion that our mode of leadership has brought progress without bias.
AFAN has been experiencing leadership tussles at both national and states levels, for quite a long time, is this not a big threat to the association?
Leadership tussle is a great challenge in especially non-governmental organisations, and it is a tradition that many associations are having leadership tussles, maybe due to lack of mutual understanding among the members, but in every faction, there is a duly elected executive that is fully recognised by all concerned.
In our own leadership, we are doing well despite the said leadership issues because we represent real farmers that is why such leadership tussle does not affect our success stories like what I have said earlier.
But how can such associations tackle leadership tussles which retarded their achievements?
From my own understanding, the issue of leadership tussle is based on how the election was done, and how the factional leaders are making efforts to seize the association maybe with backing from some government officials that are having interests in the association’s programmes.
But such problems are often controlled when the members of the associations remain committed towards achieving what they need despite some internal crisis.
Kano State is one of those affected by the leadership tussle, where a factional leadership pushed to work with the former administration, while you kept leading the association with the full backing from the national headquarters, how did you manage with this factional issue?
This is a very important question. From what had happened at those times, AFAN under our management resolved to join hands with Kano State farmers and promote profitable farming at both dry and rainy seasons. That is why we remain respected by our genuine members and I am certain that farmers benefited greatly from our side as the duly elected leaders.
In your own opinion, how can the issue of leadership tussle be kicked out of AFAN at both states and national levels?
Although in every association, there are some tussles about leadership, but I advise that all members of any association should unite, act with one voice and clear away all differences that fueled the leadership crisis to ensure that the particular association is one and united avenue. There are some associations that are non-governmental but they are working uniformly without leadership tussles.
Don’t you think that governments often influenced many leadership crisis for its own interests?
In this respect, and with due respect I am appealing to all tiers of government to avoid putting interests in all non-governmental associations for peace and unity to reign, and I advise that whoever wins an election which is free and fair, should have full backing from the government if real progress is expected.
Some of the AFAN members alleged that all states chapters chairmen and the national executives have overstayed in office, what can you say about this assumption?
This is as a result of so many reasons, but we are trying our best to see that AFAN is upgraded, updated and has leadership that would be respected, trusted and able to unite the members in order to promote agriculture with minimal or no loss. I am therefore, calling on all the association’s stakeholders to join hands and salvage our beloved association so as to become more steadfast in the promotion of economy through agriculture.
What is your message to the farmers of Kano State and other relevant stakeholders that are directly related to AFAN?
I thank the members of our great association that have always been according me excellent cooperation since I was duly elected as AFAN chairman. I am sure that many farmers have benefited from our programmes and leadership.
Secondly, iI commend the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for being very serious on agricultural development. And finally, I thank the Kano State Government for facilitating agriculture in so many ways which I am certain in the near future, Kano would become more successful in mass food production.
Thank you for having a time to have an interactive session with New Nigerian Newspaper.
I wish this company more progress and we have fully recognised New Nigerian for its neutrality in its reporting.
