Edo AFAN to Boycott Governorship Election if Candidates Ignore Farmers’ Needs

The Edo chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has announced its intention to boycott the upcoming September 21, 2024, governorship election if candidates’ manifestos do not include plans and programs for farmers in the state.

Alhaji Bako Dogwo, the state chairman of AFAN, made this declaration on Sunday during an interview with newsmen in Benin City.

He also demanded that any political party winning the election must appoint a commissioner for Agriculture from within AFAN’s ranks.

“I want to say categorically that candidates of political parties contesting for the September 21, 2024, governorship election who will not accommodate farmers or tell us what programs they have for us in their manifesto, farmers in the state will not vote for such candidates,” Dogwo stated.

He emphasized the importance of candidates outlining specific plans for the agricultural sector: “Their manifestoes must reflect what each candidate has in stock for farmers and programs to better the agricultural sector in the state.

Irrespective of your political party, you must come and tell us what programs you have for farmers because we are the engine room of the economy of the state and Nigeria at large.”

Dogwo insisted that the chosen commissioner for Agriculture must come from the farming community: “You must also demonstrate to us that if elected, this is what you are going to do.

Also, the candidate must be ready to appoint one of us as commissioner for Agriculture in the state because you cannot appoint somebody who is a mechanic to be commissioner for health.”

He warned that AFAN would not cooperate with any governor who fails to meet their demands: “Any political party candidate who fails to meet the association’s demands and eventually wins the election, the association would not work with such a governor.”

However, he assured that AFAN would support any candidate willing to work with and partner with the association, regardless of their political affiliation:

“Any governorship candidate that is ready to work with and partner with the association, irrespective of the political party, the association would be ready to vote such a candidate into office and also work with the government to succeed.”