Critics, Shut Up! Yam and Pepper Deserve SSAs, by Abdulkadir Salaudeen

Critics should shut up. I agree that we must all join hands to criticize any government policy and government action or inaction that we think is harmful—or at least, cannot bring any good. It is our democratic right. It is even wrong, if not dangerous, not to express that constitution alright. But why do we relish putting every government action on the spot? A chairman of a local government in Enugu State recently appointed SSAs on Yam and Pepper for which he was roundly criticized. He is still being criticized. The criticism has not stopped. I write to defend him.

Many of us are hardly on the side of Nigerian rulers on issues that border on governance. Not because we hate them, but because they rule in a manner that makes many of us see them as enemies. Enemies of the people will always find a way to crush the people. The Nigerian poor, who are now in absolute majority, are literally being crushed.

How Nigerians (I mean those who are yet to die among us) survive the heavy jackboots of our rulers is extraordinary. To be clearer, it is miraculous. Real menshould not be thinking of food only. Real people cannot make food their onlypriority. It is insane. It is animalistic.It is unhumanistic.By the time a section of humanity becomes preoccupied with the thought of food (and food only),they will struggle to convince the rest of humanity that they, too, are humans; not animals. This is the pathetic condition of millions ofNigerians today who could not think of anything but food.Yet, we are sane!

On this basis, I beg to differ with critics who think it is wrong for any elected ruler in Nigeria to appoint, not a junior, but a senior special assistant on yam and pepper. Are there food items that are as expensive as yam and pepper in Nigeria today? I don’t know if the situation is less terrible in the South. In the part of the North from which I write, I am afraid that yam and pepper will soon be competing with man and woman in worth (in monetary value). If you think I am exaggerating, perhaps it is because you are privileged to have eaten yam and made normal peppered soup this year. I am writing from the perspective of those who have completely lost hope of eating yamdue to itsprohibitive—don’t-come-near-me—price thatunfortunatelyputs the poor to shame. Is it not shameful that, in Nigeria, yam is becoming a food to be dreaming of eating only in Heaven? It has reached this level for many!

If all the appointed senior special assistants, senior special advisers, special assistants and unique advisers(oneconomic affairs/matters and agriculture)—to either the President or our governors—could not effectively advise our rulers on how to make the economy friendly, is it not high time we started having SSAs on each food items? That is what Dr Eric Odo, the Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, did. He appointed SSAs on Garden Egg, Yam and Pepper to strategically boost production. According to him: “Their appointments are to ensure that local farmers receive adequate attention, needed resources, support and expertise to enhance production, improve market access and increase income for farmers.”

His explanation is not only “reasonable,”it is very “sweet” like the one made byPresident Tinubu about Àgbàdo (corn) during his presidential campaign. If Nigeria is yet to dominate the global market with the variety of Àgbàdo promised by Tinubu, it is logical to say it is because President Tinubu did not appoint SSAs on Àgbàdo. Having learnt from Tinubu’s mistake, Dr Odo hurriedlydidthe right thing. He made the appropriate appointments at the appropriate time.Those who criticized that strategicappointments are disgruntled individuals. On this, I thank God thatI am not one of the critics, I would have been one of thedisgruntled individuals.

This is how Dr. Odoreportedly puts it: “In essence, the appointment, which is wrongly misunderstood by disgruntled individuals, bad losers and opposition, reinforces my determination to creating a thriving local economy based on the strength and potentials of Igbo-Etiti’s agricultural landscape.” In appreciation of Dr. Odo’s unique way of reasoning and his excellentmethod of job creation, Iurge all elected governors and chairpersons across the 36 states of Nigeria and allthe 774 local government areas to identify the strength and potentials of their respective agricultural landscape. They should immediately appoint SSAs on Cassava, Patato, Plantain, Sugarcane, Millet, Rice,Beans,Onions, Banana, Watermelon, Orange, Mango, Vegetables, etc. IfDr. Odo’s job creation template is adopted, millions of SSA jobs will be created and unemployment will drastically reduce.

In the list of food items I gave above that deserves SSAs, Àgbàdo is not mentioned. It is deliberate. President Tinubu will take care of that. Dr. Odo did not only avoid President Tinubu’s mistake of not appointing SSAs on Àgbàdo, he is most likely sending a subtle message to President Tinubu to correct that grievous mistake. After all, it is not too late to make Àgbàdo abundant for hungry Nigerians.

As I shut disgruntled critics up in this piece, Iwish Dr. Odo good luck as he setsto revolutionize agriculture in his Igbo Etiti Local Government Area. Soon, I expect to see Igbo-Etiti’s Yam, Pepper and Garden Egg all over Nigeria.

I ended my column last week with a prayer. It is worth repeating. “This country is sick. May God heal Nigeria.” Ameen

Abdulkadir Salaudeen

salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com