Ondo Agric Commissioner Messed up Over comments on Tractors – Akeredolu’s Family

PRESS STATEMENT

Re: Akeredolu Sold Government Tractors at Subsidised Rates

We have been inundated with calls and messages over a news story credited to the Commissioner for Agriculture in Ondo State, Mr. Olayato Aribo. The Commissioner was quoted to have said that the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, CON, sold government tractors to private companies and individuals at subsidised rates.

The news report, which was wrapped in mischief and cruelty, suggested that the late Governor sold government tractors at his own will.

The insinuation that farmers in the state have no tractors to plough their land further complicated the news story to paint the late Governor in a bad light.

Although, we understand that the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Aribo, has called the former Senior Special Assistant to the late Governor Akeredolu on Agriculture and Agric Business, Pastor Akin Olotu and denied the story.

According to Pastor Olotu, Mr. Aribo unequivocally stated that he was quoted out of context and that he couldn’t have made such statement when he is in possession of the list of beneficiaries of the said tractors.

That notwithstanding, this response becomes necessary in light of the compelling need to inform the good members of the public who may be easily deceived.

The facts, therefore, are;

1. That in line with the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Entrepreneurship Scheme (AEHES) which was put in place by the President of the Africa Development Bank ( AFDB) Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, when he was minister for Agriculture, the Ondo State Government under the late Governor Akeredolu procured some tractors for the use of farmers in the state by selling it to them at subsidised rate and payment spread over a period of time.
2. The scheme was designed to turn farm mechanisation into business. It was aimed to develop the farm mechanisation link of the Agricultural value chain. The target is for beneficiaries to help others in adjoining farms. Most beneficiaries, after clearing their own farms would hire to adjoining farms. The proceed goes directly to the farmers and the program was a success.
3. The scheme was aimed to put an end to the constant breakdown and abandonment of tractors bought by successive governments and put in charge of local government administrators. The poor maintainance culture and the nonchalant attitude of the people to government owned properties have accounted for the breakdown and neglect of many tractors in the past.
4. In a bid to ensure sustainability and maintenance, the government thought it wise to place ownership in the hands of the farmers. The beneficiaries of these tractors bought the equipment and spread payment over a period of time. Their C of Os were submitted as collateral.

5.  Mr. Olayato Aribo was not the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources when this scheme was initiated and consummated. These tractors were procured during the first term of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Asiwaju Adegboyega Adefarati, who is now the Honorable Member of House of Representatives, representing the good people of Akoko Southwest/ Southeast Federal Constituency was the commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources then. He worked round the clock to ensure that the scheme, particularly the procurement of the tractors became a reality.

6. That throughout the scheme, the late Governor didn’t interfere on who the beneficiaries should be except for the case of Chief Olu Falae, who owns Midland Farms. The late Governor personally called and said Chief Olu Falae should benefit from the subsidised tractors. All the beneficiaries are farmers in the state. They are traceable and verifiable.
7. The first batch of the tractors were purchased from John Deere Tractor. After some beneficiaries paid outrightly, another batch was purchased from Dizengoff Nigeria.
8. In view of this, the insinuation that Akeredolu sold off government tractors is wicked and mischievous. It is a deliberate attempt to soil the name of a man whose impeccable service to the state was borne out of passion and courage.
9. We, therefore, urge government officials to be accurate in their statements and account of events as they relate to the late Governor Akeredolu administration.

Signed:
Richard Olatunde
Former Spokesperson to the late Governor
September 9, 2024