Oba Adeleke Adegbite calls on Governor Aiyedatiwa to end diversion of agricultural palliatives by political appointees.
A first-class traditional ruler in Ondo State, the Owa Ale of Iyometa Ikare, Oba Adeleke Adegbite, has sounded the alarm over the hijacking of federal government agricultural palliatives by politicians appointed by the state government.
Speaking at an event commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election—now recognised as Nigeria’s Democracy Day—held at the International Centre for Culture and Events (The Dome), Akure, the monarch warned that political interference is depriving real farmers of the resources they need to improve food production.
“There are major issues that we must address for us to grow as a state and for the essence of June 12 to come to fruition,” Oba Adegbite declared.
“I am aware that the state government and the federal government are doing a lot for the farmers to ensure that food insecurity is tackled.
“However, those farm inputs being given out don’t get to the farmers as expected. Politicians saddled with the responsibilities of distributing them have been diverting them for sale to those that are not directly farmers.”
He continued: “The farmers are closer to the traditional rulers, and with what we have gathered, the real farmers don’t benefit from farm inputs being given out by the government.
“Mr Governor, I want you to use your good office to ensure that this menace is addressed so that those that are meant to benefit from government would get what is being given to them.”
In response, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa acknowledged the concerns raised and confirmed the occurrence of such diversion.
He said, “We are aware that some of these incidents have happened, and we are taking steps to ensure that such acts of fraud are curtailed in the state.
“To ensure transparency and accountability, we will now involve community and religious leaders in the distribution process of subsequent palliatives. This will help us reach the targeted people at the grassroots.”
The monarch’s concerns align with those of agricultural stakeholders who have been raising red flags over political meddling in the distribution of agricultural support.
The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) and the Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC) have both reported that political influence is obstructing fair access to farm inputs across the state.
According to JDPC, in all 18 local government areas of Ondo State, political interference has significantly undermined proper distribution efforts. As a result, many smallholder farmers—especially women—are unable to access the vital resources necessary for their livelihoods.
A report by JDPC revealed that a staggering 94% of surveyed farmers had no idea how to access the agricultural support services supposedly available to them. Only 6% said they had any experience with these services, and none reported full access.
The organization attributed the widespread lack of awareness and access directly to the politicization of the distribution process.
As food insecurity continues to threaten vulnerable communities, calls are growing louder for the Ondo State government to depoliticize agricultural support programs and establish a transparent, community-driven distribution framework.
