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TROJAN HORSES OF DECEPTIONS: THE OTOGE SCAMS WITH WHICH KWARANS WERE HYPNOTIZED
A Trojan horse is a huge hollow wooden horse constructed by the Greeks to gain entrance into Troy during the Trojan War. Despite the warnings of Laocoön and Cassandra, the horse was taken inside the city gates. That night, Greek warriors emerged from it and opened the gates to let in the returned Greek army and they wrecked havocs.
The scenario that played out above repeated itself in Kwara State during 2019 elections. The Otoge mantra was laced with unfounded lies against Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Kwarans are suffering the consequences today.
Lately, the Kwara State Government held a press conference portraying Shonga Farms as a scam and that it was purportedly used to launder the resources of Kwara State. The press conference contained many ridiculous and self-contradictory points and any careful observer will notice the numerous inconsistencies in the narratives of Kwara State Government during that press conference. It also shows the limited knowledge and understanding of those saddled with the affairs of Kwarans when it comes to critical investment issues.
Be it noted that for Kwarans home and aboard, that press conference is a disservice to the labours of our heros past and Kwara State. How can a government be tagging a viable investment on its soil a scam? This is pitiable to say the least.
After that ill-conceived/ill-advised press conference that constituted a total disregard to the court before whom the matter was pending, many reactions have followed and earlier this week, fish farmers in Ilorin raised concerns and appealed that Kwara State Government should not use it “mouths” to run down Shonga Farms and as a consequence, chase them out of business.
The concerns of Kwara State Fish Farmers are very understandable. They are one of the beneficiaries of Shonga Farms considering the value chains contributions of one of the most viable investments in Shonga Farms which is *Valentine Chickens Nigeria Ltd.*
*Valentine Chickens Nigeria Ltd* is the largest poultry farm in Kwara State. The company provides lots of oppurtunities for Kwarans particularly those in the host communities where Shonga Farms situates In any huge poultry investment, there is hardly a waste and for this reason, many products of Valentine Chickens are sold to Fish Farmers in Kwara State at very subsidized rates and this *kind business gesture* by Valentine Chicken has hugely and positively impacted fish farming in Kwara State thereby creating hundreds of employment oppurtunities for Kwarans. It is now less expensive to raise and farm fishes in Kwara State than anywhere in Nigeria.
To the glory of God Almighty, Kwara State is reputed as one of the biggest hubs of fish farming in Nigeria and Shonga Farms has no doubt contributed to the achievement of this notable feat. Kwara State have many millionaire fish farmers doing well and we pray for their continuous progress. Ameen.
Furthermore, the success story of Shonga Farms in the area of poultry farming is aggressively attracting more poultry investors from accros Africa and the globe to Kwara State as many Kwarans are also venturing into this profitable venture.
Therefore, it is highly surprising and disturbing that the government of Kwara State for hatred of Saraki’s legacies and notable contributions to the progress of Kwara State would seek to run down or make negative comments about investments on her soil. This is sincerely disturbing and pitiable. It is highly uncharitable to paint your own State in a very bad light for the sake of politics. We must learn this lesson and never commit such error again.
For a very long time, I have carefully examined the overall philosophy of the Otoges relating to how Kwara State is being governed. I must confess, these people do not really have the capacity it takes to move Kwara State forward in my own Judgment. They appear bitter about anything Saraki and they have shown this with the attempted destruction of Ile-Arugbo, the attempted duplications of existing projects in Ilorin like the building of a new International Conference Centre while there is an existing Banquet Hall for the same purpose, the construction of a bridge at Tipper Garage while a mere widening of the road would suffice and eradicate traffic congestions in that area etc. All these duplications of efforts are at the expense of other critical sectors and areas unattended to in the State.
As a passionate Kwara Northerner and a committed Kwaran, I think it would do us good if we stop engaging in very negative politicking that would portray us, our State or country as a whole in bad light. We must at all times promote our State positively and be committed to it growth.
If at all we desire the progress of Kwara State, we should never again allow anyone with vested interest to mislead Kwarans in their choice of leaderships like the Otoges did and their numerous vested interests are responsible for the continuous bitter strives and rivalries between them.
Before, during and after 2019 elections, there were/are many unfounded rumours against Saraki being the owner of many State institutions that are driven on the basis of Public-Private Partnership arrangements like the Ilorin Cargo, Ilorin Airport, ShopRite, Shonga Farms, Diagnostic Centre etc. Alas, these were mere rumours and scams with which Kwarans were hyponotized. Come 2023 insha Allahu, these same narratives should never sway Kwarans again. Never by Allah’s leave.
Thanks and God bless.
H.G. Ibn Mahmud, Esq.
(Community Mobilizer and Advocate of Good and Responsible Governnance)
