* The rain has been beating us dating back to some decades
By Nudoiba Ojen
A professor of veterinary medicine at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Oladele Talabi, has said that the shrinking size of the farms in the country despite the increasing population is the reason for hunger in the country.
Talabi, who said that the problems of Nigeria were legion and had been in for decades noted that the blames for the nation’s economic adversities should not be heaped squarely on President Tinubu who he said was steadily on course in the task of revamping the country.
The don spoke as guest speaker and discussant on the popular monthly interview discourse, BOILING POINT ARENA, in the topic ‘The National Protests: Gain or Loss? The Threats to Democratic Cohesion and Remedies’.
The other discussant, popular civil rights activist and lawyer, Comrade Dele Farotimi, could not participate in the discourse held via Zoom and broadcast live on a radio station, Sweet 107.1FM, for reason of network hitches.
It was hosted by a media professional, Dr Ayo Arowojolu while foremost traditional ruler, the Gbegande of Ososa-Ijebu, Oba Dr Adetoye Alatishe was the Keynote Speaker, holding brief for the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola who is Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders.
Prof. Talabi said, “Our issue in Nigeria have to do with our growing population which was just around 44.9million at nationhood in1960. Our population grew to 64.7million around 1976 and by 1990, we were already 95.2 million. And by this year, 2024, we are 223 million Nigerians.
“And that is the fundamental problem that we have in Nigeria. As long as we are unable to address that, we will continue to have issues.
“Many of our farm settlements have become housing estates. With our increasing human population, there should have been a commensurate increase in the farmlands.The problem causing hunger is due to the fact that as the Nigerian population is increasing, the farm size is shrinking”.
On whether or not he believed there was bad governance in Nigeria to have warranted any protest, Talabi said, “When you talk about bad governance, it is a relative term. It depends on the point of view you are looking at.
“If you look at the advent of the Fourth Republic in Nigeria, we have had 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party and now we have just had nine years of All Progressives Congress. So when you talk about bad governance, like I said earlier, it depends from the side of the divide you are speaking from.
“The reality is that every nation will always have the type of leaders that they deserve. As far as I am concerned, Tinubu has not done badly in that Office as President. Nigeria is a difficult country to govern. Even if an Angel drops from heaven, that Angel would not have ruled Nigeria better than Tinubu is doing.
“We keep forgetting that the rain has been beating us dating back to some decades. The policemen in Nigeria didn’t drop from heaven. They were selected from among Nigerians. The politicians in Nigeria didn’t drop from heaven. They were selected among the populace. When you have a people who believe that if you construct roads is not as important as stomach infrastructure”.
