Olusola unveils manifestoes, says Ekiti State partnering Lagos to produce rice

Standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, has unveiled the party’s manifestoes, tagged: “Shield Agenda.”

He disclosed at the Council Chamber of the Government House that Ekiti State government has entered into partnership with Lagos state on large-scale production of rice.

Eleka said the proposed partnership would employ 9,000 youths.

He revealed that Ekiti had already signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lagos to provide 10,000 hectares of land.

Eleka, who is the deputy governor, added that its counterpart would provide an undisclosed amount for the proposed mechanized rice farming.

He said: “We believe in engaging our unemployed youths in mechanized agriculture. Already, there are investors coming in for this venture. Farm products of the youths would be bought by off takers and investors.

He said under the agriculture policy, the state would concentrate on rice, beans and cassava, among others.

“We have already signed the MOU for rice cultivation of about 10000 hectares, which we hope would engage 9,000 youths in Ekiti. The idea is that Lagos has the money but no land, whereas, Ekiti has land for farming, but no money.”

Eleka lamented that the current power supply in Ekiti cannot help in business development, and promised to embark on Independent Power Project (IPP) to provide electricity, if he wins the governorship election.

According to him, with reliable energy in place, the cottage industries to be established, would take youths off the street.

He also pledged to create a social welfare scheme for the old and vulnerable, as well as the disabled people and other less-privileged members of the society.

“The poor people will always be living with us, we will put in place measures to cater for the under- privileged.

“This is why stomach infrastructure would still be part of my agenda, but to go beyond giving meals, to creating empowerment programmes for the less privileged.

He said his government would also build structures to cater for people with disabilities, such as a school for the blind.

Eleka disclosed that if elected, his administration would devote more resources to the construction of rural access roads across the state, to facilitate the movement of farm produce by farmers to the markets.