AFAN distance itself from FMARD inputs palliative, says is a fraud

All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria has called on all its members to be wary of paying into any fictitious account number for any substandard agricultural implements from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) under the present minister, Alhaji Nanono Sabo. This was in a press release made available to Food Farm News yesterday that was signed by the National President of the Association, Architect Kabiru Ibrahim.

Also stated was that the World Food Day slated for October 16 would be celebrated low key due to compliance to COVID-19 social distancing.

Architect Ibrahim stated in the release that the Minister and one other person were planning to take advantage of the world food day slated for October 16 to gather farmers for inputs purchase under the guise of subsidised price saying the notice of the plan has been reported and farmers should be cautioned against it.

According to the statement ‘’ It has come to our notice that the HMA and one Faruk Rabiu Mudi  are colluding to defraud Nigerian Farmers by sending letters itemizing some inputs for sale at reduced prices to be paid for in account: All Farmers Association of Nigeria(AFAN) 5100311797 maintained at  Heritage Bank’’

He  queried why the minister has chosen to be parading Faruk Mudi as AFAN president when he actually knew that the National Council for food security office does not recognised him as such, and which was evident in the recently held meeting on food security matters and presidential initiative on fertilizer in the office of the Chief of the Staff to the president where he ‘’ Ibrahim ‘’ was the one invited as AFAN president, added that the minister would soon be sued for under minding the apex body of farmers’ association for personal interest that cannot subsist beyond him.

It was stated further ‘’ The HMA in cohort with Faruk Rabiu Mudi is seeking to perpetuate a charade of input distribution on the 15th October, 2020 to create some semblance of World Food Day, an event annually carried out back to back with the Annual Agric Show. We are suing the HMA very soon for carrying out these proven inequities by dealing with Faruk Rabiu Mudi as a bonafide representative of AFAN fraudulently’’

He said this year world food day and agric show have been hinted not to be celebrated due to covid-19 directive on social distancing, saying that ‘’ this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic both these events are put on hold or very low key! You are all well advised to shun these calls from Faruk Rabiu Mudi and his co-travellers as they are smack of fraud as usual’’ said Ibrahim

Ibrahim stressed further that many states’ AFAN members especially those in Kano had already disassociated themselves from this strange group being fraternized by the minister adding that the recent election of the new executive  in Ogun state AFAN was a reflection of united farmers’ association in Nigeria, and all these are under my leadership.