We are ready to support Osun on Massive Agricultural Production: Methodist Church Prelate, Dr. Samuel Uche...As he Commends Aregbesola for Building a Sustainable State

The leadership of Methodist Church of Nigeria has openly declared it readiness to support government at all levels in Nigeria especially the State Government of Osun on massive agricultural production in order to salvage the current economic crisis.

The declaration was made by the Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Emeka Uche, while paying a visit to Governor Aregbesola in his office, at Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.

The cleric who lamented over the current economic situation in the country said the nation has driven to a stage where government at all levels must tighten their belts in strengthening the economy of the country for the general well being of her citizenry.

The religious leader who attributed the   dwindling revenues to the coffers of the federal, state and local governments, to what he described as negligence of agriculture by the successive government in the country, stressing that if the nation had diligently and prudently explored her potentials in agriculture, the country would have grown beyond her current stage and as well overcome the excruciating economy.

Dr. Uche explained further that, the only sustainable alternative to the current economic challenges was for the government and people of Nigeria to develop the required passions at resuscitating and revamping the lost glory of agriculture, which according to him has been ignorantly neglected by the past administrations in the country.

The Methodist Prelate who commended Governor Aregbesola for building an unsurpassable future for the state on all sectors of the economy especially agriculture, saying Governor Aregbesola has successfully proven his weights as a responsive and responsible Governor whose passion for development can never be measured or estimated.

Dr. Uche who described the allocation of Osun as the least among its peers, commended Governor Aregbesola for aggressively promoting the state within the template of meagre resources.

According to him, Osun has been prudently managing the affairs of the state despite the fact that the state by all standards receives the least allocation from the Federation Accounts.

He stated further that the giant strides of the current administration at building a self-sufficient and economic-independent state had been a driven force for economic realities being pursued by the current government.

Dr. Uche who assured total obedience and compliance towards the civic responsibilities of the citizenry in the country said, the time has come for all Nigerians to demonstrate high sense of commitment and seriousness towards taxation.

The spiritual father who described Nigeria as the only country where citizens display sense of resistance towards taxation by evading its smoothness, saying if Nigeria must truly develop, her citizens must support the government with prompt tax payment.

"The purpose of our visit is to establish our staunch support and collaboration for Nigerian government in a bid to strengthen the nation's economy and serve as helping hands in repositioning the country for all round development.

"We have identified agriculture as the only sustainable means of continuous existence of Nigeria. Our focus is to partner with government at all levels in the area of agriculture to enhance its production capacity and boost the revenues accruable to Nigeria and states of the federation.

"Methodist Church of Nigeria is not only committed to spiritual work but to be part of the process that will strengthen the economy of Nigeria and increase its revenue basis.

"In view of this, we have resolved as a religious institution to engage our members especially the youths on farming as we strongly believe that with the support of government, we shall succeed.

"We are appealing to your excellency to give us the needed supports most importantly enough lands for cultivation and plantation.

"The only way to rescue the country out of the present economic situation is to show our support and collaborate with government on agriculture", Dr. Uche stated.

In his remarks, Governor Rauf Aregbesola who expressed delight over the economic foresight of the leadership of Methodist Church said their resolution to support the government efforts on agriculture and taxation was a testimony to present economic reality.

Governor Aregbesola also commended the leadership of the church for identifying with the state on its present economic challenges, promising to render whatever support requires to aid members of the church actualizing its dreams.

The Governor who lamented over the continuous reduction in the global prices of crude oil said, his government would not be distracted in its efforts to uplift the state.

He said, "The declaration of the leadership of methodist church of Nigeria to support us in agriculture and taxation is an indication to the fact that everyone in the state should engage in agriculture not only for consumption but for commercialization.

"Massive agricultural production remains the most sustainable alternative to success and progress in any country of the world especially Nigeria that is blessed with fertile soil.

"The wayout to our economic crisis is agriculture. Humanity has never found alternative to consumption of food as a means of survival.

"Science and technology has never found a replacement for food as a means of survival and it is quite idiotic for any nation or society to depend on others for the basic means of existence.

"It is also abnormal for any nation, country, society or community to depend externally on others for food production.

"In this wise, the starting point of our economic recovery is the capacity to feed ourselves, while on hands must be deck to resuscitate the potentials in agriculture and explore its value for the betterment of all.

Governor Aregbesola further assured the leadership of the church of his administration's collaborative gestures to ensure that all agricultural ventures in the state collaborate most effectively with the church to actualize its dreams as the state was ready to give them whatever size of land required to ensure that the church dreams come to past.

"This is important because the era of crude oil to me has gone. Any nation that based its wealth on digging the earth have ended up in penury. The only successful nations are those that simply believe in teeming the soil for the purpose of planting, cultivating and living on the produce of the land.

"For your church to have openly declared your partnership with government in massive agricultural production apart from evangelism, is a testimony to the progressive nature of Methodist church in the world.

"This declaration by the Methodist church of Nigeria is also a reflective signal to bring back our senses fully autonomous- independent nation because wealth is simply the capacity to feed oneself, individuals, community, state and nation as well as saving surplus for the future and for exportation.

"I commend you for your foresight, for your cleared objectives and unflinching support to aid our efforts on economic recovery.

"We will support you with extension services not only on land but in all ramifications to actualize your dreams.

"We will also ensure that our government extend the needed cooperation to your church to realize this lofty goal", Aregbesola stressed.