The move by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to establish a legal marijuana industry in the ‘sunshine’ state may have hit the rocks even before his very own eyes.
This is just as findings by journalists on Saturday showed that Akeredolu is not likely to find a willing ally in the Federal Government over his pursuit.
Despite the collaboration being received from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the governor has been disowned by the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA), an appendage of the Presidency.
PACEDA, in a statement made available to the media on Saturday, stated that no amount of money could be worth the lives of those that would be affected should marijuana be legalized in the country, as being canvassed by Akeredolu and, by extension, the NDLEA.
The warning came four days after Governor Akeredolu advised the Federal Government to encourage the cultivation of medicinal cannabis, also known as Indian hemp, in the country.
The statement was signed by the PACEDA Chair, Mohammed Buba Marwa.
Marwa, a retired military top officer, noted that the timing was so inauspicious, considering that the government had been doing everything to eradicate drug abuse in the country.
“It is disturbing that at this time when about 10 million Nigerians are abusing cannabis, anyone or group will be considering or advocating for Nigeria to legalize the growing of marijuana for economic or whatever purposes.
“Our committee has spent the last six months going round the country to obtain firsthand information about the dangers of drug abuse and how to combat it and we have been faced with the stark reality of how deep the menace has damaged and still damaging lives, especially the youths.
“No doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari was worried about this emergency situation, hence the decision to set up PACEDA to find a lasting solution to the threat. We should not, therefore, fold our arms or keep sealed lips while deliberate attempts are being made to sabotage the genuine efforts of the Federal Government in the interest of the nation.
“We should not forget so soon how many over-the-counter (OTC) drugs were made prescription medicines when millions of our young minds and adults were abusing such. How can we then turn around to call for legalizing the growing of cannabis when the Federal Government is still in the process of curtailing and eliminating the same?
“We dare say that no economic gain is worth the life of any Nigerian daily damaged on the street as a result of the effect of cannabis. There is, therefore, the need for all stakeholders at the federal, state and local government levels to rally round the Federal Government’s efforts at eliminating the menace of drug abuse rather than engaging in any counterproductive venture,” the statement read.
Despite the widespread appeal of Akeredolu's position on social media, some critics have rebuked the governor.
Among those who criticized the governor include Senator Shehu Sani, the lawmaker representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly.
Sani, who took to Twitter via his handle @ShehuSani on Wednesday, May 15, wrote;
“My brother Akeredolu, Lagos partnered with Kebbi for rice, please partner with Niger for beans, Kaduna for ginger or partner with Benue for yam. Please leave this Indian Hemp matter for now, abeg.”
But Akeredolu is determined in his pursuit, despite several condemnation and backlash received in the last few days.
“The governor believes that the global legal marijuana industry is primed to be a jumbo in years ahead and Ondo State is trying to think ahead of time,” an aide of the governor, who did not want his name mentioned, told a reporter on Saturday.
Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has said that he was confident that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2019 presidential election for a second term in the office.
Akeredolu told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Atlanta, U.S. that Buhari had done well and deserved to be re-elected, in spite of obvious challenges.
“I followed the achievements he (Buhari) has had within this four short years but he’s not someone that is given to making noise.
“A lot has changed in our country and there’s need for continuity; no doubt, we have had our challenges.
“No doubt, at the tail end, a number of challenges came about on security.
“But that notwithstanding, to get us out of recession within a short time is not a mean feat; people don’t just appreciate it.
“To now talk about a number of other things; when you talk about light, where you have light, is anybody talking about it?
“To talk about what we have been able to save in terms of cutting corruption, so many lives are affected by that.
“So, I believe that within this short four years, President Buhari has done a lot,’’ the governor told NAN.
He urged Nigerians to re-elect the president for another term to stabilize the economy and block leakages.
According to him, re-electing another person might lead to the reversal of what the president has done in the last three years.
He said:
“Let him (Buhari) continue and probably stabilize the economy more, and at least, block a few areas of leakages when it comes to corruption in this country.
“Let him block it totally and make sure that we are on a sound footing to now move.
“Somebody else can come but it’s not like now.
“So for us, who are supporting him, we believe that in the interest of stability, continuity and for the progress of the nation, we need President Buhari to have another four years and then we can move ahead’’.
On the implications of the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leading to the gale of defections by some National Assembly members and Benue Gov. Samuel Ortom, Akeredolu said there was no cause for alarm.
According to him, the defections were not because the politicians had any problem with Buhari but due to problems related to states.
“President Buhari will win the election, let us leave what is happening here and there; he has captured it very well.
“Look at the issue of the gale of defection that people are doing, he said most of them are not because of him, which is true.
“We have States in which people have created problems and these problems now cascaded into the national level.
“So, in that circumstance at the end of the day, when elections are held, President Buhari will win.
“I am sure by the grace of God, we will win the election.
“The only thing is that I don’t know about senators, I can’t talk about governors or some of the elections in the states.
“But if it’s the election for the president, President Muhammadu Buhari, by the grace of God, will win. His chances are very bright,’’ Akeredolu said.
The Ondo State Government has disclosed that the home-grown school feeding programme organised for primary school pupils has resumed after weeks of suspension.
Special Adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Mrs. Olubunmi Ademosu, who dropped the hint during a chat with newsmen, in Akure, said the scheme was suspended due to some logistic reasons.
She hinted that the programme was carefully designed in a way that resources allocated for its success are not diverted, hence the direct crediting of the accounts of the over 1,000 cooks engaged for the programme.
Mrs. Odumosu, whose office coordinates the school feeding programme said over 78,000 pupils were already being fed in the state with the target to touch over 100,000 pupils across the three senatorial districts before the end of the year.
She added that the agency discovered that about 95 percent of pupils in Akoko area of the state were not benefitting from the programme when it took off in the state, adding that the state government does not politicise the programme.
She assured that the teething challenges being witnessed are already being rectified as a team of government officials are already working with the monitoring agency in Abuja to improve on the programme.
The Special Adviser noted that “Over 80 percent of the vendors have now complied fully and their details uploaded now.The slight hitch is not only peculiar to Ondo State but other states.”
She reiterated that the laudable federal government social intervention programme has been ably supported with all the necessary human capital and logistics requirement by Governor Akeredolu for the overall benefit of all and sundry.
Ondo state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu on Sunday appointed caretaker chairmen for the 18 local councils. According to Mr Olusegun Ajiboye, his Chief Press Secretary, Sixteen of the appointees are men and two women.
The caretaker chairmen are: Mr Aworetan Fayowole (Ilaje), Prince Odimayo Gbadebo( Irele), Mrs Morenike Alaka ( Okitipupa), Prince George Adenikinju ( Odigbo), Mr Temidayo Akinsuroju( Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo), and Mr Bekewe Olowu (Ese-Odo).
Others are: Mr Ebenezer Akinsulie (Ondo West), Mr Rafiu Akinkuolie (Ondo East), Mr Biyi Ayinnuola (Idanre), Mrs Atere Margaret (Akure South), Mr Segun Oluyede (Akure North), Mr Dipo Ajibola (Ifedore), Mr Gani Omoluka (Owo), Mr Agboola Ajike ( Ose) Mr Adeyemi Akinniyi ( Akoko South/East), Mr Augustine Oloruntogbe (Akoko South/West), Mr Rafiu Eniayewu (Akoko North/East), and Arc. Moradeyo Ajayi ( Akoko North/West) .
He also added that the caretaker chairmen will be sworn in by the governor on Monday, Ajiboye said.
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