The Ogun State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has faulted the claims by some group as the authentic leadership of the association in the state.
This is coming after the group led by Chairperson, Alhaja Ganiyat Adeoye-Kushimo, had declared that the national leadership of AFAN lacked the constitutional authority to impose leadership on the Ogun State chapter.
State Chairman of AFAN, Alhaji Abdulrasaq obafolahan Nuhu podo, who made this known while addressing newsmen in. Abeokuta, the state capital, described the allegations as unfortunate and disheartening, insisting that those led by Alhaja Adeoye-Kushimo are “fake” and “interlopers.”
He explained that the Adeoye-Kushimo-led executives no longer have legal standing within AFAN.
“Those parading themselves as the authentic AFAN executives under Alhaja Ganiyat Adeoye-Kushimo are fake and interlopers. They ceased to exist and the Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State ,Hon.Bolu Owotomo has warned them.”
He added that the same faction had previously sought government assistance and was accommodated.
“They begged for fertiliser and 1,000 bags were given to them through Alhaja Adeoye-Kushimo after the Commissioner for Agriculture pleaded on their behalf to accommodate them.”
The likes of Alhaja who pretended, begging me here days ago, cap in hand, to beg for partner. Which of course, we obliged them because the state interfered, mediated and proposed a meeting by next week Tuesday.
“And if anybody attended the so-called political gathering, it was majorly by their members, not us. We are not privy to it in time past or recently. We remain committed to the governor, ready to support him. Cheap popularity is what they are seeking. I will tell the public to ask them where their own national body belongs. They need to provide all documents backing them up as AFAN.
“With me here are my deputy Pastor Abayomi Akinwale my state secretary, Alhaja hairat Oluwakemi ogunmoye and my auditor, Chief Kehinde Adetola Samuel. We don’t have any problem with the so-called AFAN group. We don’t have two AFANs in Ogun State. We have only one AFAN in Nigeria, headed in Ogun State by myself, Alhaji Abdulrasaq obafolahan Nuhu . Any other one is just beating around the bush.
“We respect the Executive Governor of Ogun State, the Commissioner for Agriculture and every member of the ministry. That is why we have exercised patience. We don’t want to fight with anybody because the commissioner has tried to mediate and unite us. But now, these people do not want peace in Ogun State. Our own group wants peace. We are working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Yayi, and we give Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun our total support till the end of his tenure. May God help us.
“The authentic national president is Honourable Muhammad Mogaji .The person they claim to belong to has issues with many people and is not presently an AFAN member. Many other states have collaborated with us through our national body. They should stop telling lies. They should tell their members the bitter truth. Where have they been in the last donkey years they claimed to exist? What impact have they made in the lives of farmers?
“We are legally constituted. We participated in an election organised by the national body, duly contested, duly won and were issued certificates of return. Let the public ask them where they conducted their own election, who coordinated it and where they emerged from. They have no structure. It is a one-man show, janjanma, and we stand to be corrected.
“On the issue of fertiliser, we magnanimously gave them 1,000 bags and even more. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon.Bolu owotomo organised a peace meeting and stated emphatically that we are the legally recognised leadership from the national body. He made it clear that under his administration there will not be two AFANs in Ogun State and urged them to collaborate with us. Another meeting has been fixed for July 14. We will attend.
“Apart from the commodity heads, maize, rice and NACO have all received allocations. The lists are available. What else do they want? They came to us to collect these items, not the other way round. The commissioner was present, NTA covered the event, and the consignment was handed over to us by the national body. I signed for the delivery in Abeokuta during the Southwest handover on June 11. So where was their own?”
He challenged the faction to produce evidence of its legitimacy, rejecting allegations that the national body lacked constitutional powers over state leadership.
“Alhaja Adeoye-Kushimo and her cohort should present their certificates to show they were duly elected. They should also mention their recognised national leadership and provide evidence of the benefits they have brought to members.”
Also, speaking on the matter, the state Secretary of AFAN, Alhaja Hairat Oluwakemi Ogunmoye dismissed the allegations by the group of farmers on the AFAN leadership both at the state and national levels.
“It is unfortunate that the group being considered for incorporation into the new AFAN in Ogun State are the same people proclaiming themselves as the authentic AFAN. I don’t understand how the national body can recognise one group and another group will claim that decision is not authentic. It is like saying a decision taken by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, is not valid while another decision at the grassroots is. Authority comes from the top.
“By the grace of God, we are the authentic AFAN leadership in Ogun State, recognised by the national body through our election, inauguration and certification on April 29, 2026. Since then, we have carried every farmer in Ogun State along and ensured that benefits due to them are delivered, unlike before when farmers only heard about federal interventions without seeing them.
“We met with the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, who made it clear that we are the approved AFAN leadership in Ogun State. He told the other group to stop parading themselves as AFAN. Yet they still went to the press, making false claims and calling names. The earlier they stop, the better, so peace can reign in Ogun State.
“We remain committed to the governor, to the Federal Government and to supporting the incoming governor in Ogun State. We can never do otherwise. They are only pushing matters to the extreme and damaging their own image.
“They also claim that the national body is imposing leaders on them. But this is the All Farmers Association of Nigeria. The constitution is clear and authority comes from the national body. National officers have the final say on what happens in every state and local government. By rejecting the decision of the national body, they are effectively saying the national leadership is not authentic. I do not know where they belong or where they are operating from.
“They should let their members know the facts.
“We duly contested the election.
“Regarding the fertiliser, they came to us to collect it; it was not we who begged them. NTA witnessed the process because the consignment was officially handed over to us by the national body. So where was their own?”
“Accusing the national leadership of imposing state officers on Ogun State is fallacy. The national leadership has the constitutional power to recognise the authentic leaders in Ogun State.”
It expressed disappointment that the media briefing came ahead of a reconciliation meeting.
“Their action of going to the press has jeopardised the peace meeting already scheduled for next Tuesday.”
