Farmer cries out over plan to forcibly take over his farm by governor Buni in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili, Damaturu

The member representing Bursari state constituency at the Yobe state house of assembly, Hon. Malah Jawa and the Commissioner for Youths and Sport in Yobe state, Hon. Goni Bukar have been accused of intimidating and threatening one Alhaji Musa Ahmed a farmer who is onto large scale rice farming in Bursari local government over his farm land of 38 years.

The duo according to Alhaji Musa Ahmed are planning on using their position in government to forcefully take his farm, which was given to him by the District Head of Garin Dole a long time ago.

Alhaji Musa Ahmed, who spoke to Newsmen in his farm at Laba village in Bursari local government said when the district head of Garin Dole gave him the land, the place was not habitable as it was a thick forest.

According to him, over the years he had spent more than two hundred million naira (N200, 000,000) to bring the area to what it is today.

“To clear the farm it took us about 51 days before we cleared it with caterpillars and we are about 43 people in numbers who have farms in the area. The Commissioner and the member have connived with their tribes people, the Badawa of Rena Kunu and they want to take my farm which they said it was the governor Mai Mala Buni who wants the farm.” Ahmed said.

He said there was no time that the governor Mai Mala Buni sent a delegation to talk to him about his farm or to show interest in the farm. But only for these two government officials to come claiming that they are coming on behalf of governor Buni.

“if the governor wants to take my farm I want him to come and tell me by himself and show me that because he is the governor now that he can wake up and take what belongs to people by force. And why would the governor suddenly be interested in other people’s property? Is that what he was voted to do in Yobe state?” He demanded.

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He said he believed that the governor was not aware that some of his officials were using his name to threaten and collect people’s property for their own greed . 

“We didn’t see any governor delegate who came to us and I think the governor doesn’t know what is going on. In fact, if the governor wants our farm it will be impossible because where will we get food to eat with my family? I have expended all I have on this land long before the governor ever dreamed of becoming anybody and on this farm  I will never yield to intimidation even if the governor comes here himself.”

Alhaji Musa Ahmed said the farm is about 3 kilometers and he is getting 6,500 bags of rice every year and the labourers that are working in this farm will reach 500 aside members of his family. 

“So if the government wants to take our farm we can’t say no, but let the government come and see our suffering and pay us compensation and also give us somewhere to farm and get food to eat. This is what we are expecting from the government, if the government wants our farm. But not coming to threaten or intimidate.” He said.

According to him, “The other time they came they said anybody who has a farm here, that is the 43 of us who are farming around here are to be paying five thousand naira to the tribes ( Badawa) and I ask for what, no reason was given to us. I have been farming here for 38 years. I have not received any assistance from the government all these years whether fertilizer or tractor or money. I have been using my own resources and therefore I don’t think anybody should just come and intimidate me over my own property because of the opportunity they have today.”

He however, called on the Yobe state governor to intervene and stop any unforeseen over the threat and intimation by these officials of he has no hand in the matter as this could generate into trouble and would soil his good name for stopping so low to such ungodly affairs.

Our Correspondent made every effort to speak with both Hon, Malah Jawa, the member representing Bursari and the Commissioner for Youths and Sport, Hon, Goni Bukar who were both alledged to be issuing threats and intimidating the farmer but they were not available to make comments regarding the allegations as at the time of filing this report.

Farmer cries out over plan to forcibly take over his farm by governor Buni in Yobe