Yahaya Bello Reveals Agreement With Sunday Igboho On Movement Of Food From North To South

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has disclosed he had a parley with Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho on resolving the strike action by Northern businessmen which has resulted in the blockade of food movement to the south.

However, Bello held a meeting with the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria after which the union agreed to recommence the movement of food products from the north to the south.

The Governor further revealed that he engaged with controversial activist, Sunday Igboho on how to ensure the demands by the union Union made up of cattle and foodstuff traders are met.

The Kogi State Governor who spoke to journalists on Wednesday in the company of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode commended the union for calling off their strike.

It will be recalled as previously reported by Naija News that the two leaders held a meeting with the traders after which they agreed to resume the movement of food and cattle to the south.

“In order not to allow these losses to continue, call off your strike immediately and that will allow us to ensure that your demands are met.

“You are not asking for good roads, security on the highways, modern shops, or facilities like loans or bailout, you are only asking for justice and that the laws of the land should be applied.

“I want to assure you that these five demands and even more will come your way and we are starting now.

“I will follow up with Mr President and even if I have to go down south to meet with all the governors. Believe me, whether APC or PDP, no governor will condone crisis.

“We must show to the world that we have the capacity of solving our own problems,” Governor Bello said.

Recall this online news medium previously reported that the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) had insisted that its members won’t bring food items from the North to the South until they are sure of the safety of their members.

The union added that they prefer to suffer losses by allowing the goods to waste then risk the lives of their members, noting that though they were concerned about the foodstuffs locked up in trucks in Jebba, Niger state, the safety and security of their members is a priority.

It also clarified that the intention of the union is not to starve southerners by refusing to supply farm produce but to protest various attacks on its members in the southern region of the country.

An official of the union, Awwalu Aliyu who spoke to the Cable in Kano, lamented that many members were killed in attacks during the #EndSARS protest and the recent Shasha market crisis in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital and only those who are alive can trade.

Apart from the loss of lives, Aliyu lamented that they also lost property worth several millions of naira.

The strike was however suspended about one week after it started based on the assurance that the government will ensure the protection of the union members and stop all forms of multiple taxation and intimidation from security officials on the highways.