Oil made Nigerians lazy, says Umeh
Former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has said that crude oil has made Nigerians lazy.
Chief Umeh recalled that prior to the oil boom period, agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy but regretted that, the advent of crude oil has made Nigerians lazy.
He further explained that the crave for crude oil has destroyed the country noting that the current economic crunch facing the nation is as a result of over-dependence on petroleum to the outright neglect of agriculture and other sectors.
Umeh made this assertion yesterday at Obeledu community in Anaocha local government area of Anambra state during the 2016 new yam festival of the community.
He however admonished Nigerians to jettison the idea of waiting for non-existent white colar jobs but return to agriculture.
Traditional ruler of the community Igwe Chijioke Oragwuam who offered prayers to God for bountiful harvest also stressed the need for the nation to reprioritize its policies and accord agriculture its rightful place in the nation’s economy.
He said that the significance of new yam festival as a cultural heritage cannot be over-emphasized, describing it further as not only an occasion for merry-making but also as a tourist attraction.
Promoter of Igbo language and culture who also hails from Obeledu Prof.Pita Ejiofor in his remarks said that new yam festival promotes a return to agriculture, stressing that no nation can feed itself without it.
He expressed concern that Nigeria neglected agriculture and industrialization but also emphasized the need for the nation to revamp as well as revitalize the agric sector in order to diversify the economy and create jobs for the citizenry.
Anambra state Commissioner for Education Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, who was one of the dignitaries on the occasion noted that the government of Dr. Willie Obiano is currently laying emphasis on agriculture as evidenced in the revolution going on in the state.
Omenugha said Anambra state currently exported vegetables to the United Kingdom as well as produce rice in abundance.
She therefore called on youths in the state to key into the agric policies and programmes of the present administration pointing out that hoe and machete farming has given way for mechanised agriculture in Anambra state.
