Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State is seeking the consent of the people in the South-West of Nigeria to patronize consumption of chickens and stop the N2.5b spend daily on cows in the region.
He therefore urged the people living in the southwest states of the country to consider using chickens during ceremonies instead of cows.
This according to the governor will prevent capital flight because the region has been losing about N2.5 billion daily to the consumption of cows.
Speaking on behalf of the governor, his Special Adviser on Agriculture and Agric-business, Akin Olotu, Akeredolu maintained that the consumption of chickens for ceremonies was not only healthy but will also boost the economy of the southwest region.
He spoke while addressing some stakeholders in the education sector in Akure, the state capital.
According to the governor, “The President said grow what you eat and eat what you grow. I have been a serious advocate and I am reemphasizing it, please let us use chicken for our ceremonies.
“Yes, I meant broilers. They are cheaper. I met with the traditional rulers and I told them that those before you have to encourage that.
“Why am I saying this? There is an N2.5 billion beef market in the southwest every day. It means every day in the southwest, we send N2.5 billion out of the southwest. That is the bedrock of poverty in the region.
“We have a region that is not retaining money. Don’t let any politician tell you any abracadabra, if we don’t reverse that trend, we will continue to remain on the same spot.”
