A renowned brand manager and ambassador for the Corporate Affairs Commission, Michael Nwabufo, has urged the National Assembly to take decision against Genetically Modified Organisms foods in Nigeria.
There have been controversies around the health safety of GMO plants, being propagated by Bill Gates, the American businessman and philanthropist best known for his roles at Microsoft Corporation.
Mr Nwabufo, popularly known as Mike Premium, made the call when he appeared before the House of Representatives on Tuesday, over a video production on the danger of GMO foods.
He urged the National Assembly to act decisively to protect Nigerians and preserve the nation’s sovereignty.
Mr Nwabufo said, “I stand here today as a patriot and a servant of the people, committed to building a healthier and more self-reliant Nigeria. I believe in the resilience of this National Assembly to make decisions that prioritise the welfare of Nigerians.I am glad that the House of Representatives are standing by us to kick against Genetically Modified Organism called GMO foods.’’
He urged the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, to rescind his support for GMO foods in the country.
According to him, the minister cannot take decisions of such magnitude that bothers on Nigerian wellbeing without recourse to the people and their representatives in the parliament.
Nwabufo called on the minister to engage in thorough scientific and evidence-based research in certified laboratories to check the safety of GMO foods in Nigeria, before giving in to the proponents and defending plants.
According to him, some farmers have been brainwashed in Nigeria about GMO seeds.
He said that such people and farmers in their defence of GMO seeds, were saying “It is better to eat GMO foods and die than not to see food to eat”.
Mr Nwabufo said many Nigerians seemed to be in the dark on the issue of food security.
He added: “Whoever controls our food controls our lives, forget every other thing and focus, This danger is looming! I believe the NASS knows what to do with the information we have brought, I believe in your capacity to end this. I want to hit the nail on the head, I believe none of us wants to die young. With the threat of Genetically Modified Organisms, without any form of contradictions, Bill Gates and his foundation have invested heavily in our agriculture and healthcare sectors, introducing GMOs to Nigeria.”
According to him, for example ‘tella maize’ created in laboratories, have been banned in several countries, including Russia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, and some parts of the UK, such as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
He said that some of these nations had taken such steps due to some concerns.
Mr Nwabufo said that such concerns included the fact that “if you plant these seeds in our soil you won’t be able to replant it again, but depend on Bill Gates to always supply nations with his lab-made seeds instead of the one created by God.”
Mr Nwabufo, who noted that GMOs had health risks, environmental impact among others, urged the NASS to assess and regulate them.
