A widow, Ebere Mogbo, based in Abuja has solicited support from the First Lady Remi Tinubu following how her farming dreams were allegedly thwarted by the management of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (Phone) Estate.
Mogbo, who recently lost her husband, said she invested heavily in a farm in the estate, hoping to win the N25 million prize in the First Lady’s ‘Every Home a Garden’ initiative.
However, her dreams were shattered when the estate management allegedly stopped her from planting 2,000 yam seedlings on her property, citing estate rules.
Briefing journalists, the widow claimed she was not aware of any rules prohibiting farming on the property and alleged that the estate management’s actions are motivated by a personal vendetta.
She also claimed they wanted to sell the estate to a powerful politician but she refused to sell her property.
Mogbo said she has been struggling to make ends meet since her husband’s death and saw the farming initiative as a way to empower herself.
She begged the First Lady to intervene and help her realize her farming dreams.
The widow said, “The problem is that when the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, told women to have a garden in their homes, I felt like instead of staying at home mourning my husband, I should join them because there is a prize attached to it, which is N25 million.
“So I came here to begin cultivation where I have a property. I have started to make things better. I went to Orange Market in Mararaba to buy 2,000 tubers of yam.
“When I started, nobody stopped me. All of a sudden, one man emerged, claiming to be the chairman of the estate. I do not know him. He stopped me. We have already planted some yams.
“He drove me away with some remnants of yam seedlings. I pleaded with him. My husband worked with him, and he was their senior. He retired as a top executive director in PHCN.
“I lived here for nine years, and I am not aware of any policy preventing occupants from growing crops in their environment.”
However, the estate management has denied the allegations, stating that Mogbo was aware of the rules and had rented out her property, which is against the estate’s policy.
“Mrs. Mogbo had rented the property out, and it was against the policy of the estate for occupants or property owners to grow crops inside the estate,” Sani Abba-Kura, the chairman of the estate, said when contacted.