By IBUKUN EMIOLA

Pro organic and agroecologists have staged a rally in Ibadan, Oyo State, to protest against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) which they consider as food poison.

The rally was organised by GMO Free Nigeria in collaboration with Organic and Agroecology Initiative (ORAIN).

Prof. Olugbenga Adeoluwa, leader of the group and professor of Soil Fertility, University of Ibadan, said they were against genetically modified organisms and raising the awareness on its impending danger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a petition was submitted to the Oyo State House of Assembly, and received by Bayo Olaniyan, the Chief of Staff to the Speaker.

The group kicked against the approved genetically modified beans, cotton and maize approved by the Nigerian government.

They cited toxic herbicides like Round up and others approved by agencies of the government.

?We say no to the incursion of these negative scientific innovations into our food systems, not just in Nigeria, all over the world.

?Why are we saying this? Genetically modified technology in food systems have been found to counter human health.

?There are quite a lot of diseases like cancer, organ failure, hormonal failure that have been traced to food consumption, as a result of manipulation of our food system right from the field,? Adeoluwa said.

According to him, there are a lot of research outputs that have been issued recently that have shown the correlation between consumption of GMO foods and human diseases, especially inflammatory of specific organs in human cells.

?I am talking about the organs of test animals which we feel as scientists can also affect humans and so this is why we are saying no to GMOs in Nigeria.

?We know that there are challenges of biosecurity which means that there is no guarantee that allowing these GMO foods, and crops into our food system can be curtailed.

?What we are saying is that no to GMOs food in Nigeria, no to anything that could compromise our health, no to negative scientific innovations called GMOs food,? the don said.

He noted that Nigeria had enough capacity in terms of available technologies and innovations for organic food and for safety food that could enhance or help to achieve food security.

According to him, there are indigenous seed and indigenous ways of preserving our seed, as well as indigenous materials that have been proven safe scientifically and materials and technology for producing seed.

?Those are the things we want Nigeria as a country to embrace. So we say no to the genetic alternatives to food security.

?We say yes to abundant technologies that have been proven scientifically that can enhance our food security,? Adeoluwa said.

The don encouraged Nigerians to embrace the use of compost and manure, as well as indigenous technology that have been found in seeds and breeds and resistant to diseases, droughts and all manners of things countering healthy living.

Also, Dr. Mojisola Oyewole, a senior lecturer in the University of Ibadan, said the rally was to press home the negative impacts of GMOs.

?The effect of this GMOs on the healthy living of an individual is non-negotiable and so we are in the movement of saying no to GMOs in our society.

One of the protesters, Oluwafemi Adebayo from the Department of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development said GMOs had adverse effects on the lives of people.

?In the recent survey, we?ve seen and we?re looking for a means in which we can encourage our smallscale farmers so that they can give us organic food that will be impactful to our world.

A farmer, Chief Moshood Salimonu from Akinyele Local Government stated that GMO had never been the solution to food security and good nutrition.

?I want to see my children grow up healthy and happy,? he said. (NAN)

Update news