The Chairman of Irepodun 1 United Butchers Association, Alh. Kayode Muse has said Kwara State is free of Anthrax disease.
Muse in this interview with our editor, Mike Adeyemi, affirmed Kwara state government before now had made available expertise in the field of veterinary medicine to abattoirs in the state.
According to him, ‘we have on ground veterinarians given to us by the government and they have been up and doing in the discharge of their duties. And I can confirm to that there is no Anthrax in Kwara’
The butchers chairman however applauded the Kwara state government for the inclusion of Kwara butchers during the last school feeding initiative, acknowledging that the gesture actually boosted their businesses at the time. Excerpts;Tell us about yourself
I was born in Ilorin from Muse compound. My parents are Alh. Ayinla Jimoh and Alhaja Alimat Ayinla Jimoh. I started by elementary school at United Primary School, Taiwo Road, Ilorin. I later attended Government Secondary School, Alalubosa between 1982 to 1988.
I later got an appointment as a Clerk with Kwara State Ministry of Social Development, before I resigned to venture into the business of buying and selling of meat.
What informed your decision to jettisoned government work for butcher?
I wasn’t born into the business of butcher, though my maternal side at Budo-Egba are known as butchers.
How did you emerged as the chairman of Irepodun 1 Butchers Association?
My emergence as chairman was divine. There was lots of intrigues to it. We were under a particular union called Irepodun Butcher Association before, but when crisis ensued, we had no option that to leave.
We had a big challenge then which led to court case. In fact we were reminded at Oke-Kura prison then over the matter. It was the fallout of the crisis that led us to form our association named Irepodun 1 United Butchers Association. On this note, members considered me worthy enough to be their chairman, and they handpicked me.
Was there any day you regret doing this job?
No! I never for once regretted doing this job. In fact, Allah has blessed me overwhelmingly in the business of butcher. The only thing left of me is to give my children hands in marriage. I have trained my children through school via this job, and I have produced graduates.
I have been to Hajj in about four times, alongside other sundry achievements.
How have you used your office position as chairman of Irepodun 1 Butchers Association to uplift your members?
As a result of our cessation from the former union, that gave us a leverage to improve lives of our members in many ways. Part of my achievement is that we assist members with money to cushion their business, a fit that has not been happened in the history of the union.
Each time members had problem with their meat, they were compensated with token so as to keep them aloft in the business. Part of our achievement too is the union’s vehicle given to us by the federal government the other time we stakeholders held a meeting in Abuja.
What modalities do you put in place to curb those selling adulterated meat in Kwara State?
We have on ground experts in the field of veterinary medicine. At least we have about 10 vet doctors given to us by the Kwara State Government here in our abattoir. So I want to affirm to you that there is no room for us to sell to the public unhygienic meat.
Though, we want to appeal to the government to help us increase the numbers of the Veterinary doctors here. If that can be done, we butchers would be grateful. We needed 10 more Vet doctors in addition to those on ground. We don’t want anthrax disease to enter Kwara, and this can be done in strong tie and collaboration with the government.
It is painful that government has not considered it appropriate to empowered us here despite our contribution to the economy growth of Kwara state.
Are there any of your children who are into this business?
Yes! One of my son is already into this business. He is a graduate and he is doing well.
What legacy are you working toward leaving behind after the expiration of your tenure?
I want to bequeath a legacy of good deed.
How would you describe the governor of Kwara state, Mall. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq?
He is a good leader and lover of the state. In fact we Kwara Butchers have benefited immensely from his administration which hasn’t happened before in Kwara state.
The governor engaged us under the school feeding program in the state. That singular honor boosted our businesses and income at the time. There was no butchers in the state that did not benefited from the largesse. We are grateful to the governor, Mall. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, though we still expect more from him.