Benin, Nigeria – The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, has alleged that the state government’s bad Agricultural Policy and Diversion of Federal Government Palliatives were responsible for Hunger in Edo.
In a statement in Benin on Saturday, the state chairman of the APC, Jarrett Tenebe, alleged that the Edo government had frustrated all efforts of the Federal Government to considerably reduce the impact of the economic hardship in the state.
Tenebe disclosed that Edo government had refused to acknowledge or give account of the various financial grants and other palliatives the state had received from the federal government.
“We are once again calling on Edo people to hold Gov. Godwin Obaseki responsible for the hardship in the state, including the collapse of physical infrastructures across the state.”
Tenebe asked the government to account for the several monies and grants, running into billions of Naira, and trucks of rice released to it by the Federal government for distribution to vulnerable families.
“There’s a video in the social media showing an abandoned trailer load of repackaged Federal Government rice with Edo State Government inscription.
“The trailer was discovered by Urora residents who believe that it hss exposed plans to deprive Edo people from accessing the different palliative measures.
“There are several warehouses in the state hoarding rice and other grains meant for Edo people,” he added.
Reacting to the allegations, the state Commissioner for Information, Chris Nehikhare, said the APC intended to cause chaos with all the allegations.
Nehikhare enjoined the public to disregard the malicious message that some persons were trying to send with the video.
“The Edo State Government has received information about the looting of bags of rice from an unidentified truck and private residences in parts of Benin City in the wake of the EndBadGovernance protests.
“The videos making the rounds are said to have emanated from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, and government does not have a warehouse in that location.
“The government supports the vulnerable people with relief materials through religious organisations, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and the Edo State Muslims Pilgrim Welfare Board.
“The State government does not keep any relief material by itself but reaches out to the people through these channels,” the Commissioner said.
According to him, “we want to once again urge protesters not to attack or destroy the properties of other people as they go about their demonstration in a peaceful and orderly manner.”
