21st September, 2023
Richard Elesho
The distribution of palliatives provided by the federal government to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal has been enmeshed in controversies in Kogi with allegations that the state government has hijacked the items for members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The items have been locked up somewhere while citizens wallowed in hunger and abject poverty before now.
However, on Tuesday evening, words went around that the state government has concluded plans to share the items with members of the ruling APC.
An unsigned government statement indicating that the APC state chairman and the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs would coordinate the distribution on Thursday, 21 September, went viral on social media.
In addition, the items were said to have been repackaged and branded with the APC logo and a picture of Ododo Ahmed Usman, the party’s governorship candidate in the 11 November election.
This has led to anger among the people and groups in the State.
The Electorate Platform, a civil society group, accused the government of playing politics with the palliatives and called for even the distribution of the items for the citizenry.
A press statement signed by Comrade Azees Ahmed, the group’s spokesperson said it’s completely insensitive to put what is meant for all Nigerians in the care of a political party that will restrict the distribution to its members.
It noted that “Under this kind of parochial approach, how will the civil servants, students and other political party members and even those without political party be reached or taken care of?”
Another group, The Likeminds, added its voice in a statement on Wednesday.
“For how long will you continue to call white, black? We are far above mediocrity, do things accordingly, packaging palliatives from the Federal Government in small sack bags to campaign for an APC candidate while you are supposed to mitigate the effect of subsidy removal is an act of vicious cycle of democratic pretension and dysfunctional politics.
“Without fear of contradiction, the palliative distribution flag off in Kogi State to be coordinated by APC State party chairman and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs / invitee’s .. only APC party executive members/GYB political appointees, it’s unfair, we are yearning for a different style of politics and a break with the bad habits.”
However, on Wednesday evening, the state government, in a statement, clarified that the palliatives would be distributed to citizens across party lines.
Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications said the palliatives are for all Kogi citizens, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliations in line with the intent of the Federal Government.
“The Kogi State Government wishes to inform the general public that it will share palliatives to citizens to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. The distribution shall take place on Thursday, 21st September, 2023, at the ultra modern Muhammadu Buhari Square by 10 am.
“It is instructive to note that the palliatives are for all Kogites, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliations in line with the intent of the Federal Government and the policy direction of the Kogi State Government under the administration of Alh. Yahaya Bello, who is the Governor of all.
“We urge leaders across the board to ensure that all Kogites are carried along in the distribution of the palliatives. This is sacrosanct,” he said.