…flag-off distribution of food items to Kogi citizens
By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has warned the political class against diverting the Palliatives meant for the poor people in the state, saying that they must allow the poor to breathe.
The Governor who stated this on Tuesday at the Muhammodu Buhari civic center in Lokoja, during the flag-off of distribution of Palliatives, noted that he will lead the monitoring team to ensure that the items gets to the target audience. (Poorest of the poorest).
The governor who emphasized the need for the people of the grassroots to benefit from the rice palliative, vowed to sanction political appointees that may wish to divert the bags of rice.
“This palliative is to alleviate the current hardship the people are passing through and it should reach the people at the grassroot. This intervention is meant for the people and modalities for distributions are water-tight and we have put a mechanism to apprehend and sanction those who may wish to divert the palliative.
“Government appointees are exempted from palliative. The palliative is not for APC alone , it is not meant for any religion or any political affiliations rather is it meant for the good people of Kogi State.
“I will not condone any act of indiscipline as I will personally monitor the distribution of the rice to ensure that the palliative reaches the downtrodden that gave us the mandate to serve them” the governor stated.
In her remarks, the state commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hajia Rabiatu Okute , said the distribution of the palliative in Kogi was aimed at alleviating the suffering of citizens as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.
She stated that the palliative which is the first and will be on quarterly basis will push hunger to zero level in the state.
“This palliative is part of the electioneering campaign promises of the governor and I am assuring the people that more dividend of democracy will be delivered by Governor Ododo led administration” she said.
Also in his goodwill message, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Gabriel Amari thanked the Governor for the palliative and assured that the Congress will ensure that the bags of rice will reach every worker in the state.