..Say Action Amounts To Vote Buying Come Nov. Election
Kogi State indigenes have openly shown their anger against the action of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC by branding the palliative rice in Ododo’s name for distribution.
According to reports, one kilogramme of rice has been branded in APC-logo with Ododo’s picture, which are being distributed in the name of the Governorship candidate.
The reports say that the rice was being rejected in Kogi East, especially by those who are enlightened and familiar with the N5 billion palliative to all States of the Federation announced by the Federal Government.
There are also mixed feelings in some circles who have collected, but insisted that they are aware of Yahaya Bello’s gimmicks, hence, they would collect and wait for him on November 11.
It could be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the National Economic Council announced palliative in cash of N5 billion and the release of bags of rice for each State of the country.
Meanwhile, Kogi State government has been paid the sum of N2 billion out of the N5 billion like other States, which it has not officially acknowledged.
Following the rejection and concerns raised, a group operating under the aegis of Volunteer called on citizens to collect, saying it’s a largesse of palliative, but reject Ododo Ahmed Usman of the APC and vote a candidate of their choice in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election.
In a statement which was made available to newsmen in Lokoja, the group said, they were aware of when the rice was being repackaged by a contractor from Okene, adding that the ongoing distribution of I kg of rice and low quality clothes was the proceeds from the government at the national level, and not the state government.
Part of the statement read: “We urge people of the state that it is their right to collect the items and not a privilege.
“At the same time you are at liberty to reject the said items.
“The APC in the state are using the items to misinform and misdirect the electorate to attract their votes in the forthcoming election.
The volunteers group in the statement signed by Comrade Usman, advised the people to avoid being swindled having been pauperised by the Yahaya Bello-led administration.
The statement asserted that some of these items were traced to Dekina town and Ankpa, while commending the people of Ankpa and Dekina for rejecting the greek gift.
They commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the succour, but maintained that the timing was wrong with bad leadership in Kogi, whose people’s welfare does not matter to them.
“The federal government instructed that the social register compiled by state governments should be used to distribute the palliative, stating that Kogi state don’t have a nationally acceptable social register.”
News Editor