Gov Ododo warns political appointees against hoarding palliative

Kogi Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has distributed relief materials provided by Government to cushion the economic hardship in the country just as he warned political appointees and those saddled with the responsibility of distributing the palliative not to hoard nor sell them.

Alhaji Ododo gave the warning during the flag-off of the first quarter of 2024 food palliatives distribution in Lokoja.

While noting that the palliatives are meant for the indigent people of Kogi State, the Governor said his administration remains committed to serving the people in transparency and the fear of God.

According to him, the palliatives will not be distributed along party, ethnic, or religious lines, adding that, the target beneficiaries are the poorest of the poor in Kogi State.

“My administration will not allow any unpatriotic element to cheat on the people. The Government has put mechanisms in place to track and apprehend those who plan to hoard the distribution of this food item.

“The palliative is not for APC alone, religious group or ethnic agenda. It is for the people of Kogi State. I want to beg all of us to allow the poor breath. I am part of them. I was being raised by them. I am committed to serving them, not as a leader but as their servant. Political appointees will not benefit from these palliatives. They should also contribute to the society that made them

“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 the mandate to serve them” the governor stated.

The governor who emphasized the need for the people of the grassroots to benefit from the rice palliative, vowed to sanction any political appointees that may wish to divert the bags of rice.

“This palliative is to alleviate the current hardship people are passing through and it should reach the people at the grassroots. 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.

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 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 the zero level in the state.

“This palliative is part of the electioneering campaign promises and I am assuring the people that more dividends 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.