By Favour Percy-Idubor/Benin
As a way of ameliorating the sufferings occasioned by economic hardship, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has flagged off the second phase of the distribution of food for the vulnerable. It is being done through the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The governor speaking during the flag-off said the food palliatives being distributed periodically for the vulnerable in the state has no political undertone as being peddled in some quarters and,called on the federal government to copy its model which according to him is like a drop in the ocean compared to what the federal government was spending on food palliatives, adding that, that of the state gets to real people that need it
“There is no political undertone but a genuine interest for the poor. Thank God the people here are not politicians and I don’t have any politician here with me and I am not contesting an election.” He said
Also speaking, the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in the state, Apostle Irekpono Omoike said 60,000 bags of 10kg rice was distributed in the first phase and 56,250 bags would be distributed meaning 116,250 families would have been reached by the end of the second phase and appealed to Obaseki to ensure security for the people so that they can go back to their farms.
“From what you have seen today the way the group organised themselves, you could see the transparency with which they have run this programme compared to what the federal government claims they are spending on palliatives, this is chicken change, this is a drop in the ocean but if we do things properly in this country, we know there are challenges, things will go well but with the current leadership, we are not helping ourselves, we are not helping Nigerians and look at how we have run this programme, I hope the federal government will come and learn from here because this is what I have always argued people know what they want. We made the resources available, got them to organize themselves and you see the way they have handled it, they even procured from the local market thereby boosting the local economy. From the little we have given them see how many families have benefited so it is about transparency, honesty and our willingness to serve the public good.”
He insisted that the third phase would be different to ensure that the beneficiaries were put on a sustainable programme so they would leave independent of the palliatives.
The Senior Special Adviser to the governor on Religion and Cultural Affairs and the secretary to the committee, Pastor Osagie Erhunmwunse, appreciated the governor for the gesture, saying this has shown and proven that he shares in the pain of the people. “The feedback we got from the first phase was overwhelming. Needs were met, and the recipients are happy. It’s our hope and believe that this second phase will make more impact”, he added.
