Ododo Flags Off Distribution of Palliative, Warms Govt Official to Steer Clear

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has warned government officials and political appointees to steer clear of the current palliative, appealing to them not to participate in sharing of the palliative.

Ododo gave this warming while speaking at the commencement of the distribution of first quarter palliative at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre in Lokoja yesterday.

The governor noted that the immediate-past state governor, Yahaya Bello, has laid a good foundation for the distribution palliative in Kogi State, stressing that the new administration had earlier pledged  to deliver on its campaign promises.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative for providing opportunities for the less privileges at the critical period of economic crises across the country.

He therefore, appealed to all government officials and other political office holders to stay away from the distribution and sharing of the palliatives, “and allow the poor to breathe,” noting that the masses voted for him to power and there is the need to take care of their welfare in the state.

Ododo added that the first quarter palliative is meant for the poor and would be distributed across the 239 wards in the 21 local government area of the state.

He admonished those charged with the responsibility to distribute the palliative not to shortchange the down trodden as it would be monitored from the distribution point to the various wards in the state.

According to him, “The current challenges demand that we must strengthen the social safety net. This initiative came at the time when our administration is determined to ensure food security in our state.”

Also, the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Aliyu  Umar, lauded the Governor Ododo for fulfilling his promise to take good care of the people of the state.

Aliyu appealed to the governor to prevail on the market women in Lokoja and the state in general to stop hiking the prices of food items indiscriminately.

The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kogi State chapter, Gabriel Amari,  also lauded the governor for extending olive branch to the people of the state by distributing palliative.

Amari urged the governor to put in place a strict measure to stop trucks from taking away food items in large quantities from Kogi State.