Elected Politicians Scuttling Palliatives’ Distribution in States, CD Alleges

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Campaign for Democracy (CD) has condemned the ongoing distribution of palliatives meant to cushion the effects of petroleum subsidy removal by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

The pro-democracy group maintained that it’s observation so far indicated that the exercise would not have impact on the poor Nigerians, alleging that elected politicians were scuttling the exercise.

The President of CD, Mr. Ifeanyi Odili, in a statement made available to THISDAY, in Abuja, yesterday, said rather than solving the problems of hunger in the land, the exercise would further compound the people’s troubles.

Odili said findings by his group indicated that elected politicians saddled with the responsibility of carrying out the exercise were enmeshed in corruption.

The CD boss said the privileged politicians were diverting the items meant for the poor.

He cited the example of an All Progressives Congress controlled state in the South-west, where an elected politician (names withheld), allegedly diverted 500 bags of rice meant for distribution to the poor.

He said, “We are using this medium to warn anybody or member of the affected state executive to return the stolen palliative in their care as we are set to drag them before the ICPC.

“The affected public office holders will be doing a disservice to the themselves if this warning is ignored.

“CD is of the firm conviction that the Federal Government of Nigeria is insulting Nigerians with the palliatives it rolled out to what they termed, poorest of the poor/vulnerable citizens.

“It is annoying and causing anger to see a set of leaders who claimed to ease our problems during electioneering campaign adding unprecedented sorrows and tears to people’s lives.

“We make bold to say, sending N10,000 to the poor and most vulnerable cannot be a genuine panacea to the quagmire we all found ourselves due to poor managerial skill of our leaders and their man’s inhumanity to man.”

Speaking further, he said: “It is very sad, that our leaders did not know that sending token to people’s account is uncivilised and unwanted. Rather, men of high cerebral should be invited to discuss way out of conundrums we all find ourselves.

“It is unfortunate, incomprehensible and irresponsible that the leaders who tell Nigerians to endure and make sacrifices cannot on their own ready to make a simple sacrifice themselves.

“Is it not disservice, unpatriotic that at this critical time, our lawmakers who constitutionally should be the defenders of the oppressed and downtrodden indulge in looting our nation to take care of their narrow fancies?

“Rather than engaging in policies that will not bring assistance and support in times of hardship and distress to Nigerians as being experienced,

“It will be politically, socially and economically expedient to reduce the price of fuel, gas and diesel without any delay as that is the only way out of this mess.

“Failure to comply, we will mobilise Nigerian masses who are already dying silently to rise up to the occasion.”