.. .Says Reports of Poor Handling Of Palliatives Made To Tarnish Obaseki’s Image
Benin City – As Edo state government plans to commence the distribution of second batch of relief materials to vulnerable persons, Agbondimwin S. Edokpolor, Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to Governor Godwin Obaseki has called for ‘proper’ monitoring of the items.
Edokpolor, who made the call in a chat with The Nigerian Observer over the weekend, in Benin city, the state capital.
He maintained that, earlier reports of diversion, shortchanging, and rejection of the items by persons during the first-batch distribution exercise, were “orchestrated” to tarnish governor Obaseki’s image.
The aide, from Ward 10 (Egbede-Ward) in Uhunwhode local government area, pledged support for the governor’s re-election bid, adding, “nothing can stop Obaseki from picking the (Edo APC governorship) ticket”.
Last month, the state government distributed food items, in form of palliatives to widows, elderly, physically challenged, orphanage homes, inmates and other vulnerable groups across the 18 local government areas, to cushion the economic effect of the (partial) lockdown occasioned by coronavirus outbreak.
The distribution was however marred by widespread reports of poor handling of the exercise.
According to Edokpolor, “this a crucial time; the governor must ensure the media is fully involved in the second batch distribution of the food items. He should made the local government chairmen come with their own pressmen to receive the items.
“Let people know the number of items going to a particular area, and the person who is in charge in that area; and also add escorts to follow it down to the wards, because people who do not have conscience usually divert it to their personal use”.
While decrying the situation whereby those who can afford the food items still demand for it, he urged residents to take advantage of social media to expose acts that are contrary to the governor’s directives.
