The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Edo State government exchanged accusations on Thursday regarding the ownership of a truck of rice looted at a warehouse in Benin by #EndBadGovernance protesters.
A viral video showed residents looting rice from the warehouse in Urora, Uhunmwonde local government area. In the video, looters claimed the warehouse belonged to the state government, and many were seen carrying bags of rice weighing more than 10kg.
At a news conference, Acting APC Chairman in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, alleged that the video revealed Governor Godwin Obaseki’s deliberate plan to deprive Edo residents of the Federal Government’s palliative aid.
Tenebe also claimed that a significant portion of the rice was being sold in markets by a prominent market leader affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said: “If Edo people were in doubt, the video that emerged on social media today, showing an abandoned trailer load of repackaged Federal Government rice with Edo State Government inscription has exposed the state government.
“The rice was discovered by Urora residents and it has exposed Obaseki’s deliberate plan to deprive the Edo people of accessing the different palliative measures of the Federal Government.
“We have intelligence reports on several warehouses in the state, hoarding rice and other grains met for Edo people.
“There are reports also that a substantial part of the rice was being sold in markets by a prominent PDP market woman leader.”
The APC leader described the scenario as economic sabotage, which the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) must investigate.
However, the state government had denied ownership of the warehouse.
The State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said in a statement the government did not keep relief materials in its warehouses
He said the government’s feeding programme for vulnerable persons in the state was being implemented through religious bodies.
Nehikhare alleged that APC was behind the video.
He said: “The Edo State government has received information about the looting of bags of rice from an unidentified truck and private residences in parts of Benin City in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance protests.
“The videos making the rounds are said to have emanated from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, and the government does not have a warehouse in that location.
“The video is the handiwork of APC in a desperate attempt to score cheap political points.
“The government supports the vulnerable with relief materials through religious organisations particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, and the Muslim leaders in the State.
“The state government does not keep any relief material by itself but reaches out to the people through these channels.
“We will not put this tactic past the APC, which is spreading malicious content to score cheap political points.
“This condemnable action is intended to cause chaos in the state.”
Leave a Reply