- Says, “we must allow the poor to breathe”
From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State flagged off palliatives to people of the state on Tuesday, declaring that the poor must be provided for.
The governor who said the about 25 trucks load of rice will be shared across the 239 wards of the 21 Local government areas in the state said the sharing of the palliatives should not be politicized.
Governor Ododo said he has decided be part of the sharing committee so as to ensure the palliatives go round equatably irrespective of party affiliation, tribal setting and religious beliefs.
The governor expressed his willingness to serve the people of the state with the fear of God and utmost selflessness and warned government officials and officials of political parties to steer clear of the palliatives as they were meant for the poor , the weak and the aged.
He commented president Bola Tinubu for his commitment to better the lots of the citizens and said his administration will soon unfold a long term agriculture programmes that ensure mass production of food in the state adding that the people must produce what they eat and what others eat.
Earlier, the Speaker state house of assembly, Rt Hon Yusuf Umar thanked the governor for the palliatives but urged the governor to look beyond the palliatives and do something urgently to arrest the high cost of food items in the state.
He particularly expressed sadness over the activities of market women in lokoja the state capital who he said hike the cost of commodities astronomically beyond the reach of common people saying cost of food items in lokoja is even higher than that of Abuja.