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…As BBC Hausa exposes paltry distribution of aid in state
From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State has strongly condemned the alleged diversion of Federal Government palliatives meant to alleviate the hardships of the impoverished citizens of the state following the fuel subsidy removal.
The state PDP Chairman, Comrade Francis Orogu, in a statement released yesterday, expressed deep concern over the alleged misuse of the funds and called for immediate Federal Government intervention.
Orogu said that the PDP attention was drawn to what they described as the “unwholesome diversion” of the palliatives, leading to inadequate support for the state’s poor residents.
He said that it appeared that rather than use the money to purchase essential items for the needy, the funds have been diverted, leaving the citizens with meager supplies.
Sunday Sun gathered that the situation gained national attention when the BBC Hausa Service reported on the distribution of the items in Keffi Local Government Area, where the widows, orphans, and vulnerable members of the community it interviewed, expressed disappointment and frustration over the insufficient aid they received.
The PDP, therefore, accused the state government of trying to shift the blame for the insufficient aid onto the Federal Government, thereby tarnishing the reputation of President Ahmed Tinubu.
They argued that even a fraction of the funds provided by the Federal Government could have made a significant impact on the lives of the people.
Comrade Orogu, therefore, called on President Tinubu to take immediate action to salvage his administration’s reputation and ensure that the Federal Government’s well-intentioned policies are not derailed in Nasarawa State.
To address the issue, the PDP suggested the formation of a special task force consisting of workers’ unions, civil society organizations, and other critical stakeholders to oversee the distribution of palliatives in the state.
They also urged the Federal Government to investigate the involvement of state officials in the distribution scandal.
The PDP emphasized the importance of ensuring that funds intended for widows, orphans, and the poor reach their intended recipients and put an end to what they described as a recurring pattern of misuse of public funds in the state.
The PDP also referenced past instances of misappropriated funds in the state, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in government actions.
The party called on the Tinubu administration to break the cycle of official mismanagement of palliatives for the sake of Nasarawa State’s most vulnerable citizens.
