The opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to take responsibility for the failure recorded in the distribution of rice, rolled out as palliative to cushion the harsh economic effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
The PDP made the demand in a statement on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Bankole.
The PDP’s statement was in reaction to an earlier one by the ruling All Progressives Congress alleging plans by the opposition to blackmail the governor.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, had, in a statement, said, “In spite of the painstaking effort of the government to ensure that the palliatives get to the right beneficiaries promptly, some people are unrelenting in their bids to tar the administration with negative brushes for reasons not beyond politics.
“This explains the case of the man in a recent video who claims to be a Community Development Association chairman somewhere in the state. Taking to social media and throwing cautions to the wind, he betrayed the posture of a man out to do mischief so as to score cheap political gains.
“This man is aware that the bag of rice is meant for one vulnerable family in the community, and not for all the residents. It was sent to him as the chairman for onward transfer to a vulnerable widow in his community.
“But, instead of ensuring that it gets to the intended beneficiary, he chose to play politics with the palliative, exposing himself as the destructive opposition agent that he actually is.”
But the PDP in reaction accused the government of trying to blackmail and intimidate the man seen in the video.
The PDP spokesman said, “As the leading opposition in the Ogun State, the PDP has deliberately kept quiet in relation to the disbursement of the government’s palliative to the people, expecting that the Governor Dapo Abiodun led-APC government would have outgrown its trademark of serial failure and irresponsibility.
“It is, however, very sad that the governor can come out with his full chest to accuse us of blackmailing his rudderless government. For the umpteenth time, the statewide rejection of the palliative by members of CDs remains a valid confirmation of how unpopular the government has become over the years. The poor implementation of the palliatives distribution in Ogun is a brazen insult to the sensibilities of the good people of the state.
“Again, it shows that Governor Abiodun is bereft of all creative ideas for running a responsible govt. Ogun State residents know what is ideal for them, they do not need anybody to instigate them against any irresponsibility and corporate insults from the government. If Governor Abiodun doesn’t know what to do in implementing an acceptable means of giving palliatives to the people, he should seek help immediately; and that should be preceded by tendering an unreserved apology to the good people of the state.”
