received “few” trucks of rice from the federal government early this year.
Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare,
stated this at a press conference in Benin and said the rice were 25kg each and would in no way alleviate the suffering of the masses in the state.
He said the trucks of rice were distributed according to the list provided by local government and some went to the IDPs, less privileged, vulnerable, and others on the list.
He said.
“I will state categorically that Edo State Government does not buy rice. Edo State Government did not buy rice.
“What it did is to provide N2.2bn to CAN to purchase this food and other items; garri, yam, plantain including rice to give to the vulnerable people and that is a deliberate government policy.
“Then, on the issue of Federal Government given us rice, I will tell you, few months ago, maybe early this year or late last year or mid this year, they brought some few trucks of rice.
“They (the rice) were distributed according to the formula which they sent to us. The rice went to IDP camp, to different people, to orphanage homes. You people should do the investigation.
“Edo State Government did not touch one of them. It went straight to the local government and then to where it was designed to be givenout to. Edo State Government does not keep rice.
“So if a misguided minister in Abuja is echoing the voice of propaganda of Edo State APC of talking about rice.
“We have spent N2.2bn to feed our people. Twenty trucks of rice? We are close to seven million people in Edo State. How does that help?
“What we have done to eradicate poverty is to offer free bus service since September last year and it is still going on. We have over 250, 000 people enrolled in Edo State health insurance.
Recall that the Deputy Director Media, Asue Ighodalo Governorship Campaign Committee, Rev Olu Martins, on Monday said that the Edo State government did not receive 20 trucks of rice from the federal government.
Martins said a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, who made the allegation on a television programme on Saturday, only speculated to whip up sentiment against the state government.
He said, “The Edo State government did not receive any rice from the Federal Government or Aliko Dangote Foundation.
“Mind you, Mr President did not mention in his speech on Sunday that rice was given to any of the states. It may be that it is still in the offing, because if he sent 20 trucks of rice to Edo State, which ministry did it go through? Which ministry or agency received it in Edo?” Martins said.
