The controversy over the rice palliative that was allegedly given to members of the National Assembly is discussed, among other things, with TUNDE OYEKOLA by Tajudeen Aro, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State.
Throughout the first half of his second term, how did you think Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq performed?
In his second term, the governor has been remarkably confident in his performance. He’s been performing well in government, which is a continuation. General Tunde Idiagbon Bridge construction has accelerated in the Tanke area as we speak. He initiated a number of additional projects during his first tenure, including the clothing factory and road construction in Ilorin and other regions of the state. The state’s citizens voted him in for a second term of office without making a mistake. The governor has more goods for the people of the state, but I want to beg our people to support him more so that he can do better. He needs our encouragement and support to do so.
There have been a number of actions done after the federal government stopped providing gasoline subsidies, one of which was giving the state’s residents food palliatives. Would you say that the people’s reaction to the removal was lessened by these palliatives?
It was the Nigerian people’s interest that the Federal Government removed the fuel subsidy. To lessen the impact of the elimination of the fuel subsidy, the federal and state governments created a number of consoling measures. Sadly, our attitude of insincerity, as well as inadequate planning and execution from top to bottom, have prevented the anticipated good influence that such efforts would have on people’s living conditions.
To what extent do you think the Kwara State Government’s palliative awards benefit the people of the state?
Acting as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, our governor was the first to announce a number of palliative measures for the state’s citizens to lessen the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s announcement regarding the removal of gasoline subsidies. Among these were distributing food to the populace, cutting the number of working days from five to three, and lowering the price of maize to poultry producers.
The agricultural sector, in particular, constituted the focus of government efforts. Despite the greatest efforts of the distribution committee, a Nigerian component like greed and selfishness makes the amount of distribution simply insufficient. Along with compensating the workers, the government started giving them a N10,000 monthly stipend. My urge is for the government to step up efforts to supplement the palliative care allowance that is provided to employees and retirees.
Reports surfaced recently indicating that the elected federal legislators received trailer loads of rice as a palliative from the federal government. Is this information accurate, in your opinion?
Indeed, the validity of such assertion was demonstrated by a number of remarks made by the federal government and some lawmakers. The lack of distribution to individuals in the various constituencies and the fact that some MPs had not received it, however, do not seem to support the opposite. The people will soon get access to rice palliative care, therefore I want to implore them to have patience with their elected leaders.
The nine APC-backed lawmakers who were voted to office in the state denied having received the trailer loads of rice that were intended to be handed to their voters. In your opinion, what about this?
Let us extend an olive branch to the people and ask them to be patient.
Regarding the delivery of palliative care to the state’s populace, how should the federal and state governments manage this matter?
The government knows of certain methods for reaching out to the grassroots population with palliative care. Palliative care can be channeled through established groups and institutions that we have set up. Churches and mosques are the last places where the most vulnerable people can be discovered. Channels such as community associations, religious groups, and others can distribute these food goods and other products.
Kwara Hotels, Unity Road’s development, and a flyover along Unity Road were among the three significant contracts that the state government recently gave to one company. How do you feel about this? Is this the correct thing to do?
The procedure and terms governing the contract approval will determine this. These contracts can be executed on more than one occasion, provided that these requirements are satisfied and the company’s expertise and honesty remain unquestioned. Thus, in my opinion, there is nothing improper about the state government’s decision to award the three contracts to a single business.
