APC expresses concern over diversion, rebranding of FG’s palliatives

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has said that it has been piqued by the recurring incidents of diversion of palliatives by officials of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) government, and called for an independent investigation and prosection of the culprits or it else it takes legal action.

A statement issued by the state party chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, asserted that government failure to take necessary action against its officials found to be involved in the diversion of the palliatives may be interpreted as acts being perpetrated with it’s tacit support.

He said it was unfortunate that last week, hundreds of bags of rice labeled “Federal Government Food Security Program” were discovered at a private school, Wada Sagagi Islamic School owned by the Chief Staff, Government House, Kano, Shehu Wada Sagagi.

Abbas insisted that no convincing argument was put forward by Sagagi as to how the bags of rice which that form part of the grains donated to the Kano state government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal among the poor and vulnerable residents were found in his private residence turned Islamiyya school.

The chairman stated that in December, last year, one Tasiu Al’amin-Roba, allegedly working for the Secretary to the State Government, Baffa Abdullahi Bichi, who was identified as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Cabinet office, was arrested over alleged diversion of the state’s palliatives.

He said that the suspects was found repackaging the rice and maize at a warehouse located at Sharada, and was subsequently arrested with a promise to drag him to court.

Abbas added that the government of Kano state is in the habit of rebranding and repackaging of some parts of the grains they wanted to distribute, mostly to their members with the picture of the governor and logo of the NNPP.

The party chair noted that in September, last year, the Managing Director of the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), Dr. Tukur Dayyabu Minjibir was suspended for alleged involvement in an inappropriate sale of grains belonging to the Kano state government.

“It is therefore very important that the Kano state government should not stop at suspension or investigation. All actions taken should be concluded by prosecuting all those found to have been involved in these scandals to serve as deterrent,” he said.

Abbas pointed out that recently, the Tinubu administration sent 70 trucks of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs for free distribution to farmers in Kano, but the state government claimed the credit as if it procured the products and was said to have been sold to farmers at N5, 000 per bag.

The party chair described the actions of the NNPP government as a deliberate attempt to rubbish the effort of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in supporting the people during this trying period.

“At different times, the federal government donated truckloads of grains to the Kano state government for distribution to the needy, but apart from symbolic official launch, these interventions have not been felt in the larger society,” the statement added.

He said: “to our knowledge, Kano state government received 100 trucks of rice, 44 trucks of sorghum, and four trucks of maize. It was also apportioned 969 metric tons of maize, 1,320 metric tons of sorghum, and 417 metric tons of millet, to be distributed equitably across all local government areas. Just recently, 20 trucks of rice were also given to Kano state.”

The chairman observed that it was unfortunate the people have yet to see the impact of these efforts by President Tinubu in Kano state as evidenced in the level of frustration and expression of anger against the government.