APC, Obaseki bicker over looted bags of rice in viral videos

‘Religious bodies implement relief programmes’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, yesterday, urged the people of the state to hold Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki responsible for the hardship in the state for allegedly diverting palliatives meant for the people from the Federal Government.

Briefing newsmen in Benin, Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, accused Obaseki of diversion of Federal Government palliatives, which, he said, was responsible for hunger in the state.

Meanwhile, the state government has said that it does not keep relief materials in its warehouses, as the government’s feeding programme for vulnerable persons in the state is being implemented through religious bodies.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said that the videos making the rounds, which emanating from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, is the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a desperate attempt to score cheap political points.

He said: “The Edo State Government has received information about the looting of bags of rice from an unidentified truck and private residences in parts of Benin City in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance protests.

“The videos making the rounds are said to have emanated from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, and the government does not have a warehouse in that location.

“The government supports the vulnerable with relief materials through religious organisations, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and the Muslim leaders in the state.”