Former Kano state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have engaged in a war of words over the method adopted by the federal government in the distribution of rice palliatives to the needy in the state.
Kwankwaso who’s of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), took exception to the federal government’s decision to give Kano’s share of the palliatives to APC stalwarts in the state.
He lampooned the government, describing it as a disservice to democracy since the palliatives to 35 other states were given to their respective governors.
To him it was political manoeuvring and “a blatant act of partisanship.”
Kwankaso said, “For the last one week, I have been in Kano, and sadly I noted with great disappointment the Federal Government’s distribution of rice palliative to 35 states all through their Governors, except Kano State in the whole federation.
“Kano’s share was handed over to APC stalwarts to handle. This is a gross insult to our constitutional democracy and driving partisanship too far.
“I call on Mr. President to immediately halt this naked derailment of democracy.”
But the Kano State chapter of the APC through its Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, however, said the palliatives were not given to the state governor because of the unsatisfactory method the last palliatives were distributed.
Abbas in a statement said the federal government is committed to reducing hunger in the country, but “the NNPP government is frustrating the efforts.”
He said President Tinubu has approved several palliative measures for poor households and vulnerable, but that some officials of the Kano State government have been diverting them with officials inappropriately selling “grains belonging to the state government.”
The statement therefore called on Kwankwaso to prevail on his anointed governor to launch an investigation into these acts of “irresponsibility, by ensuring that perpetrators account for all the missing palliatives and also prosecuted.
“The reconstituted committee by the federal government is under the leadership of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barque Jibrin, with membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Senator Rufa’i Hanga (NNPP), Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila (NNPP), members of the House of Representatives, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam, the state deputy governor, traditional and religious leaders, among others,” he said.
Abbas said the bipartisan committee worked out detailed modalities for the distribution of the palliatives to prevent incidences of diversion and ensure that the beneficiaries are truly the most needy members of the public.