The Chairman of the Edo State Media and Publicity Directorate of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Mr John Mayaki has called on the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to emulate his counterparts across the country who have decided to initiate palliative programs to cushion the effects of Naira scarcity and arbitrary pump price of motor spirit citizens currently face.
Mayaki who’s a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State also accused Governor Godwin Obaseki and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of aggravating the suffering of the citizens by supporting the Federal Government in the implementation of the cashless/naira redesign policy which has brought untold hardship to Nigerians.
In a statement on Thursday in Lagos State, Mayaki said if anything jolted the riot, protest, killings and destruction of properties by angry Edo people, it was the mindless joining of the suit against the Federal Government at the Supreme Court whereas, other governors have initiated palliative programs for their citizens, Godwin Obaseki prefers to play politics with the lives of those he was elected to govern.
“For instance, in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday commenced the the distribution of palliative to the vulnerable in Lagos State to cushion the effects of the hardship experienced by residents.
“The Governor has also announced the reduction of transportation fare in the state by 50 per cent and also directed that food banks be set up in various parts of the state to cater for the vulnerable and that the state government would distribute food stuff to various communities – this is commendable”.
Besides, Mayaki said, “Obaseki’s counterpart in Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum has ordered the immediate release of over N300 million worth of drugs and other medical supplies to government hospitals for free distribution to patients most of whom where facing difficulties in making payments due to scarcity of new Naira notes.
“While Governor Godwin Obaseki was busy accusing former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the cause of the protest in the capital city, his counterpart in Kebbi State was busy thinking of how he would cushion the effects of the currency and fuel scarcity by approving the release of N1.1 billon for distribution to residents.
“While the people suffer and unable to access their hard earned money, Governor Obaseki was busy strategising on how to further impoverish those he swore to protect by deploying state resources to be part of those encouraging the CBN to continue the haphazard implementation of the ill-conceived policy on Naira re-design”.
Continuing, Mayaki said, “Obaseki’s counterpart in Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun has since commenced the distribution of the first phase of 400,000 food items through the State Social Investment Officers in each local government areas to the communities but what did Obaseki do – after the riot that brought the state economy to a halt on Wednesday, he belatedly announced a 4-day free bus ride to passengers.
“Yesterday, market women in their thousands protested against the Governor and not against Comrade Adams Oshiomhole – it simply shows discontentments against his style of governance – and that means that the bulk stops on the Governor’s table and not a benevolent predecessor. Edo people are not oblivious that the Governor has derailed and have become very unpopular and there’s no amount of intimidation of the opposition and it’s leadership can stop the defeat of the PDP at the polls.
“I want to call on the entire people of Edo state to continue to mount pressure on Governor Godwin Obaseki to face the business of good governance and stop finding faults from those who brought him from obscurity to limelight. We’re aware of the series of plots by Edo State Government to stop Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the polls by finding faults where there are none, we must remind the Governor that power is transient and that he will account for his actions someday”.