APC accuses Gov Emmanuel of sharing COVID-19 palliatives into PDP as Christmas gifts

APC At a statement by its own state Publicity Secretary, Nkereuwem Enyongekere on Friday, the party said the COVID-19 food items were donated in July by a coalition of private sector players led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

According to the statement, “Another end-of-year folly from the administration is its own choice to discuss, as Christmas presents, the truck loads of COVID-19 food items sent to the state since July from the nation’s private sector coalition headed by Dangote Group along with other donors.

“The sight of those food items being shared at the country home of the governor’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Ephraim Inyangeyen, to PDP members since Christmas presents is galling. How greedy, mean and wicked could these people be to have hoarded these items since July, deny Akwa Ibom individuals of its usage throughout the lockdown, and turn around to share it to their nearest members only.

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” We also remember that the federal government had delivered a truckload of rice to the country earlier in the year. The governor had promised in a radio interview then that the rice did not appear good for consumption, and that he was likely to send it for laboratory tests. Is the evaluation result out? We are sure that the rice was surreptitiously distributed to PDP members from the state.”

But, the commissioner for information and approach, Comrade Ini Ememobong in reaction said the sharing of the palliatives has nothing related to the annual Christmas gifts.

At a press statement made on Friday, Ememobong stated, “The State Government had earlier in November this season intimated on the coming of Atomic substances from CACOVID (Coalition Against COVID) which is a private sector driven corporate social responsibility contributes to the struggle against COVID-19 pandemic. It was also declared that when the full consignment in the donor’s berths within our state, distribution will commence.

“The structure for the supply of these palliatives in the LGA level is quite inclusive, having representation from people living with disabilities, women, youths, religious organizations, professional bodies and opposition parties under the platform of their Inter-Party Advisory Committee.

“This committee supervises the distribution of these palliatives to the people passing through the intermediary ward supply arrangement. The supply, which can be mostly decentralized to conform to COVID-19 protocols, has begun and is continuing.

“The focus of the batch of palliative supply aside from the LGAs are all media, orphanage houses, medical workers, security employees, traders, Labour, entertainers as well as pupils.

“This distribution of palliative is obviously different from the usual end of year goodwill gift of rice into different categories of people.”

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