The Bayelsa State government has expressed concerns over the alleged diversion of items sent by the Federal Ministry of Regional Development as palliatives intended for flood victims in the state. According to the state government, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa have been implicated in this issue.
Mrs. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, made this announcement during a press briefing at the Government House in Yenagoa. The briefing focused on the recent receipt of palliatives from the Federal Government and addressed concerns raised by citizens regarding their distribution.
Koku-Obiyai clarified that while the Bayelsa State government officially received these supplies on the preceding Saturday, allegations surfaced that additional items brought into the state were allegedly distributed among APC stakeholders without the government’s knowledge. She emphasized the importance of transparency and informed the public about what the state government has officially accounted for.
The items officially received include 2,000 bags of 50kg rice, six bags of 50kg beans, 150 cartons of spaghetti, 1,000 mosquito nets, 100 cartons of tomato paste, and six bags of detergent.
Additional items included 10 cartons of bathing soap, 20 bags of salt, 20 cartons of vegetable oil, 20 cartons of sachet milk, two cartons of seasoning cubes, 50 cooking stoves, six grinding machines, six sewing machines, three motorcycles, and four bags of rubber slippers.
Addressing the gathered press, Koku-Obiyai remarked, “This is what we received as a state from the Federal Government. However, information at our disposal suggests that other items were brought into the state and shared among APC stakeholders. As a government, we have accounted for what we officially received.”
She added, “Given the limited quantity of these items, such as the 2,000 bags of rice, it is clear that these supplies will not suffice even for a single constituency. This is why it’s crucial to clarify what the government has received and is distributing to flood victims and vulnerable groups in the yuletide period.”
In response to inquiries, Koku-Obiyai noted that Bayelsa had previously received N3 billion from the Federal Government for flood victim support. She explained that the funds were allocated to essential efforts, including visits to flood-affected communities and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), ensuring the relief reached those in dire need.
However, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Bayelsa State chapter of the APC, Mr. Coronation Tokpo, dismissed these allegations as baseless. Tokpo stated that palliatives from the Federal Government are distributed to states and not to political parties. He further argued that APC members have, in the past, been excluded from receiving palliatives due to partisan distribution practices within the state.
This development has sparked discussions among citizens and political observers, raising questions about accountability and equitable distribution of federal resources in addressing natural disasters and supporting affected communities.
