Ekiti Governor Flags-Off Distribution Of Second Palliatives To Poor Residents

By Akeem Oduyoye

Barely two weeks after the Ekiti State government began the monthly transfer of N5,000 to indigent citizens in the state, the state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has flagged off the distribution of the second phase of palliatives to the people of the state.

Oyebanji said that the consumables comprising rice and maize to be distributed in the second phase were provided by the Federal and state governments to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal.

The governor, who spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Saturday while flagging off the distribution of the second tranche of the palliatives said, “Our President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, sent some palliatives to you and we bought some to be able to go round. It is a partnership between the federal and state governments.

“These palliatives are for the poorest of the poor and whoever can take three square meals daily without stress should please resist the temptation of taking from these palliatives. It is for those who can’t afford that.”

The governor, who reeled out the programmes, said he had initiated to make lives easier for the populace after the subsidy removal

“We have also begun the distribution of N5,000 stipend to some poor masses. They will receive this for three months, just to reduce the current pressure. All these are just palliatives pending the time we will take concrete measures to address the current situation.”

Oyebanji, who described the subsidy removal as a good and beneficial policy, added, “President Tinubu asked us to tell you that subsidy removal is to make our future better, not to punish us. It could have been better if the past administrations had removed the subsidy. So, I plead with you to continue to pray for President Tinubu and my government.”

Oyebanji added that apart from palliative distribution to the poor, those running poultry businesses would receive trucks of maize to make them thrive and contribute to economic development.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and chairman of the palliative distribution committee, Ebenezer Boluwade, said the state had earlier received 3,000 bags of rice from the FG and had distributed them to the citizens in the first batch.

Boluwade said this action showed the power of sensitivity, empathy, and sympathy of Oyebanji’s government, which indicated that his administration could show compassion to the citizens to mitigate the current effect of the economy on them.