A war of words has erupted between the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the alleged theft of federal government food palliatives.

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The controversy began after a viral video circulated on social media, showing people looting 10kg bags of rice from a truck during the ongoing End Bad Governance protests in Edo State.

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In response, the Chairman of CAN, Edo State Chapter, Apostle Dr. Irekpono Omoike, disclosed that the rice being scrambled for in the video was actually meant for distribution by a vendor contracted by the Edo State CAN Implementation Committee for its Christian Feeding Programme, which is wholly sponsored by the state government and has no connection to the federal government.

However, the Edo State APC chapter dismissed the CAN chairman’s position and insisted that the rice in question was from the stock provided by the Federal Government, which CAN had allegedly connived with the State Government to steal and hoard, instead of distributing to the people of Edo.

Addressing journalists at a press conference held at the Chancellery of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin, in Benin City, CAN Chairman Apostle Irekpono Omoike clarified that the bags of rice were from the second phase of the State Government-sponsored Christian Feeding Programme. He revealed that in the first phase, which commenced in May 2024, 60,000 bags of rice were shared across the three senatorial districts of the state, with Edo South receiving 27,000 bags, Edo North 18,000 bags, and Edo Central 15,000 bags.

The Secretary of the CAN Implementation Committee for the Christian Feeding Programme, Revd. Osagie Ehrunmwunse, further explained that the vandalised truck belonged to a logistics company that was contracted to bring the rice from Ekpoma, but it broke down on the road, leading to a delay. He said they had directed that the rice be taken for safekeeping before it was intercepted by the hoodlums.

Meanwhile, the protests in Edo State have been relatively peaceful, with thousands of protesters converging at the Ring Road Roundabout in Benin City daily, bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Tinubu reduce the hunger,” “APC stop suffering us,” and “Say No To High Fuel Price.” The State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, has urged the protesters to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

Last updated on November 15th, 2024 at 10:45 am