The Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress in Kwara State, Tajudeen Aro, speaks with TUNDE OYEKOLA on the controversy surrounding the rice palliative alleged to have been given to members of the National Assembly, among other issues
How did you perceive Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s performance in the six months of his second term?
The governor’s performance in his second term has been quite impressive and assuring. Government is a continuum, and he has been doing well. As I speak with you, work has been intensified on the General Tunde Idiagbon Bridge at the Tanke area. There are also projects like the garment factory, road projects in Ilorin and other parts of the state as well as various other projects that were started during his first term. The people of the state did not make any mistake in giving him the mandate for the second term in office. But I want to plead with our people to give more support to the governor so that he can perform better because he has more goodies for the people of the state and what he needs is our support and encouragement so that he can perform better.
Following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, various measures have been taken, including the distribution of food palliatives to the people of the state. Do you think that these palliatives have cushioned the effect of the removal on the people?
The removal of the fuel subsidy done by the Federal Government was done in the interest of the people of Nigeria. The federal and state governments designed various palliative measures to cushion the effect that the removal of fuel subsidy. Unfortunately, the expected positive impact such efforts would have on the living conditions of the people is not felt due to our attitude of insincerity, poor planning and execution from top to bottom.
What is your opinion on the palliative awards given to the people of the state by the Kwara State Government?
When the announcement on the removal of petrol subsidy was made by President Bola Tinubu, our governor, being the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum was the first to announce various palliative measures for the people of the state to cushion the effect that subsidy removal would have on the people of the state. Such measures included a reduction of the working days from five to three days for the workers in a week and distribution of food items to the people as well as a reduction in the price of maize to poultry farmers.
Government efforts were geared towards the productive sector, particularly farming. The committee set up to do the distribution did their best, but it is just not enough and cannot be enough bearing in mind the Nigerian factor such as selfishness and greed. The government also initiated the payment of N10,000 monthly stipend to the workers which it was paying. I want to appeal that the government should intensify their efforts on the little amount given to workers and pensioners as palliative money.
Recently, there was a report that the Federal Government approved some trailer loads of rice palliative for the elected federal legislators. Do you think that this information is true?
Yes, various statements made by some legislators and the Federal Government showed the veracity of that claim. But the fact that it had not been received by some legislators and has not been distributed to people in the various constituencies does not suggest otherwise. I want to plead with the people to be patient with their elected representatives as the rice palliative will soon come to them.
The nine lawmakers elected in the state on the platform of the APC denied that they were they received the trailer loads of rice to be distributed in their constituencies. What is your take on this?
The people should be patient and let us give them the benefit of the doubt.
How should the federal and state governments handle the issue of palliatives distribution to the people of the state?
There are ways known to the government about how the palliatives can get to the people at the grassroots. We have organised groups and institutions that these palliatives can be channelled through. Most vulnerable people are found in the churches and mosques as the last resort. These food items and other things can be channelled through community associations, religious groups and others.
The state government recently awarded three major contracts, including Kwara Hotels, expansion of Unity Road and a flyover along Unity Road to a single company. How do you view this and do you think this is right?
It depends on the process and conditions attached to the contract approval. As long as these conditions are met and the competence and integrity of the company are not in doubt, they can be given multiple chances and opportunities to execute these contracts. So, I don’t see anything wrong in what the state government has done in giving the three contracts to a single company.