The Federal Government in collaboration with the Oyo State Government, on Monday, distributed assorted commodities from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable persons in the state.
After receiving the commodities at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Agodi Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital, the state governor, Seyi Makinde warned the 33 Local Government chairmen in the state not to share the commodities among their political class.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by his Deputy, Bayo Lawal, reminded them that security operatives, especially the Economic and Financial Crime Commission would monitor the distribution.
“This distribution would have come before now, you know the project is directly under my office but I intentionally delayed it by advising His Excellency, Governor Makinde.
“Now that you have been elected, you are now the chairmen of local governments, I want to warn you on behalf of the governor not to share it among yourselves or the political class,” Lawal said.
He further explained that the state government also released funds for the project, and urged them to distribute it to the appropriate people.
Earlier in his own remarks, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, represented by the Zonal Director, South-West, Steven Adewale, recalled that one of President Tinubu’s promises was to reduce the impact of the current economic downturn being experienced in Nigeria.
His words: “Mr President approved the release of 42,000MT of the assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve under the custody of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The assorted food commodities include maize, millet, sorghum and garri.
“Please note that membership of the committee in each Local Government is made up of the Chairman of the LGA, state Emergency Management Agency, a traditional ruler, Department of State Service, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Faith-Based organisations, Nigerian Union of Employees, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Women Associations, Persons with Disability Group, Youth Associations, Principals of Boarding Schools, Civil Society Organisations and Media
“Based on the directives of Mr President, 20 % of the food items due for each Local Government Area should be given to religious organisations (JNI & CAN) and three per cent to be given to the boarding schools in the councils.”
Also speaking, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Hamidu Ajibade urged both the federal and state governments to seek out solutions to the issues of insecurity in the state, especially in the Oke-Ogun region, lamenting that kidnapping and killing of farmers were rampant.
“I want to use this occasion to appeal to the Federal Government through our dear Governor, Makinde, to help us find lasting solutions to the insecurity in this state, especially in the Oke-Ogun area. Our people are no longer going to the farms for fear of being killed or kidnapped.
“We need security in this state. Please, it is getting out of hand. We need to go back to farming. We need tractors, let’s go back to mechanised farming. We Obas are discussing this issue of insecurity on a daily basis. Your Excellency, help us to pass this message to President Tinubu that people are suffering,” the monarch said.
Dignitaries at the ceremony were members of the Olubadan-In-Council, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe; Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Oba Isioye Dada; the state’s former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi; the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi; the Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Olagbami; the state Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima; the state Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademola Ojo and a host of others.
