APC, Edo govt clash over ownership of rice looted by protesters #EndBadGovernance

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Edo State government on Thursday traded barbs over the ownership of rice trucks looted from a warehouse in Benin by #EndBadGovernance protesters.

Some residents of the state were seen in a viral video looting rice at a warehouse in Urora, Uhunmwonde local government area of ​​the state during the protest.

In the video, the looters are heard saying the warehouse belonged to the state government.

Most residents were seen carrying sacks of rice weighing more than 10 kg.

At a press conference on Thursday, the Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Jarret Tenebe, said the video allegedly exposed a deliberate plot by Governor Godwin Obaseki to deprive Edo people of the Federal Government of social assistance.

Tenebe alleged that most of the rice was sold in the market by a prominent female market leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He said: “If Edo people still have doubts, the video circulating on social media today showing an abandoned articulated truck containing Federal Government rice repackaged with Edo State Government writings has exposed the state government’s fraud.

“The rice was discovered by Urora residents and this has exposed Obaseki’s deliberate plan to deny Edo residents access to various relief measures from the Federal Government.

“We have intelligence reports of several warehouses in the state stockpiling rice and other grains provided for Edo people.

“There are also reports that most of the rice is sold in the markets by a prominent female market leader from the PDP.”

The APC leader described the scenario as economic sabotage, which should be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

However, the state government has denied ownership of the warehouse.

State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation Chris Nehikhare said in a statement that the government does not store relief materials in its warehouses.

He said the government’s feeding programme for vulnerable people in the state was being implemented through religious bodies.

Nehikhare accused the APC of being behind the video.

He said: “The Edo State Government has received information about looting of sacks of rice from unidentified trucks and private houses in some parts of Benin City following the #EndBadGovernance protest.

“The video circulating is said to have come from Urora area of ​​Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, and the government does not have a warehouse in that location.

“The video is the work of the APC in a desperate attempt to score cheap political points.

“The government is supporting vulnerable communities by providing assistance through religious organizations, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, and Muslim leaders in the state.

“The state government does not keep any relief materials for itself, but distributes them to the people through these channels.

“We will not let this tactic pass the APC, which is spreading malicious content to score cheap political points.

“This condemnable act was intended to cause chaos in the country.”

The post APC, Edo govt clash over ownership of rice looted by #EndBadGovernance protesters first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.