The Kwara State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led administration for politicizing the distribution of palliatives amid the Coronavirus pandemic in the State.
The party said it was appalled by reports from civil society groups and Kwarans that food items and cash donations that ought to be distributed to vulnerable people were shared among executive and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in different parts of the State.
A statement on Friday by the State Publicity Secretary of Kwara PDP, Tunde Ashaolu, said the action of the State government was a demosntration of its insensitivity to the plight of the people and had further shown that it (government) does not care for the welfare of vulnerable Kwarans whose livelihoods have been crippled by the COVID-19 induced lockdown.
“Our party is shocked by reports from Civil Society Organisations and complaints by Kwarans that the distribution of palliatives in different parts of the State was politicised and hijacked by APC members.
“According to a report from one CSO, the sum of 80,000 naira was spent in each ward by the ward committees and APC ward/LGA party executives as follows: 30,000 naira for the ward committee members, 10,000 naira for the APC Party executives at the LGA and 40,000 naira for the APC party executives at the ward level.
“It is sad and unfortunate that the State government would consider party affiliation in the distribution of palliatives – most of which were donated by corporate bodies and philanthropic individuals – to cushion the effects of the lockdown on the less privileged members of the society. This is height of insensitivity to the plight of Kwaran masses.
“The distribution of food items and cash donations at this critical period should not have anything to do with party affiliation or sentiment. The materials are meant for vulnerable persons and not party members. The politicisation of the distribution has only shown that the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led government care less about welfare of vulnerable Kwarans whose livelihoods have been grounded by the lockdown.
“We implore the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led APC government to admit its partisanship, failure and irresponsibility in the distribution of the palliatives and should ensure that, going forward, the materials and cash donations get to the poor and the needy whose daily survival has been threatened.
“The Kwara PDP also appreciates generous organisations and individuals that have donated handsomely to the fight against COVID-19 in Kwara. Without your donations and contributions, the Kwara State Government would have had little or nothing to dole out to the people as palliatives, as the government is less concerned about the plight of the people.
“As the World marks the 2020 Workers Day, our party salute and appreciate workers in Kwara State for their patriotism and dedication to the service of the State. We particularly commend health workers and other frontline workers who are striving daily to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus pandemic in our dear State.”
