Palliative Distributions: Oyo State Governor Flags-off First Phase

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has flagged-off the first phase of the distribution of palliative packages to the poor and vulnerable residents.

The distribution began simultaneously in seven locations across zones of the state.

The effort, targetted at 200,000 households and one million families in the state, is coming up under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery, SAfER package to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on citizens.

Governor Makinde explained that the state, after receiving 3,000 bags of rice from the Nigerian Government, decided to delay the sharing, knowing that the quantity would be inadequate to reach the one million families through the targetted 200,000 households.

“If we distributed the 3,000 bags we received from the Nigerian Government to 200,000 households, probably each person will get a cup of rice. If we had rushed out to make naysayers happy, they will still be the first to rush to social media to put out videos of how small the package is. So we took our time to plan because both in the short and long time, we are thinking about securing our economy,” he said.

The governor noted that to complement the effort, the state government waited till it procured additional 37,000 bags amounting to a total of 40,000 bags of rice to be shared

He said that the state also had to purchase bags of beans, cassava flour and vegetable oil from locals across the zones of the state so as to deliver a truly SAfER package.

He said: “We know everyone is affected by our present economic realities and that is why other components of the SAfER programme took into consideration other segments of the society. We believe in actions, not just in actions but in sustainable actions. That is why while everyone else is talking about palliative, we are talking about Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER).”

He explained that Oyo State was delivering SAfER package and not palliatives, as the dictionary meaning of palliative was to treat the symptoms and leave the main cause, asserting that his administration does not want to treat the symptoms, but attack the root and that sustainable action takes proper planning and strategy.

Apparently reacting to insinuations that he had diverted the funds meant for the palliatives, Makinde said his government did not rush to begin distribution of the palliatives because of the need to effectively plan and embark on sustainable action that would secure the state economy.

He said: “Some people have been going round on radio and social media asking the whereabouts of the 3,000 bags of rice given to Oyo State by the Federal Government. Others are saying Federal Government gave us N5 billion and we have embezzled it. Some say there is trust deficit between the government and the people. Is it so in Oyo State? Don’t you love this administration? 

“This administration will not deceive you, we will tell you exactly the way things are. We were one of the first states to acknowledge that the Federal Government gave us 3,000 bags of rice. I stated it in my newsletter of the 10th of August that we planned to distribute this food relief package to 200,000 households,” the governor asserted.

As Governor Makinde was flagging off the distribution in Oyo Town, his deputy, Bayo Lawal, was doing same in the Saki area of the state; while the Secretary to the State Government,SSG, Professor Olanike Adeyemo was in Iseyin and the Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi was in Ogbomoso.

Other top government functionaries that also flagged-off the same exercise in other parts of the state simultaneously included: the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin (Ibarapa); Deputy Speaker, Mohammed Fadeyi (Ona Ara); and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun (Ibadan North West).

Confidence Okwuchi