By Victor Bieni
BENIKRUKRU/ GBARAMATU KINGDOM– DELTA STATE- The National Coordinator, Centre For Peace And Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Chief Sheriff Mulade (Comr.), A Delta State born renowned Human Rights and Environmental activist has drawn the attention of the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to the unpleasant pattern of distributing the food stuff palliatives to cushion the economic effects of the 28 days lockdown order by the State Government on the less privileged.
Chief Mulade disclosed this to our reporter while addressing Newsmen at the weekend at his country home in Benikrukru Community of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA of Delta State commended the Delta State Government for distributing food stuffs to the 25 LGAs from the State’s Food Bank in the ongoing lockdown in Delta State.
The World renowned Activist, however expressed disappointment over the quantity of food stuffs and other items that were distributed.
CEPEJ Boss then drew the attention of the State Governor to the selective pattern adopted in the distribution of the food items in favour of members of a particular political party, describing it as unacceptable.
The World Distinguished Philanthropist and Peace Ambassador said all Deltans should benefit from the State Government irrespective of political affiliations as hunger knows no political boundaries.
Speaking further, he said “On the one million (Ankara) nose masks to be produced by the Delta State Government for distribution to Deltans, the human rights activist advised that the effort should be devoid of political bias for the sake of integrity on the part of Government”.
The Ibe-Sori-mowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom/Ijaw Nation/Niger-Delta Region noted that every Deltan has the right to be protected from COVID-19 pandemic by the state Government.
Chief Mulade then advised the state Government to increase its production and quantity, that one million (Ankara) nose masks would be grossly inadequate for the over 4 million people living in Delta State who deserve to be protected from the killer virus.
The Activist the. commended the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Chief Bashorun Askia Ogie,
and the Executive Director, Planning Research and Statistics, DESOPADEC, Comrade Shedrack Agediga, for distributing palliatives through their personal Foundations to their immediate communities and constituencies towards cushioning the hunger effect of the lockdown period, Chief Mulade expressed disappointment over DESOPADEC’s failure to reach out to their host communities at this time of need.
In his Words:”This is the best time for people in the State to benefit from Government’s interventionist Agencies, Commissions and Boards but the shock is that DESOPADEC did not share a grain of rice to residents of its mandate areas including riverine/coastal communities. It did not speak well of the Commission”.
“The Board of DESOPADEC should do the needful by providing food stuffs and other necessary items for people in its mandate areas, instead of hiding under the umbrella of personal donations by individual Foundations to present DESOPADEC’s Weekly Report on AIT. I describe such acts as deceptive, fraudulent and criminal. I urged the Governor to call the Commission to order”.
Chief Mulade alleged that some political appointees use the State funds for jamborees and personal promotion, instead of using same to buy and distribute food stuffs to the poor and vulnerable in the various communities.
The Activist further stated: “I charged the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and other political office holders in the State to be committed to the welfare of all Deltans, irrespective of political affiliations”.
“People should stop playing politics with the coronavirus and using the situation to drain the State economy”.
