PALLIATIVES TO ABIA: SEPARATING THE FACTS FROM THE FICTION.
Some members of the opposition have in the last few days been claiming that Abia State government received the sum of 570 billion naira from the Federal Government 5th palliative, this followed a statement contained in the President’s broadcast where he disclosed that the sum of 570 billion had allegedly been disbursed to the 36 states of the federation while he was addressing the nation at the wake of the End-Hunger Protest. The claim by the Abia oppposition initially sounded hilarious because it had a touch of hyperbolic comedy, sadly, it appears that some persons who do not know how to fact-check or believe in fact checking before believing all kinds of rumours, have unfortunately fallen prey to this nonsensical innuendo, hence my decision to further explain to those who may not have listened to His Excellency, the Governor during his media chat two days ago, that no such money was given to the state.
The opposition heard the president clearly, but they chose to intentionally distort what he said in order to mislead innocent citizens of the state and possibly give them the false impression that the government has gotten all the money in the world and therefore is in a position to share money to every household. Where would the Federal Government have gotten 570 billion to give to Abia alone? If you have evidence to back up this rumour, please kindly provide it
Assuming the sum of 570 billion was exactly disbursed to the 36 states, if this sum is divided by the 36, that’s if the said amount had been shared equally, excluding the FCT, it would amount to 15.8 billion per state.
The Governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti explained during his monthly media chat, that the state under his watch has not incurred any liability, but would borrow in due course and when it’s necessary. The initial Contract Finance Arrangement entered into by the state has not been drawn from again after the state defrayed the little it drew earlier from it. Governor Otti’s argument as a finacial expert is that, it doesn’t make sense to borrow when you have funds available to execute your project as a government at any point in time.
Just like the Governor further explained, that some of these funds are loans, and not free money, so the government is under obligation to utilise it for impactful and people-oriented projects, and not for handouts called palliatives, which most times do not achieve sustainable poverty alleviation objectives.
The visible capital projects and programmes being carried out by the government are geared towards making lasting impacts in the lives of the people.
Abia state, like other states had received the sum of 2 billion naira as palliative from the Federal Government and some people have been asking why the money has not been deployed for the so-called palliative by the Governor, however, the Governor has stood his ground not to waste the money in the name of palliative like rice and beans, because it will never make reasonable impact in the lives of the people, instead the Governor is planning to augument the money with more funds in order to carry out a well thought out project like the arrangement his government is making to invest in CNG vehicles. Again, the two billion naira is a loan given to the 36 states by the Federal Government, which the state collected just because it was shared across board.
Another funny rumour that needs to be dispelled is the claim that the government has received 20 truck loads of rice. I have had some people comment on my post asking for the 20 trucks loads of rice.This is false and misleading. The Federal government has neither passed any communication to this effect nor sent a bag of rice since this rumour started flying.
Again, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policy and Intervention told me how people have been calling him to find out where they can buy the 45thousand naira subsidised rice from FG. Please note that, such 45thousand naira subsidised 50kg rice does not exist. It’s a false and funny creation from social media.
All the palliatives in form of rice, beans and maize sent to the state last year and early this year were made public by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policy and Intervention, offloaded and parked at Okpara Auditorium and subsequently shared openly and equally to the 17 LGAs.
Unlike what was obtainable in the Old Abia, no appointee of this government can dare divert any palliative meant for Abians and and use same for themselves or their political empowerment, never. Abians should disregard these rumours and continue to repose confidence in their government.
Ferdinand Ekeoma
August 11, 2024.
