Fides Media Living the Faith
… Hails Peter Obi @62
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Immediate past member that represented Anaocha I State Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Honourable Ebele Leonard Ejiofor, has faulted the Federal Government of Nigeria’s proposed 8000 Naira Monthly Palliative Measure geared towards cushioning the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, describing it as corruption, as well as an insult to the masses.
Hon Ejiofor who stated this in Awka, said this was the same way they announced that they went round the markets to share 10,000 Naira to petty traders, even as he acknowledged that he was yet to see anyone who received the said 10, 000 Naira previously mapped out to be shared to market men and women, noting that the same scenario played out during COVID-19 upon all the billions brought out for that purpose.
The two-time legislator said the only way to ameliorate the plights of the poor masses would be an increment in federal allocation to the states which would in turn allow the state governors to increase the salaries of the state workers and the Federal Government to also increase the Federal Government’s workers’ salaries as well as reduction in school fees. He said that it was the only way Nigerians would benefit.
‘It is an insult to Nigerians. If they remove subsidy and start talking about palliative measure of 8000 Naira per month, it is pure corruption and sheer disrespect to the poor masses. Billions of Naira removed from that subsidy is well above the amount FG is proposing. They are saying that they are fighting corruption even when they are busy breeding and incubating corruption.
‘Today, dollar is almost 800 and something per Naira and it is affecting everyone, both the rich and the poor. People are suffering. This 8000 Naira Monthly Palliative is another part of corruption. It is another way designed to siphon our collective patrimony. Few of them will corner this money and embezzle it. After that, they will turn around to say that they have given palliative to Nigerians. Every time, palliative, palliative, even when no poor Nigerian can boldly say that he or she received any palliative from the Federal Government. They said they shared N10,000 in the markets, how did they arrive at figures they quoted?’ the former Chairman, Committee on House Services, queried.
Hon Ejiofor who served as member, House Committees On Appropriation, Youth & Sports; MDG; Public Accounts; Public Utilities and Tertiary Education in his first term, said he was totally against the move by the Federal Government, emphasizing that some few individuals would gather together to cart away the billions for their own selfish interest, adding that it was another corruption in the making.
The former Chairman, House Committee on SDG; Economic Planning and Donor Agencies and Deputy Chairman on Tourism, while faulting the Federal Government’s proposed palliative, hailed the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, as he marked his 62nd Birthday, asking God to bless him as he moved towards reclaiming his mandate, even as he prayed God to continue to guide and protect Obi.
Hon Ejiofor said that Obi remained the best president that would have ruled Nigeria, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s declaration would not change that fact.