The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, on Wednesday, accused Edo State Government of diverting 4,721 bags of rice donated to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in the state by the Federal Government.
State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih made the allegation when he received about 400 members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) who defected to the PDP.
Chief Orbih said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had approved 6,822 bags of rice for the camp.
He also alleged that the state government proposed demonstration farm for unemployed graduates at Sobe in Owan West Local Government Area was a hoax and conduit pipe being used to defraud the state.
He claimed that with more than N600 million supposedly spent by the government on the proposed farm, there was nothing on ground and urged the people of the state to prevail on Governor Godwin Obaseki to give an account of how he expended the money.
Orbih further urged all eligible voters to get registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards; in order to be able to cause a paradigm shift in the political situation in the state and the country at large. He stressed that the PDP would remain in the forefront of any movement to liberate and salvage the state and the country.
Meanwhile, in his reaction to Orbih’s allegations, state Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Anselm Ojezua, said they were unfounded.
He dismissed as forgery, documents presented by Orbih on the NCS approval for the donation of rice to the IDP.
He said PDP’s action was a ploy to distract a working government, and added that Obaseki’s government would not give in to any distraction.
However, the News Agency of Nigeria’s investigation revealed that while Edo state government took delivery of all the items, only 2,101 bags of rice had been supplied to the camp.
A source at the International Christian Centre Missions (ICCM), where the IDPs were camped, who spoke on condition of anonymity, admitted that the camp received 2,101 bags of rice but declined further comments on the matter.
The source also said the management of the camp also received the document detailing the NCS approval of four items to be donated to the camp.
The source said the other items included 76 cartons of vegetable oil, 100 sacks of used shoes and another 20 sacks of used shoes.NAN gathered that the balance of the items were reportedly shared for political patronage during 2017 Christmas festivity.
APGA leader of members who defected to the PDP, Mr Ojo Agge, said they decided to join PDP because they wanted to be free from bad government, bad infrastructure and poverty.