The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Edo State Government on Thursday exchanged words over the ownership of the looted rice truck from a warehouse in Benin.
Some Benin residents were seen in a viral video looting rice at a warehouse in Urora, Uhunmwonde local government, as the nationwide protest was underway.
In the video, the looters can be heard claiming that the warehouse belonged to the state government.
Most residents were carrying more than 10 kilos of bags of rice.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, APC Acting Chairman Jarret Tenebe said the video had allegedly exposed Governor Godwin Obaseki's deliberate plan to deprive the Edo people of federal government palliatives.
Mr. Tenebe said there were reports that a prominent PDP market leader sold a substantial portion of the rice in the markets.
“If the people of Edo had any doubts, the video that surfaced on social media today showing an abandoned trailer loaded with repackaged Federal Government rice with the inscription of the Edo State Government has exposed the state government.
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“The rice was discovered by residents of Urora and has exposed Obaseki’s deliberate plan to deprive the people of Edo of access to the various mitigating measures of the federal government.
“We have intelligence reports of several warehouses in the state storing rice and other grains meant for the Edo people.
“There are also reports that a substantial portion of the rice is being sold in the markets by a prominent PDP market leader,” the state opposition party leader said.
The APC leader said the rice hoarding was economic sabotage, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should take note of.
Edo government reacts
However, in its reaction, the Edo State Government denied ownership of the warehouse.
A statement from the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the government was not keeping relief materials in its warehouses.
The commissioner said the government's feeding programme for vulnerable people in the state was being implemented through religious bodies.
However, Mr Nehikhare accused the state branch of the APC of being responsible for the video.
“The Edo State Government has received information about the looting of bags of rice from an unidentified truck and private residences in parts of Benin City in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance protests.
“The videos circulating are said to be from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City and the government does not have a warehouse at that location.
“The video is the work of the APC in a desperate attempt to score cheap political points.
“The government is supporting the vulnerable with relief materials through faith-based organisations, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Muslim leaders in the state.
“The state government does not keep any relief material itself, but reaches out to the people through these channels,” the commissioner said.
Mr Nehikhare also criticised the opposition party for the video, which he said was misleading. He said: “We will not dismiss this tactic by the APC, which is spreading malicious content to score cheap political points.
“This reprehensible action is aimed at causing chaos in the state,” he said.
(YAYA)