The senator representing the Ogun East District at the national assembly, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has clarified reports regarding the distribution of rice by the presidency to lawmakers during the last yuletide season.
Recall that towards the end of last year, during the yuletide, there were reports that the presidency shipped trailer loads of rice to House of Representatives members and senators as palliatives to be given to their constituents. Some lawmakers denied receiving the items while others said they were supplied.
Addressing the confusion, Daniel explained that the initiative was part of a broader effort to provide constituency support, rather than a direct distribution of trailer loads of rice.
He provided insights into the actual proceedings, stating, “No, that was not what happened. To the best of my knowledge, it is part of the provision for constituency support. I am aware that a vote was announced that would be available for each of the senators. It wasn’t mandated for specific use, but rather to encourage senators to provide some form of relief to their constituents during the challenging period of December and January.”
Contrary to claims of trailer loads of rice being distributed, the lawmaker emphasized that the process was more bureaucratic and less immediate.
“The process of, let’s say, the bureaucracy, I’m aware that this is May but some people have still not got anything. We got something about two weeks ago,” he noted.
Despite the delays in the distribution process, Daniel highlighted that his office had been proactive in providing palliatives to constituents throughout the period.
“We have been doing our own palliatives. We’ve done in December, in January. Every month we go and do massive palliatives. So we’re not waiting for it. But if and when it comes, okay, there’s no problem.”
The confusion seems to stem from differing reports on how the palliatives were distributed. Daniel explained, “Finally it was supposed to be worked out with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and I think that some people got consignment from the ministry, others got their own independently.”
He commended the presidency’s efforts to support lawmakers in their attempts to assist constituents.
“There was a commendable effort to encourage lawmakers to go and do something to add value to what is going on in their various constituencies. That’s the way I’m going to put it.”
While there was an initiative to provide support to lawmakers for their constituents, the former governor clarified that it was not as straightforward or immediate as some reports suggested.
According to him, the aim was to encourage lawmakers to offer tangible support during a challenging period, a goal that he and his team have been actively pursuing independently.
