OPINION
Given the magnitude of misrepresentation of government intention, it is important that a possible explanation be advanced to explain what really went wrong with the rice palliative meant for youth, women and the disabled of Cross River South.
To begin with the phrasal expression ‘go rogue’ which implies ‘to begin to behave in an independent or uncontrolled way that is not authorised, normal, or expected’, perfectly represents what and why it went wrong with the distribution of NDDC annual rice palliative programme especially in Cross River South under the supervisorship of Rt. Hon. Orok Duke.
Firstly, the Cross River co-supervisor, namely, Duke didn't respect the official guidelines for the distribution of the rice palliative which officially stated that the disbursement should be to youth, women and the disabled of Cross River South. There are evidence which suggests that Duke also distributed the rice palliative to political parties most especially the Chapter EXCO of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in the senatorial district and probably the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He did this in 2020. 2021’s would be an unfortunate repetition.
So, the rice palliative programme which nobly aimed at ameliorating the negative economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerians across the nine Niger Delta states was politicised in the Southern Senatorial District, SSD by its co-supervisor. This abuse led to the controversy which would then surround the entire distribution in the said senatorial district.
Secondly, it is perceived that Duke personalised the entire distribution. By personalisation it is meant, by his body language, he created the impression that he was solely responsible for the eventual distribution of the NDDC rice palliative to Cross Riverians. This would colour how he then went about distributing it against a clearly stated guidelines. When confronted by critics why he did not stick to the official guidelines, the co-supervisor alleged that he was not aware of any such regulations.
Again, in his defense and as a ploy to deflect accusations for his scandalous handling of the rice distribution in the Southern Senatorial district of the state, Duke claimed that he deserved to be praised because he single-handedly forced the rice to be shared to the people this year after over twenty two years when the project kick-started. For Duke to have alleged that NDDC have been releasing rice annually for twenty two years to be distributed to the people but the funds cornered and shared by the staff and Commissioners of the organization in the past is lame, false, misleading and unfortunate. Simply, would he have Cross Riverian believe that Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Hon (Ntufam) Ekpo Okon, Hon. Paul Adah and Chief Sylvester Henshaw, who were all at one time or the other Commissioners of NDDC representing the state were enmeshed in such corrupt practices? Obviously, Duke's claim stands logic on its head.
It is safe to depose therefore that Duke in the handling of the distribution of the NDDC Annual Rice Palliative especially for 2021 targeted scoring cheap political points for his personal and/or unilateral advantage to the detriment of the overall objectives of the President of the Federal Republic, the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, and the Interim Administrator of the NDDC who may have thought about the wellbeing of Cross Riverians in the south.
So, it is important that the NDDC reconsiders its modalities in the distribution of the annual Rice palliative: politicians should not be responsible for the disbursement but a committee of technocrats to share it to every Cross Riverian dispassionately.
Benjamin F. Ojong writes from Cross River Central
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