14/01/2024
DISCLAIMER: ESAN NORTH EAST/ESAN SOUTH EAST FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY DID NOT RECEIVE A SINGLE GRAIN OF RICE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ESAN NORTH EAST/ ESAN SOUTH EAST FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY.
*REPORT BEING CIRCULATED ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA IS FALSE AND MISLEADING.*
The attention of the Office of Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, the Member representing the good people of Esan North-East/ Esan South-East Federal Constituency has been drawn to a report alerting the public that Lawmakers of the 10th National Assembly were given trailer loads of rice to distribute to Constituents for the Yuletide.
The publishers of the highly distasteful and offensive report ascribed the purported statement to a serving House of Representatives Member, representing the Etsako Federal Constituency, Hon. Dekeri Anemero.
With respect, the Lawmaker's claim is mendacious, spurious, and acutely incorrect and should ordinarily be ignored but for the singular purpose of setting the records straight.
For the records, the Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State NEITHER received a bag of rice OR a trailer load of bags of rice from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
While we affirm that we cannot speak for Hon. Dekeri Anemero who claimed he received 4 trailer loads of rice (as captured in the purported video clip), we can however confidently attest and unequivocally state that Hon. Prince Okojie did not receive bags of rice on behalf of his Constituents for the Yuletide.
We wish to however state that as part of the measures aimed at cushioning the effect of the removal of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol, the Federal Government in its wisdom proposed the sum of a Hundred Million Naira only towards the provision of palliatives and other measures for each Federal Constituency. The award letter for this purpose was released on the 15th of December, 2023, with the analysis of fifty Million Naira for the provision of Rice and the other Fifty Million Naira for the procurement of solar street lights.
The procurement processes which include the BOQ to ascertain the number of bags of rice and solar street light poles have not been issued to the contractor who won the bid for supply to the Federal Constituency. The processes for the release of funds as of today have not been concluded by the awarding Federal Government Ministry.
The normal procurement procedure is being closely followed and monitored by Hon. Okojie. The BOQ from the Ministry of Agriculture is still being awaited as we write
However, in the spirit of the season and as it is customary with the Hon. Okojie for the past 15 years, he sponsored the procurement of thousands of bags of rice, wrappers, and hundreds of rams and cows which were distributed to his Constituents to celebrate the Yuletide.
Also, over 300 Constituents received monetary alerts of various sums into their bank accounts. He did all these from his personal savings and not from the Federal Government of Nigeria. This information can be verified by any interested individual.
While reiterating and affirming Hon. Okojie's oath of service and constitutional responsibilities to his constituents, we call on our friends, colleagues, party members, and supporters to scorn the alleged statement from Hon. Dekeri Anemero.
On a final note, we promise to keep you informed of any further developments and transparently handle all issues concerning the Federal Constituency.
Hon. Prince Odianosen Okojie will never derogate from his avowed commitment to the qualitative representation of the good people of the Federal Constituency.
Thank you.
Mike Ihaza
Media Aide to Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie,
Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream),
Member Representing Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency, Edo State.