Removal of subsidies: Kogi Assembly Majority Leader Abdulrasaq promises that we would protect aid for the suffering population

To lessen the impact of the elimination of gasoline subsidies, the Kogi State House of Assembly has committed not to let anyone divert palliatives intended for people.

While answering questions from reporters in Lokoja on Friday, the majority leader and representative for Okene Town, Hon. Suleiman Abdulrazaq, revealed this.

He said that the Assembly is aware of the difficulty Kogites are experiencing as a result of the loss of fuel subsidies and emphasised that the palliatives issue was the initial cause of the 2020 EndSARS protest.

“I’m sure you remember how the EndSARS debacle began here in Nigeria. It is something we must not quickly forget. Palliative care problems were the beginning, when people were searching for food to feed their family. During the last government, they were scurrying about trying to find palliatives. This resulted in the destruction of numerous governmental and commercial entities. Such a thing cannot occur again.

“President Tinubu gave us the assurance in his broadcast that several palliatives will be given to residents. In our capacity as legislators, we are interacting with the executive branch of government to see that a committee is formed that includes all pertinent parties, civil society organisations, and the media for the effective distribution of the palliatives. In order to prevent a repeat of what happened in the past, we want to make sure that any palliatives that are coming to Kogi State get to the people who are intended to benefit from them.

He took advantage of the occasion to comment on the suspension of William Iko-Ojo, the chairman of the Ibaji Local Government, and warned the accused they would face the full force of the law if proven guilty.

Iko-Ojo was allegedly accused of misusing public funds, posing a security threat, engaging in gross misconduct, and abusing his position of authority on Thursday, according to OBASANJO NEWS24.

“We will give the Chairman a fair chance to respond to the accusations made against him. We are only making sure he stays out of the way while the investigation is being conducted at this time. If he is innocent, he will undoubtedly be freed; however, if he is guilty, he will be subjected to the full force of the law, according to Abdulrazaq.