Moses Ofodeme
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the federal government of planning to steal N13.5bn; through the plan as feeding school children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement issued by the PDP spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party questioned the rationale behind feeding school children; while schools were indefinitely shut due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“While it is clear that the APC-led administration’s school feeding programme had always been a scam; the claims to feed school children even when schools are closed is a colossal racketeering taken too far.
“This goes to further expose that stealing and corruption are deeply engrained in the DNA of the APC; as well as its administration,” the statement read in part.
“While the PDP has nothing against any transparent effort to provide succour to Nigerians, particularly our children; at this critical time; our party rejects the on-going fraud in which school children, who are in their respective homes; bearing the brunt of the failures of the APC administration, are being used as metaphors to divert public funds to a few corrupt individuals in the Buhari Presidency.”
The PDP further lampooned the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Umar Farouq; over contradictions regarding budgetary spendings over social welfare.
“Nigerians are witnesses to how the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Umar Farouq, had always stammered, makes conflicting pronouncements and points to Mr President’s speech as a cover each time Nigerians demand details of her humongous spendings.
“The minister had failed to provide details of how she intends to reach the 9.7 million school children; who are now in their homes in different locations since the closure of schools, even as officials continue to muddle up required documentation in a bid to cover their tracks.
“Such contradiction only betrays an unwholesome tendency, as Nigerians wonder how there would be overcrowding on the door-to-door distribution of food to children who are claimed to have been individually designated in various locations.”