By Linus Aleke
Tongues are not only wagging, but its host the mouth, is spewing both blessings and curses on the senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Sen. Okey Ezea, over his Christmas and New Year rice gift to the constituents.
While his supporters have called on their gods to continue to rain blessings on him to enable him to do more, those not too favourably disposed to his representation have described his Christmas and New Year palliative as a curse in disguise.
They further described the rice gift to the constituents as a futile trojan horse, arguing that 102 bags of rice for the entire Enugu North Senatorial District is too infinitesimal to place a cup of rice on the table of each household.
The antagonists insisted that the shared grains of rice to the constituents were a
poisoned chalice, also
queried the whereabouts of the Christmas and New Year rice approved for the constituents by the Federal Government, through their representatives at the National Assembly.
But before we proceed with the complimentary, angry and antagonistic remarks, from each divide on the subject matter, it is important to listen to Senator Ezea’s response to the query as reported by several news outlets in the country.
In a statement circulated, by his media office, Sen. Okey Ezea, alleged that his political opponents are behind questions on the whereabouts of the Federal Government approved palliative, even when other constituents across the federation are also raising similar concerns with their representatives.
In a statement code-named, “Non-existent Rice Controversy: Our Position,” the Senator denied receiving any material palliative, whether monetary or food item, from the Federal Government of Nigeria for the good people of Enugu North Senatorial District.
According to the statement, “The attention of Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea’s Media Office has been drawn to a controversy over some false publications making rounds in some sections of the social media alleging that federal lawmakers, including Distinguished Senator Ezea, diverted some trucks of rice meant for their respective constituencies to other destinations. We are aware that the National Assembly leadership has issued a statement in that regard refuting the false social media reports. Ordinarily, the clarifications offered by the National Assembly leadership should have sufficed, especially given that the Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea is an integral part of the national parliament and as such could not have received any form of palliative to the exclusion of his colleagues”.
Sen. Ezea, also exploded his bottled-up vituperation on opposition politicians, when he noted that “given the recent traction the false narrative is gaining in some quarters, which is the handiwork of some defeated politicians in the Zone, this statement becomes necessary to ensure that the unsuspecting members of our Constituency do not fall for the antics of these undesirable elements. That said, the position as it stands today is that Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea has not received any material palliative, whether monetary or food item, from the Federal Government of Nigeria for the good people of Enugu North Senatorial District. If and when he receives such palliative for the Zone, he will, in line with his avowed principle of equity and fairness, which is the motivation for which he aspired to represent the Zone on the floor of the Senate, share such palliative in a very transparent manner”.
While speaking on the issue that had forced many tongues to crawl out of their closet in praise singing and protestation, the statement disclosed that
Sen. Ezea, in recognising the enormity of the current hardship confronting the people, ensured that bags of rice were distributed in the new year to all the 102 wards that make up the Enugu North Senatorial District, adding that “we are also aware that the distribution exercise has been concluded at the local governments level while sharing of same is currently being carried out at the ward levels”.
Returning to opposition politicians in the district with unprintable words, Sen. Ezea, urged the good people of Enugu North Senatorial District to remain vigilant against the evil machinations of rejected politicians who are hell-bent on reinforcing their failures.
He enjoined the Zone to disregard the false narrative as pertains to the non-existent rice palliative, especially given that it is a product of the imagination of the makers.
However, explicit as Sen. Ezea’s reply to the issue under scrutiny may be, the protestation in other constituencies across Nigeria, especially in the southeast, temporarily invalidated the unbridled tirade by Sen. Ezea’s media office.
For instance, Prince Mike Akubueze of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency, of Imo State, called out Hon. Emeka Martin Chinedu, who represents the constituency at the National Assembly, on the same subject matter.
There are also media reports on how Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, and other federal lawmakers, shared their part of the funded federal palliative to their constituencies.
Confirming the approval of the said palliative by the federal government, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, said his principal approved the distribution of palliative items worth N200 million to senators and palliative items worth N100 million to House of Representatives members.
Dada, who made this clarification on his official X handle, noted, “After initial logistics delay, I can now confirm that Senators and members of the House of Representatives have started taking stock of the Federal Government’s palliative items for their constituents as part of efforts to ease life for all Nigerians. Each HoR member received items worth N100m while Senatorial constituencies got palliative items worth N200m”.
On his part, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, validated the above policy pronouncement when he clarified that President Tinubu did not approve cash for the purpose, but food items, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Ajayi said, “I think we need to put the correct information out there; the President did not give members of the National Assembly cash for this purpose. What he did was through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, to give members rice and other food items to distribute to the people in their constituencies and senatorial districts.
“The rice and other food items were given as a sort of relief for ordinary Nigerians to enjoy the yuletide with and a sort of Constituency Project for Honourable members and senators, who are considered to be closest to the people in all parts of the country”.
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, Hon. Dekeri Anamero, and Hon. Mudashiru Lukman, amongst several other federal lawmakers, also gave credence to the following, when they distributed rice to their constituents during the festive period.
Meanwhile, Hon. Dennis Idahosa who represents the Ovia federal constituency, of Edo State, like Senator Ezea, denied receiving palliative from the Federal Government for their constituents.
But, back to Enugu North Senatorial District, where tongues are waging for and against the subject matter, especially as it concerned those singing Aliluya for the greenhorn parliamentarian.
Emeka Asadu, a clergy from the constituency, said, the Senator had done well. He said: “Truth be told, I did not even know that rice was shared by Senator Ezra, but I don’t doubt it. There is no way everybody will benefit from political gifts. Did anybody ever get that from previous lawmakers? It is a work in progress, let us support him, and it shall be well. After all, do you depend on them for survival? Our people are enterprising, we don’t wait for government for survival but that does not mean that if it comes, it is a crime. Those benefiting from it do not have two heads. That is my take my brother”.
Another constituent, Ms. Ngozi Ozioko, said that Senator Ezea should be commended rather than vilified.
“Do you think it is easy to fund this kind of project from a private pocket? We are talking about 102 bags of rice. Don’t you know the price of one bag of rice in the market? What of other parliamentarians from the zone? Did Chidi Obetta not come here to promise that he would construct Obukpa, Okparigbo, and Ibagwa-Ani roads since he won the election, did he even come back to tell Agudele Obukpa to thank you for their votes let alone the construction of the said road. Let us appropriate Sen. Ezea,” she concluded.
A widow, Ezema Eunice, said that she had never seen a politician fulfil a campaign promise since she started participating actively in politics.
She said: “If you fail to collect salt or other campaign materials like umbrella or rapa during the campaign, you are on your own. As for the rice you are talking about, I don’t even know about it. I don’t listen to the radio, so how would I know? We don’t depend on government in this part of the world”.
On his part, a member representing Igbo-Eze South State Constituency at Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Harrison Ogara, decried the ongoing debate on the subject matter.
Speaking in a closed social media group, the Labour Party lawmaker, said: “Propaganda everywhere! We have been captured in this country and are now fixated on too mundane things like rice and beans. When has rice become the S.I. Unit of measurement of one’s performance in political office? Instead of talking about good roads, a good health system, proper funding of our education and sustainable development goals, we allowed the political class to push us into the ring to keep fighting over rice, while they divert billions of Naira into their private pockets. It is very painful that even the people who should know are neck-deep in this Circus. Tufia kwa! May God help us”.
On his part, another constituent, and former editor of the Guardian, Chief Felix Abugu, while, responding to the media office, said: “The statement being interrogated was made by Distinguished Senator Ezea. The statement came against the backdrop of verifiable claims that the federal government gave out palliative rice to the people for Christmas and New Year through their representatives (Senators and Reps). The onus is on the Distinguished Senator to convince us, his constituents that, indeed, no palliative-rice was given to him. You are just hauling your trademark abuses on others for nothing. And it is your kind of thoughtless commentaries, which constantly obfuscate the issues, that will give traction to the ambition of any of the Senator’s challengers.
Explain, explain and always explain and not abuse people you disagree with and you will be doing your principal, in this case, the Distinguished Senator, a world of good”.
The Chairman, Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, Enugu State Chapter, Dr. Ambrose Igboke, said that political office holders in Nigeria have brought forward the subjugation of the masses to 2024.
He added that after impoverishing the people by unending hyperinflation in the price of food, they turn around to mock the same masses who voted them to power. Rice, which is a staple food in Nigeria, he said, is now the latest dividend of democracy.
“While countries like Rwanda, and others, are trying hard to lift their countries to compete with Singapore, Malaysia and some European Countries in terms of development and economic growth, Nigerian politicians are talking of sharing meagre bags of rice to their constituencies. Most of these Senators and House of Representatives members have exhibited a lack of shame and outright irresponsibility. Since they couldn’t provide potable water, good roads, schools, clinics and other health facilities, they couldn’t even give the bags of rice to their various senatorial zones and Federal constituencies,” he said.
Dr. Igboke said that in Enugu State, the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Sen. Okey Ezea of the Labor Party, had maintained an arrogant silence, until he was pressured to talk, stressing that he was too arrogant to even speak to those who voted him into office. The Public Affairs Analyst noted Sen. Ezea feels that he owes nobody an explanation, including his constituents.
“Such is the level of dissonance by most of our political representatives,” he said.
Senator Ezea, he said, went further to say that he distributed 102 bags of rice to 102 wards in the zone. This, Dr. Igboke said is the height of political insult, querying, if the Distinguished Senator had lost his sense of empathy for his people. How can his conscience even whisper to him that it is ok for over 1000 people to share just one bag of 20kg bag of rice?” he further asked.
He concluded that despite the outrageous salaries and allowances, these federal lawmakers receive, they still have the effrontery to corner foods and materials meant for their people.
A civil Society Activist, Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, opined that Sen. Ezea’s position concerning palliatives by the Federal Government is correct.
Comrade Ezike, who is also a Chieftain of the Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), said, he had not heard that any National Assembly member is distributing any Christmas or New Year or both festivals’ palliatives to their constituents from the allocation they got from the federal government.
He noted that some members of the National Assembly have publicly denied that the federal government did not give them any palliatives as claimed by their constituents.
According to him, “I think that this may be right because the federal government has not come out clear to tell Nigerians that such provisions were made for them through their National Assembly representatives. They have not”.
On Senator Ezea’s palliatives for his constituents, he noted that he has some quarrel with his methodology or approach. Senator Ezea he said, did not give any palliatives to the entire people but his party members.
“This is wrong, inappropriate and condemnable. Elections are over and we have come to do governance. It is not correct and good for elected representatives of the people to send palliatives to only their party members and jettison other voters because of political affinity. Moreover, Senator Ezea only gave each of the 102 wards in Enugu North Senatorial District four small bags of rice without ingredients or an envelope for such. This is not commendable. How many members of the party will share four small bags of rice? How many cups will each member get from the share? For me, this is insulting as it may also bring crisis among party members. However, sharing of palliatives is not the major plank of the functions of the national legislators but the making of pro-people laws, ensuring that these laws are respected by the executive, transparent and judicious oversight duties, ensuring that key institutions of government are strengthened and delivering on good governance to the people. These should form the major duties of the Parliamentarians, including but not limited to quality representation at the National Assembly in the form of active participation in quality debates, sponsoring of good Bills in the interest of Nigerians and their constituents and getting the equitable share of the national cake whether in terms of projects, employment and education quota in all the federal institutions for their constituencies,” he concluded.
