Akwa Ibom State government has vowed to depose any traditional ruler found culpable for diverting palliative items meant for the indigents of the state.
While reading the riot act to the monarchs, the government threatened to withdraw certificates of recognition for anyone caught in the illicit act.
At the flag-off of the distribution of rice across the 2,272 villages spread across the 31 local government areas on September 6, at the government warehouse in his Ikot Ekpene Udo community in Nsit Ubium local government area, Governor Eno stated that the commodity was targeted at the very poor and vulnerable.
To anyone who could divert what belongs to the poor, he prayed that God visits the looters with the same condition faced by the down.
He announced that each village is entitled to 40 bags of rice for onward distribution to the local residents by the village council under the supervision of their respective village heads.
Allegations of criminal diversion of the commodity allegedly by traditional rulers in several communities have been rife, especially in Etinan, Mkpat Enin, Abak, Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, and other LGAs contiguous to the Uyo metropolis, Leadership reported.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, warned that traditional rulers found culpable risk being dethroned and their certificates withdrawn.
He said, “The village heads know that their certificate of recognition is at stake. Any village where we record that a village head, on his own or in connivance with people, had allowed the palliatives not to get to the poorest of the poor, would have themselves to blame.”
