The Kebbi State Government has clapped back at reports of poor distribution of Ramadan palliatives in Dandi Local Government Area, dismissing a viral video circulating on social media as a “stage-managed drama” allegedly orchestrated by political opponents.
The video, which generated mixed reactions online, showed a man identified as Abduljalal Usman claiming he received only one mudu (plate) of rice and one mudu of maize from palliatives distributed to staff of the Dandi Local Government Education Authority.
But the state government insists the claim is false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Governor Nasir Idris, Abdullahi Idris, said investigations revealed that the man featured in the video is a psychiatric patient who was allegedly manipulated to discredit the government’s Ramadan intervention programme.
“The individual in the video is a known psychiatric patient who was manipulated by desperate politicians to discredit the widely applauded Ramadan palliative initiative of the governor,” Idris said.
He also pointed out inconsistencies in the man’s claim, stressing that the items mentioned in the video did not match the actual palliatives procured by the government.
“The grains procured by the state government for distribution were rice and millet. There was no maize in the consignment as claimed in the viral video,” he said.
According to the adviser, the video was recorded even before the palliatives meant for Dandi Local Government Area arrived at the council headquarters.
He maintained that the programme had been widely embraced by residents across the state, particularly as Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan.
“The distribution of grains by the governor has been widely applauded by the people. It is therefore not surprising that such support has unsettled the opposition ahead of the 2027 political season,” Idris said.
The government further alleged that the viral clip is part of a broader attempt to smear the administration, citing what it described as earlier efforts including a “stage-managed thuggery attack” in Birnin Kebbi and exaggerated reports of bandit attacks in Tadurga.
“No amount of blackmail, fabrication of falsehood, or mischievous propaganda will change the people’s confidence in Governor Idris and his demonstrated commitment to peace and socio-economic development of Kebbi State,” he added.
The Kebbi State Government recently rolled out the Ramadan palliative programme to cushion the effect of rising food prices on residents during the fasting period.
Meanwhile, the Dandi Local Government Authority has lifted the suspension earlier placed on Usman, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.
