Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki alongside leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and other Christian bodies in the state have flagged off the second phase of the Christian Feeding Programme (CFP) as 56,250 of 10KG rice will be distributed across the three senatorial districts to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
The governor who kicked off the distribution in Edo South Senatorial District inspected the warehouse at the Dioceses of Benin Anglican Communion at Evbiemwen Street in Benin City where the CAN chairman in the state Apostle Irekpono Omoike gave the governor the breakdown of the distribution to various Senatorial District of the State.
The summary of the rice to be distributed in phase two is as follows; Edo South will receive 21,875 bags, Edo Central will get 15,625, and Edo North will get 18, 750. The total to be distributed in the second phase will amount to 56,250 bags of rice.
Obaseki said the first phase of the programme took place about three months ago to help alleviate the suffering in the land.
He thanked the Christian leaders for their commitment to making the programme successful. He noted that the scheme has nothing to do with politics as it’s being handled by the Church itself.
Obaseki urged the Federal Government to learn from Edo State’s example through the success recorded in the Christian Feeding Programme which he said has reached over 50,000 families.
“If things are done properly in this country, the resources of the nation will go a long way to serve the people. We know there are challenges but the current leadership is not helping Nigerians. Look at how this programme has been run successfully and transparently. The Federal Government should come learn from Edo State.
“The organisation of the CFP has been successful and able to reach about 50,000 families with food. It’s about transparency, honesty, and willingness to serve the people rather than private interest. This is a drop in the ocean compared to what the Federal Government claims they are doing. The world is currently challenged but government needs to come out clean and transparent for people to trust them and collaborate with them to come out of the problem facing us.
“We appeal to the people not to take action that will make our situation worse than it is today. In the next few days, we will be moving around talking to our people and citizens on how to resolve this issue so that they will not put themselves into more problems.
“This programme will be in three phases. We are through with the first phase and this second phase is to correct some of the mistakes in the first phase as trust has been built. It’s also to consolidate on what we have done in the first phase”.
The governor said the third phase of the programme will enable his administration to enroll the people in the conditional cash transfer, skilled programme, support in agriculture, trade, micro-finance, and many more.
On his part, the CAN chairman thanked the governor for his gesture and palliative to caution the effects the subsidy removal has had on the people.
He noted that the governor has embarked on a comprehensive palliative programme to ease the burden and hardship in the land and this CFP is part of that.
