N5bn palliatives: Ex-agitators threaten protest in Niger Delta over governors’ silence

Ex-agitators have expressed concern over the failure of Niger Delta governors to provide palliatives to poor communities despite receiving N5 billion from the Federal Government.

Acting under the auspices of the Coalition of Ex-agitators of Niger Delta (CEND), they said their governors seemed to have diverted the money released by President Bola Tinubu to alleviate the sufferings caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Chairman of the coalition, Mr Mpakaboari Gbobo conveyed the position of the ex-agitators in a statement issued on behalf of other members in Yenagoa.

They said that whereas Tinubu was sensitive enough to make provisions for palliatives, their governors appeared unconcerned with the level of hardship in their various states, especially Bayelsa and Rivers.

“Where are our palliatives?” Gershom queried, insisting that there were no deliberate activities and programmes by the governors targeted at providing relief to the people.

“Does it mean that as usual, these governors have pocketed the money? We will never allow it to happen. We will compel them to bring out the money in a mother of all protests across the states.

“It will no longer be business as usual. Our people are suffering untold hardship while these governors are junketing in profligacy and living large without showing any concern to our problems.

“We expected the governors to have started deliberate programmes aimed at reaching the people with palliatives.

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“We expected them to add a reasonable amount of money to the N5 billion and float far-reaching programmes that will practically ameliorate the pains of the people.

“But they are less concerned. We can see what the Borno governor is doing for his people, but our entire region is quiet,” he said.