The Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Edgar Amos, defended the decision to put the governor’s picture on bags of rice distributed as palliatives to the public. This move was taken as a measure to prevent the diversion or sale of food items on the black market.
Adamawa State, like many others, has been distributing food items as palliatives to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidies. The inclusion of the governor’s picture on the bags of rice was intended to help ensure that the food aid reached the intended beneficiaries and was not misappropriated or sold illegally.
While this practice may be unusual, it was likely implemented to enhance transparency and accountability in the distribution of the palliatives, which is important to ensure that the assistance reaches those in need.
He said, “It is an argument for those who are already comfortable. By the way, we see the photographs of Tinubu in all the offices across the country. Whether you voted for Tinubu or not, he is the president of Nigeria and you have his photographs.
“This is the governor of Adamawa State; whether you voted for him or not, you have his photographs in offices. By the way, it has advantages. It means that somebody who wants to go and sell it in the market will not be able to do so because it is already branded. It is a way of checking the abuse in the process.
“And this is the governor that is loved by the people, so you see a picture of the one you love and eat the rice from the bag, so be it. Who do you think his photograph should be on the rice?
“Anybody who is hungry and is questioning the photographs on the bag of rice is not a hungry man; definitely not. I don’t think a hungry man will question photographs on a bag of rice.”
