The Delta State Government recently set up a Food Bank to collate all food items donated by individuals and organisations to cushion the effect of the 14 day stay at home order made by it as a measure to check the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
The food items are said to be meant for the vulnerable in the state and are to be distributed to them in their respective communities, irrespective of political interests, which prompted the setting up the LGA distribution committees.
Citing Aniocha north as an example, the committee is made up of six politicians, all of the PDP, and the LGA chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
This committee, which has no member of any opposition political party or non partisan members, except the CAN chairman, cannot be said to be inclusive and apolitical.
It is purely a political setting, which COVID – 19 does not recognise, considering that all presently suffering different degrees of impact as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown are not members of a particular political party.
Members of this committee are 90% politicians of one political family and will act in that line in the distribution of the food items, which is against a promise made by government to the contrary.
The real vulnerable in the society are not politicians and could best be identified by their communities through the traditional rulers working with community leaders.
If the food items are to get to the target persons, therefore, the membership of the committee needs to be depoliticized to include at least one traditional ruler, two non partisan interests and one vulnerable person.
The member representing the LGA/constituency, the Commissioner from the area and the Council chairman are good as automatic members.
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