Ijaw farmers accuse Delta govt of neglect in distribution of FG grain palliatives

By Peters Monday, Abuja

The Ijaw farmers of Burutu, Patani , Warri North, Warri South, Warri South West and Bomadi local government areas of Delta State have cried out over a sideline in the distribution of the federal government grains palliatives to farmers in the state.

It was gathered that the Delta State government had distributed the first phase of the federal government grains palliatives last week in Ibusa in Delta State.

The angry Ijaw farmers led by Mr Ganagana Francis who protested before the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum, IPF said they were sidelined by Delta State government officials that were responsible for the distribution of the federal government grains palliatives for farmers in Ibusa last week.

Ganagana who called on the Ijaw Publishers to intervene said the government officials deliberately sideline Ijaw farmers and share the bulk of the grain to their kinsmen in Delta Central, describing it as a nepotism taken too far.

According to him, in spite Ijaw farmers stormed the distribution centre at Ibusa, they were not considered, adding that government officials were converting palliatives to commercial gain for themselves.

He narrated that many of the people who received the palliatives from Delta Central were not farmers, stressing that they took them and commercialised the palliatives.

The angry farmers said they had visited the office of the secretary of the palliatives committee, Barr Igbojaro for about four times from Bomadi, Burutu, Patani, paying accommodation for the four times they have visited him in Asaba, adding that he seems not to be having listening ear to their plights.

Ganagana who is the financial secretary of the All Farmers Association of Delta State and President of Ijaw Community in Asaba threatened a massive protest at the State government house if the the governor, Sheriff Oborewori failed to intervene in the coming days.

While responding, IPF advised the shortchanged farmers to be peaceful as they go about canvassing for inclusion, adding that the group would write an official letter to the governor and call on other Ijaw leaders to prevail after proper investigation.