Engr. Felix Akpoyibo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticized Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency, over his recent donation of three bags of rice per ward across the constituency during the festive season. Akpoyibo expressed concerns over the logistics and fairness of such a distribution, noting that the constituency, with a population exceeding 10,000 voters, could not possibly benefit equitably from such a meager offering.
“How can over 10,000 families share three bags of rice per ward? This is not just impractical but could also lead to chaos among the people,” Akpoyibo lamented. He further accused Hon. Waive of promoting what he termed “stomach stampede,” a scenario where an insufficient attempt to address hunger only worsens tensions within the community.
Akpoyibo argued that Waive, knowing the scale of the economic challenges in the area, should have explored alternative plans to alleviate hunger during the festive period rather than resorting to such a symbolic but insufficient gesture. “This donation is not only insulting but goes against the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Instead of bringing relief, it has become an avenue for promoting strife and dissatisfaction among the people,” Akpoyibo added.
The APC chieftain further criticized Waive's approach as a deviation from the principles of the Renewed Hope agenda, alleging that the program has been turned into what he described as "Renew Personal Pocket (RPP)." He called on the constituents to reject the donation outright, emphasizing that genuine leadership demands sustainable solutions, not tokenism.
The outcry comes as the festive season highlights the ongoing economic struggles faced by many Nigerians, with leaders at various levels being called upon to provide meaningful interventions. Akpoyibo’s critique underscores the need for equitable and impactful policies that align with the expectations of the Renewed Hope agenda, which President Tinubu has championed since assuming office.
The development raises questions about the effectiveness of community-level interventions and the responsibilities of elected representatives in addressing pressing socioeconomic challenges.
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