The Edo State government has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to cause a crisis and civil unrest under the pretense of protests and rallies in order to advance their political agenda in the state.
This is coming just as the state government has finally admitted receipt of a few trucks of rice from the Federal Government after series of accusations and counter accusations with the APC.
Mr. Chris Osa Nehikhare, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, who stated this in Benin during a press conference, said the APC is resorting to the devious plan because they have realised the folly of presenting an incompetent candidate for the governorship election. 
“Our findings reveal that the APC plans to incite civil unrest in the state and cause chaos under the guise of riots and protests in order to disrupt the peace and stability of the state.
“The APC is trying to divert attention from their candidate’s weaknesses and buying time to avoid debates and meaningful engagement with the people”.
While assuring that the state government will spare no effort in ensuring that anyone found culpable is brought to justice, Nehikhare said they have alerted Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS) of the alleged plan.
The Communication and Orientation Commissioner during the press briefing admitted that the state government received a few trucks load of rice from the Federal Government few months ago.
The clarification came after series of accusations and counter accusations with the APC.
Nehikhare noted, however, that the Federal Government’s rice was nothing compared to the N2.2 billion the state had spent on its food support programme through the religious organisations in the state.
The controversies arise when the opposition party claimed that the bags of rice looted in Benin during the recent nationwide protest were palliative by the central government, but which were hoarded by the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, denied that the state government received any rice either by the national government or Dangote Foundation.
But the commissioner, who was flanked by Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media Project to Gov. Obaseki, said the few trucks of rice received was an instruction that they should be shared amongst the internally displaced camps (IDPs), orphanage homes and local government areas in the state.
“I will state categorically that the Edo State government does not buy rice, and did not buy rice.
“What it did is to provide N2.2 billion to CAN to purchase this food and other items, like garri, yam, plantain including rice to give to the vulnerable people and that is a deliberate government policy.
“Then, on the issue of the Federal Government giving us rice, I will tell you, a few months ago, maybe early this year or late last year or mid this year, they brought some few trucks of rice.
“The rice was distributed according to the formula which they sent to IDPs camp, to different people, to orphanage homes. You people should do the investigation.
“Edo State government did not touch one of them. It went straight to the local government (areas) and then to where it was designed to be given out. Edo State Government does not keep rice.
“We have spent N2.2bn to feed our people. 20 trucks of rice came and we are close to seven million people in Edo State. How does that help?
“What we have done to eradicate poverty is to offer free bus service since September, last year, and it is still going on. We have over 250,000 people enrolled in Edo State health insurance”, he declared.
