Nigerian Canadian-based Rights Activist, Ogban, Calls For Caution On Handling Edu's Case

By Our Reporter

Nigerian Canadian-based philanthropist and human rights executive, Princewill Ogban, has called on the federal government to be very cautious in handling the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Beta Edu, approval and disbursements issues.

Reacting against the backdrop of call for her removal, Ogban, a social worker and real estate mogul, stated that, "from his experience, giving Christmas cash gifts to the vulnerable and poor people in Nigeria normal.

"It is normal to hand in cash as most poor and vulnerable people don't have bank accounts.

" It's actually Afrocentric to share cash if you really want the most vulnerable to be reached. 

"Why force the vulnerable to open bank accounts, especially if it's a one-off disbursement."

According to him, "for the fact that minister Edu reported a fraud of over N40bn in her ministry should not lead to her being fired. 

"Those who are calling for the firing of Edu are discouraging politicians and others from reporting frauds in government like she did."

Ogban, however, advised that going forward all activities and programmes in the ministry of humanitarian affairs should be operated from a human lens and not a political lens as a humanitarian crisis has no political affiliations. 

He added that "all cash and other  disbursement should not be done from a political structure lens as politicians would sabotage the minister, pocket the cash gifts, and not give it to those that it is intended for. 

"There should be a third party consultants who would gather data of beneficiaries in each local government areas, work with existing civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and spiritual leaders to ensure that those on the list receive it.

"Minister Edu means good for the nation and has worked so hard within a few months to  develop so many partnerships and collaborations locally and international that keeping her in the job would benefit Nigerians," he stated.