The All Progressives Congress’ (APC) National Youth Wing Campaign Council on Thursday announced plans to distribute small packs of parboiled rice in Katsina on Saturday.
Branded ‘Jagaban’s Army Rice,’ the packs feature campaign messages urging members of the public to vote Bola Tinubu for president, and Kashim Shettima for vice president in the February 25 general election.
It also features pictures of Dayo Israel, APC National Youth Leader, and other candidates for Katsina state governorship election, and house of representatives.
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Announcing the move, Israel took to his verified Twitter page to say, “Jagaban Army rice now available in Katsina for distribution this Saturday during the ‘Deliver your street day’. Should get to more states soon. Our youth leaders in the grassroot and our youth stakeholders are working tirelessly to mobilise, led by the Wing Commander.”
This comes six days after Israel was spotted wearing a military uniform that bears semblance to one used by the Nigerian Airforce.
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Israel attended a fundraising dinner organised by Sadique Baba, former Chief of Air Staff and current Bauchi gubernatorial candidate in Bauchi state, dressed in a signature blue uniform unique to the military.
His action contravene Part 4, Section 251 of the criminal code act. This section states, “Any person who, not being a person serving in any of the armed or police forces of Nigeria, wears the uniform of any of these forces, or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of any such uniform, in such manner or in such circumstances as to be likely to bring contempt on that uniform, or employs any other person so to wear such uniform or dress, is guilty of a simple offence, and is liable to imprisonment for three months or to a fine of forty naira.”
Israel has since claimed his attire was “no different to those adorned by civil and church societies, particularly those tasked with evangelism”.
The practice of branding rice and distributing has generated social media backlash, and has been described in several reports as political bribes employed by wealthy parties to sway undecided voters.
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