The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised allegations against Governor Ademola Adeleke, claiming that he is holding back bags of rice that were sent by the Federal Government as palliatives to aid citizens dealing with the impact of fuel subsidy removal. The APC asserted that Adeleke had received the consignment twelve days prior to Thursday and criticized him for not disclosing or distributing the items, suggesting that this action could jeopardize the well-being of the people.
According to the APC, five trailer-loads of rice and other items were dispatched by the Federal Government to Osun as part of the palliative measures to ease the consequences of the fuel subsidy removal. The party, however, expressed bewilderment over the lack of announcement by the state government regarding the reception and distribution of these palliatives.
Tajudeen Lawal, the Chairman of APC in the state, questioned the delay in disclosing the arrival of the federal government’s palliatives and urged Adeleke to promptly distribute them to those in need. Lawal also expressed concern that potential diversion of the rice palliatives could harm the reputation of the state government and called for their release to the citizens without further delay.
In response, the state government issued a statement via Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement. The government dismissed the APC’s claims as propaganda and reassured the public that the Adeleke administration would not withhold the palliatives from the citizens. The statement clarified that three thousand bags of rice palliatives were approved by the federal government, with two thousand and four hundred bags already received in the state through four trailers. The government explained that the distribution would commence once the final batch arrived.
Alimi stated that the Adeleke administration would ensure the timely distribution of the palliatives and encouraged the public to disregard the APC’s allegations. He emphasized that the government was not hoarding the palliatives but was waiting for the complete supply from the federal government agency before initiating distribution.
The statement emphasized that Adeleke’s family had a history of sharing bags of rice with the populace even before his tenure in office and that the current administration would not divert resources meant for the people. The government assured the people of Osun that they would receive the rice palliatives as soon as the remaining batch arrived in the state.