– Allegation is mere propaganda – State Govt
The All Progressives Congress in osun State has accused the state government of failing to either announce the delivery or distribute the thousands of bags of rice given to the state by the Federal Government as palliatives after 12 days of their arrival in the state.
APC, in a statement issued on Thursday by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of playing a “dangerous game with the palliatives” by hoarding them.
He said: “It was authoritatively learnt that five trader-loads of rice with other items sent by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration were sent to Osun State Government as the state’s shares of the people’s palliatives to cushion the effect of the biting effect of the subsidy removal on fuel.
“Up till today, the state government has not deemed it fit to announce the Federal Government gifts as palliatives for the people of the state.”
He said that there was no justifiable reason for deleke to maintain a stone silence on the palliatives from the Federal Government for good 12 days.
Lawal wondered what has been delaying the distribution of the rice palliatives to Osun people when other neighbouring states are either waiting for the second or third tranche of the palliatives.
But reacting in a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the state government had informed members of the public that the Federal Government approved a total of 3,000 bags of rice palliatives for Osun state.
He said, “Six hundred bags were loaded per each truck and disbursed through four trailers: making two thousand and four hundred received so far.
“Out of the five trailers of bags of rice palliative to the state, we are waiting for the completion of the palliative supply before the announcement and distribution.”
Debunking allegations of hoarding the bags of rice, Alimi stated that, “Members of the public are also informed that the Commissioner of Ministry of Special Duties, Dr B.T Salaam has received four out of the five trailers and the state is awaiting the last batch of six hundred bags of rice palliatives, to complete the three thousand bags earmarked for the state.
“Since receiving the initial bags of rice palliatives, the government through special duties has fashioned out modalities and templates on the distribution of the palliatives.
According to Alimi, “Governor Ademola Adeleke is a passionate and accountable governor who will never hurt or deprive the citizenry of the palliative. The governor is concerned about the welfare of the populace, and will not fail in its delivery.
“Cushioning the effect of the subsidy is a necessity, our government will not withhold what belongs to the citizenry from them.
“The rice palliatives will be distributed as soon as the last tranche comes into the state by today or tomorrow.
“We assure the good people of Osun that the government of Ademola Adeleke will not deny them of the rice palliatives, and we urge all to disregard the propaganda of the APC.”
