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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of hoarding and diverting the palliatives sent to the state as part of the federal government’s intervention to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.
The state chairman of the APC, Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, Thursday, alleged that ‘the diversion of the rice palliatives by the state government as it is being touted by some concerned discerning minds in the state would have a debilitating effect on the image of the reigning state government.’
According to APC, five trader-loads of new rice with other items received by the state were kept by the government for almost two weeks without disclosing to the people.
The party also said “If the news spreading like wildfire across the state that Adeleke is trying to play a fast one on the palliatives from Abuja by inscribing ‘Imole De Rice’ on it is anything to go by, it shall be resisted by all legal means.
“All the genuine stakeholders in the Osun State project should plead with Adeleke to release the rice palliatives sent to the state by the Federal Government to get to the needy on time as the purpose for sending it down is not to be locked up in a hidden warehouse in the state,” APC said.
But, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the claim of APC as “purely propaganda by mischief makers in the state.”
In his statement, Alimi explained that the Federal government approved a total of three thousand bags of rice palliatives to Osun state and 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.
“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,” Alimi stated.
The release added that, 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.
