From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has challenged Governor Ademola Adeleke, to disclose the whereabouts of the 1,250 bags of rice sent by President Bola Tinubu to the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Christmas and New Year festivities.
A statement by the state chairman of the APC, Tajudeen Lawal, and made available to our correspondent yesterday by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, explained that information has it that the state government took delivery of the consignment of the 1,250 presidential bags of rice meant for the Osun CAN but it was misappropriated by those saddled with the responsibility to do justice in that regard.
APC queried why only Osun CAN was denied the rice in the entire southwest, saying, “It was a great height of insensitivity and callousness for Governor Adeleke to have diverted the 1,250 bags of rice particularly gifted to the state chapter of CAN by the Presidency.
“If Governor Adeleke did not consider it worthy to take care of the men of God during Christmas and New Year festivities, what right had he to rob them of their entitlements which were only sent through him?
“We won’t back down as a party until the issue of the stolen rice belonging to the Osun CAN is resolved in favour of the rightful owners as we won’t keep quiet on the previous 17,000 bags of 50kg rice and 8,000 bags of maize donated to Osun state by the Federal Government but which the same Adeleke hoarded, looted and diverted to create perception problems for the APC federal government,” the APC said.
But the state government denied the receipt of rice for the CAN describing the report as false without any foundation in truth. A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, yesterday, said the government did not receive 1,500 bags of rice from the Federal Government to distribute to the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Alimi challenged the APC to substantiate the allegation and cautioned broadcast organizations to desist from providing platforms for those marketing fake news.
“The Federal Government has not sent any rice palliatives to the state since the batch sent last year which was shared to the public through a committee of public associations and groups.
“The Committee that shared the last rice package had the CAN Chairman and others as members and there is no way any consignment will reach the state without the committee being informed and engaged in the distribution,” Alimi said.