In a recent development that has stirred controversy, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has levied allegations against Governor Ademola Adeleke, claiming that he is deliberately hoarding bags of rice provided by the Federal Government as palliatives to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the state’s residents.
According to the APC, the governor received the consignment of rice from the Federal Government a full twelve days before Thursday’s date. The party expressed concern over the lack of transparency and accountability as Adeleke failed to disclose or distribute the items, characterizing his actions as a hazardous game that jeopardizes the well-being of the people.
The APC went on to reveal that the Federal Government had dispatched five trailer-loads of rice and other essential items to Osun as part of the state’s share of palliatives, designed to mitigate the consequences of fuel subsidy removal.
In a statement endorsed by APC state Chairman Tajudeen Lawal, the party questioned the governor’s intentions, highlighting the absence of any public announcement regarding the delivery of the palliatives. The statement raised concerns about whether the state government was waiting for a dire situation of hunger to unfold before making the palliatives accessible to those in need.
Lawal’s statement emphasized, “Genuine stakeholders in the Osun State project should implore Adeleke to promptly release the rice palliatives provided by the Federal Government. These resources are meant to reach the needy in a timely manner, not to be concealed within hidden storage facilities.”
Furthermore, the statement addressed speculation that the state government might be diverting the rice palliatives, citing the alleged inscriptions of “Imole De Rice” (meaning “Light Has Come Rice”) on the bags. The APC staunchly pledged to resist any such diversion through legal means.
Responding to the allegations, the state government, represented by Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, dismissed the APC’s claims as propaganda. Alimi clarified that the last batch of palliatives was still awaited and emphasized that distribution would commence immediately upon its arrival.
Alimi assured the people of Osun that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration had no intention of withholding the palliatives. He urged the public to disregard the APC’s assertions and emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that the rice palliatives reach those in need.
“The rice palliatives will be distributed as soon as the last tranche comes into the state by today or tomorrow,” Alimi affirmed. He further stated, “This government is a responsible one; we are not hoarding the rice palliatives but waiting for the supply to be completed by the federal government agency before we commence distribution.”
Alimi also reminded the people of Osun that the Adeleke family had a history of sharing thousands of bags of rice with the community even before assuming office. He reassured the public that the government would uphold its responsibility to provide essential support to the citizens during these challenging times.
