Osun Govt rebranding FG’s palliative rice, APC alleges
…Stop lying, Govt fires back at APC
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State chapter has raised an allegation against the Ademola Adeleke-led government on new consignment of Federal Government palliative rice from Abuja.
The APC accused the ruling Government of rebranding the fresh Federal palliative rice describing the action of the Adeleke’s Government as fraudulent.
But the State Government, in a swift reaction denied the allegation saying it is another manifestation of the opposition’s desperation.
The Osun State chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, on Saturday, stated that a credible source authoritatively confirmed that about two weeks ago, trailers loaded with bags of rice branded in the name of Federal Government of Nigeria were offloaded in the Ministry of Agriculture, State Government Secretariat, Abere, and are being re-branded to Osun State Government.
Lawal alleged that the bags of rice which are being rebranded at a secret location in the state ministry have the photograph of the Governor inscribed on it in order to give a false impression that the palliative items are provided by his administration.
He said that it is criminal for the state to fraudulently claim the rice palliatives sent by the Federal Government for the reduction of the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the citizenry.
Lawal said, “Is it fair or justifiable for a state government to corner the palliatives meant for the people and pretend as if it is the state that is providing it?
“What informs the choice of Governor Adeleke to order that the palliative rice should be re-branded with the inscription of his photograph and name on it? There cannot be any other name for this action other than official fraud.
“It is our resolve as a party that the trailer-loads palliative rice sent by the APC-led administration at the Federal level should not be used by Governor Adeleke to play a dirty politics to the disadvantage of the opposition.
Meanwhile, the State Government while reacting to the allegation through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, said there is no truth in the allegation.
The commissioner challenged the APC leadership to come to the State stores for verification.
Alimi said “ the federal rice palliatives are just coming into the state and none of it was re-bagged. The delivery is still ongoing and they are in safe keeping as they are delivered. The government has already activated its structure for the sharing of the federal palliative to reach all strata of the society.
“The government however deem the supply from the central government insufficient, hence its decision to buy more trucks of rice for distribution to the population.
“Rice purchased by the state which are also being delivered are however branded and they are also due for sharing very soon. What is branded are the state’s rice, not federal palliative , the delivery of which is still ongoing.
“We challenge the APC leadership to come to the State stores for verification. Sooko Tajudeen Lawal and his team of fake news merchants will, after inspection, see the futility of lying to misled the public.
“The present administration is committed to due process, rule of law, transparency and accountability for the delivery of good governance. Members of the public should ignore the rantings of an opposition in search of political direction.”
