Osun APC, Adeleke govt trade words over FG subsidy palliatives

The All Progressives Congress, APC in Osun State has called on the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke to announce the delivery of the federal government palliatives for the people of the State.

It claimed the federal government’s palliatives had been in the State for the past 12 days

In a statement signed by the State chairman of the party, Tajudeen Lawal in Osogbo on Thursday, the party revealed that it authoritatively learnt that five trailer loads of rice with other items donated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration were sent to the Osun State Government as the State’s share of the people’s palliatives.

The party also stated that the state government had not deemed it fit to announce the federal government gesture.

The palliatives are to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on fuel.

“There was no justifiable reason for Governor Adeleke to maintain a stone silence on the palliatives from the federal government for good twelve days.

“What has been delaying the distribution of the rice palliatives from the federal government to Osun people when other neighbouring States have completed the process and are waiting for other tranches of the palliatives.

“Is the State government expecting the federal government that made the rice palliatives available to also be the one to effect the sharing of same.

“All 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.

“The diversion of the rice palliatives by the State government as being touted by some concerned discerning minds in the State would have a debilitating effect on the image of the reigning State government,” he said.

The party, which alleged that the Governor was trying to play a fast one with the palliatives from Abuja by inscribing ‘Imole De Rice’, warned that such a move would be resisted by all legal means.

Reacting, the State government said the APC’s statement was purely propaganda by mischief makers.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the state government revealed that the Federal government approved a total of three thousand bags of rice palliatives to Osun state.

“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, 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,” he said.

Alimi assured that the rice palliatives would be distributed as soon as the last tranche comes into the State before the week runs out.