Presidential Xmas gifts for CAN: Osun APC, Govt trade words over 1,250 bags of rice

… We haven’t seen any rice, says CAN

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 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.

Osun APC claimed that they had information that the consignment of the 1,250 presidential bags of rice meant for the Osun CAN was taken delivery of by the state government but misappropriated by those saddled with the responsibility to do justice in that regard.

According to 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, that “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.”

Lawal stated that if the rice issue came about as a mix-up by the government functionaries, it is never too late for Governor Adeleke to investigate the matter, return the rice to the rightful owners and tender unreserved apologies

The state APC chairman noted that it was strange that the government which is supposed to be empowering the men of God is the same entity which is depriving them of their entitlements sent to them by the Federal Government.

In Lawal’s words: “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 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.

“Why is it that it is only in Osun State in the South-West that the CAN was deprived of its rice meant for the festivities?

“It would be recalled that before the last general elections in the state, Adeleke as the PDP governorship candidate then, could go to any length to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of the religious bodies in the state.  

“But today, he has become a sharp and exact opposite of what he projected himself to be during the electioneering. Is he putting up this wicked and dishonorable attitude because he reasons he no longer needs the support of the Christian body?

“It is the same way that leads to the top that also leads to the ground, he should realize. It is imperative that Adeleke and his handlers produce the 1,250 bags of rice  stolen from the men of God in Osun State if they do not want to attract the anger of the Almighty God”, the state APC chairman added.

Reacting to the allegation, Osun State Government denied the report that the state has received 1,500 Bags of rice from the Federal Government to distribute to the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN).

Describing the report as false without any foundation in truth, the state government in a news release signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi said 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.

Alimi said that 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, the Commissioner noted.

The statement therefore challenged members of the All Progressive Congress who spread the fake news to substantiate the allegation as well as cautioned broadcast organizations to desist from providing platforms for those marketing fake news.

“We further call on members of the public to ignore the purveyors of such lies as this administration is committed to accountability and transparency in state governance,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Osun CAN Chairman, Rev. John Adeleke who said the Christian body is aware that the Federal Government is sending rice to all CAN across the state of the federation said they are yet to receive their own rice in the State.

The cleric, who spoke with our correspondent on phone said, “The fact is that from our National headquarters, we were informed that they were sending rice to us. Oyo State has received, Ekiti also received, but we have not received our own.

“I don’t know either is in the state or not because we are not the only state that has not receive, Ondo state too has not receive.If it is still coming or hanging we cannot say.

“By the grace of God, I will be in the National meeting of CAN this month, we will confirm whether the rice has arrived Osun State. I cannot say why our own is being delayed.”

Speaking on the number of bags of rice expected, the CAN Chairman said according to Oyo state, they packed it 25kg and the number of bags given to Oyo was 1,200 so also in Ekiti state.

But both APC and PDP differs in the number of bags of rice to be delivered to the Christian body.