The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of hoarding the 20 trucks of rice palliatives sent to the state by the federal government.

Last week, the FG announced a palliative measure of 20 trucks of 25 bags of rice to each state of the federation, including the nation’s capital as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the rising cost of living.  

But in a statement on Wednesday, the PDP alleged that Mr Aiyedatiwa was yet to distribute the palliatives to the residents of the state after weeks of getting its own share. 

In a copy of the statement signed by the party’s spokesman, Leye Igbabo, the PDP further accused Mr Ayedatiwa of planning to repackage and rebrand the grains by sharing to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. 

“We have it on good authority that the Governor is trying to repackage and rebrand the said palliatives and share to members and supporters of APC with a view to using same to promote his gubernatorial ambition as the November 16, 2024 gubernatorial election approaches. 

“This we consider duplicitous and insincere approach to service and governance, a consistent disposition of the Ayedatiwa administration since he accidentally became Governor, otherwise the delay in the distribution of an interventionist action as this, would not, ordinarily have arisen.

“Our party views this posture of Mr Governor as not only insensitive but equally wicked, inhuman and unbecoming of a State Governor who should, as matter of fact, exhibit empathy, love and compassion for the people that are already challenged, hopeless, devastated and ravaged by hunger, anger and disease,” it said. 

The party added that it was expecting the state governor to consider the predicament of the people by going extra lengths to alleviate the hardship of the people, as the residents refused to join the nationwide hunger protest in the state.  

It noted that it considered the desire to ‘politicise palliative distribution’ at the expense of the general populace as not only distasteful and reprehensible but equally absurd and brutal.

“However, we now have reason to believe that the Governor’s recent appreciation to the people of Ondo State for not joining the national protest, can at best be seen as shedding of crocodile tears and we therefore call on him to immediately release the palliatives for appropriate distribution to the targeted section of the society without any further procrastination,” the statement further read. 

But, the state government has denied the allegation of hoarding the rice palliatives, describing it as baseless and unfounded. 

Reacting in a brief chat with Peoples Gazette, the spokesman to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said what came to the state had already been distributed to the residents.

Mr Adeniyan explained that the governor, who takes the welfare of the people seriously, would not hoard any palliatives meant for the people of the state. 

He, however, challenged the opposition party to come out with their evidence instead of bringing up unsubstantiated allegations against Mr Aiyedatiwa and his government.  

“Not true. What came to Ondo State has been distributed already. If they have any evidence, let them bring it forward,” he said.