The People’s Democratic Party, PDP and the ruling All Progressive Congress in Ondo state traded words over alleged hoarding of Federal government rice and other palliatives to the state.

While the PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Leye lgbagbo, accused the APC of hoarding and repacking the rice from the Federal Government, the APC Director of Media, Steve Otaloro, described the allegation as spurious.

Igbagbo, in his statement, alleged that the Federal Government palliatives allocated to the state government are yet to be shared with the people after several weeks of delivery to the State.

According to him “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 to use same to promote his gubernatorial ambition as the November 16 2024 gubernatorial election approaches.

“This we consider a 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 a matter of fact, exhibit empathy, love, and compassion for the people that are already challenged, hopeless, devastated and ravaged by hunger, anger, and disease.

“We had thought that the resolve of the Ondo State people not to join the national hunger protest would have spurred the Governor to, more than ever before, consider the awkward predicament of the people and go to any length in alleviating the avoidable hardship.

“We even consider the desire to politicize 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.”

But in a swift response, the ruling APC Director of Media, Otaloro, denied the allegation, describing as baseless and malicious.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa has always prioritized the welfare of the people of Ondo State and has been working tirelessly to ensure that the palliatives get to those in need fairly and transparently.

“The distribution of palliative was well carried out across the LG areas in the state after the necessary process of verifying and organizing the distribution to ensure that the palliatives reach the intended beneficiaries.

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“The insinuation that Governor Aiyedatiwa is hoarding and repackaging the palliatives for political gain is not only false but also a desperate attempt by the opposition to tarnish his reputation.

Otaloro added that “The Governor remains committed to serving the people of Ondo State with honesty and integrity, and will not be swayed by such baseless accusations.

“We call on the PDP to desist from spreading misinformation and focus on constructive engagement in the interest of the people of Ondo State.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa will continue to work diligently to address the needs of the people and ensure that the palliatives and other government welfare packages are distributed equitably and efficiently.