The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has finally decided to share the poisonous bags of rice earlier rejected from the Federal Government, to the people of Ondo State under his palliative programme, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, has alleged.

In a statement by Leye Igbabo on Wednesday, the Assistant Director of Media and Publicity of the party, the PDP wrote:

“As a result of the lock down declared by the Federal Government, and the stay at home ordered by the State Governments in Nigeria, which had caused untold hardships on the people, the Federal Government through the Nigeria Custom Service, decided to release trucks of bags of rice earlier seized from illegal importers since 2016, to the States as part of its efforts to cushion the effects of the lock down on the people.”

“But the governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, had hinted that the bags of rice were no longer fit for human consumption, and immediately notified the Federal Government of his intention to return the said bags of rice to its store. But the federal government blatantly refused to take back the rice from Oyo State Government when returned.”

“In a similar circumstance, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu, upon receipt of the State’s share of the palliative, equally noticed that the bags of rice were no longer edible, and also expressed his readiness to return them as quick as possible.”

“But in a show of political comradeship and camaraderie, the governor did not only refute the claim that he was planning to return the said bags of rice, but also made a dramatic turn to rebag the rice on the pretext of removing the spoilt portion in order to subsequently distribute them to the people under his palliative programme.”

“Earlier, the people of Ondo State had complained that the palliative items were grossly insufficient and appealed to the governor to act fast in order to save them from avoidable starvation, since they have been placed on lock down mode.”

“However, Arakunrin Akeredolu had resolved to distribute the poisonous bags of rice.”

“We hereby express our displeasure at the governor’s action, urging him to consider the health of the people over and above shallow and narrow political interest.”

“While advising the governor to muster enough courage to return the bags of rice as earlier intended, we also urge the people of Ondo State not to accept the rotten bags of rice from the governor because a dry morsel and quietness is better than palliatives that is full of poison and hazardous health implications.”

“The PDP, therefore, calls on the good people of Ondo State to beware of this poisonous rice intended to be distributed by the governor”, the PDP alleged in the statement.

The phone of Mr. Segun Ajiboye, the Chief Press Secretary of the Governor, rang out on Wednesday while calling for the governor’s reaction.