APC, PDP at loggerheads in Osun over Adeleke’s religion, rebranding of FG’s palliatives
…As APC accuses Adeleke of rebranding FG’s palliatives
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and People Democratic Party, (PDP) in Osun, are at loggerheads over what the APC described as a deceitful act of Governor Ademola Adeleke claim to be a Christianity and Muslim at the same.
The opposition also accused the state government under watch of Governor Ademola Adeleke of rebranding the Federal Government’s rice palliatives meant for ameliorating the effects of fuel subsidy on the citizenry.
In a separate press statement over the weekend, the state chairman of the APC, Tajudeen Lawal, through a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, observed that Governor Adeleke is breaching a vital part of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended by presenting himself as both a Muslim and Christian contemporaneously.
Lawal explained that his observation of Governor Adeleke portrayed him as someone who believes in using his fake religious attachment as a tool to advance and sustain his political aspiration which subsequently is to the disadvantage of the overall development of the state.
Lawal said, “As the incumbent state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke owes the people of the state a duty to declare his faith and rather than claiming double membership of both Christianity and Islam with the ulterior aim of fraudulently harvesting their votes during the elections.
“One of the reasons it would be pungent clear that Governor Adeleke has not been faithful in claiming to belong to two faiths is that he has been frustrating the moslems and the christians with his privileged position as the state Chief executive.
“It is high time Governor Adeleke stopped his flagrant game and came up clear with his real faith as he won’t be the first or the last person worldwide whose parents shared different faiths,” Lawal stated.
The opposition party called on the people of the state to be wary of another antics of Governor Ademola Adeleke to pull a fast one on the citizens over another consignment of the Federal Government’s rice palliatives meant for ameliorating the effects of fuel subsidy on the citizenry.
The party alleged that Governor Adeleke is perfecting a means of shortchanging the people of the state again with reference to the issue of the new consignments of rice from Abuja.
Lawal stated that a credible source authoritatively confirmed that about two weeks ago, trailers loaded with bags of rice branded in the name of the Federal Government of Nigeria were offloaded in the Ministry of Agriculture, State Government Secretariat, Abere, and are being re-branded to Osun State Government.
He explained further that the bags of rice which are being rebranded at a secret location in the state ministry have the photograph of Governor Ademola Adeleke inscribed on it in order to give a false impression that the palliative items are provided by his administration.
In Lawal’s words: “Is it fair or justifiable for a state government to corner the palliatives meant for the people and pretend as if it is the state that is providing it?
“What informs the choice of Governor Adeleke to order that the palliative rice should be re-branded with the inscription of his photograph and name on it?
“There cannot be any other name for this action other than official fraud.
“It is our resolve as a party that the trailer-loads of palliative rice sent by the APC-led administration at the Federal level should not be used by Governor Adeleke to play dirty politics to the disadvantage of the opposition.”
Reacting to the allegations of the opposition party, the chairman of the People Democratic Party, PDP, Hon Sunday Bisi, and Commissioner for the Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi over the weekend said: The opposition party has derailed to the extent of issuing statements on Mr Governor’s religious affiliation.
“The state APC has dishonorably derailed to the extent of issuing statements on Mr Governor’s religious affiliation. The opposition is bereft of ideas and has become too overwhelmed to craft appropriate strategies to respond to the PDP government’s great performance.
“A responsible opposition will focus on alternative policy proposals to counter a sitting government. We affirm that the state APC is unelectable in 2026 due to its depressional outbursts, its evil legacy and its worsening public ratings.
“We challenge the APC and particularly Mr Gboyega Oyetola to respond to the latest scandal to the opposition. A civil society group, Osun Transparency Alliance, just threatened to drag the former Governor to the anti-graft agencies.
“The Osun APC left a legacy of squandermania and destruction of state assets. The former administration virtually left the state in ruins across the sectors. Osun people mandated Governor Adeleke to rebuild the state and put it on a pedestal of sustainable growth and development.
“That is the mandate of the Osun people to Mr. Governor and he is fulfilling those obligations. The people of Osun state are also following up with the administration. The people see and appreciate the rebuilding efforts.
“Our people want good governance. They want an upgrade of state infrastructure, good schools, better health access, food availability, environment for job creation and security of lives and properties. They care less about your religion. Voters want good governance and Mr Governor is delivering,” the statement posited.
But, Kolapo Alimi said there is no truth in the allegation, saying the release from the APC is another manifestation of the opposition’s desperation.
According to the Commissioner, “the federal rice palliatives are just coming into the state and none of it was re-bagged.
“The delivery is still ongoing and they are in safe keeping as they are delivered. The government has already activated its structure for the sharing of the federal palliative to reach all strata of the society.
“The government however deem the supply from the central government insufficient, hence its decision to buy more trucks of rice for distribution to the population.
“Rice purchased by the state which are also being delivered are however branded and they are also due for sharing very soon. What is branded are the state’s rice, not federal palliative , the delivery of which is still ongoing.
“We challenge the APC leadership to come to the State stores for verification. Sooo Tajudeen Lawal and his team of fake news merchants will, after inspection, see the futility of lying to misled the public.
“The present administration is committed to due process, rule of law, transparency and accountability for the delivery of good governance. Members of the public should ignore the rantings of an opposition in search of political direction,” the statement read.
