Akeredolu denies rejecting FG’s palliatives

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has dissociated the state from being among the states in the South West that rejected the palliatives donated by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

The palliatives sent to Ondo were 1800 bags of rice and 700 gallons of vegetable oil as part of measures to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown in the country.

Governor Akeredolu who spoke through his Special Adviser on Public and Inter-Governmental Relationship, Ms. Ademosu Bunmi, said the state government never contemplated returning the rice to the Federal Government and expressed shock to have read in some section media that he rejected the rice.

He said it was unfair to say that he joined hands with the Oyo State government to return the rice.

Describing the report as unfounded, embarrassing, shocking and false, he said there was no plan to return the rice and other food items sent to the state.

He said the committee has commenced the repackaging of the rice for onward distribution to the vulnerable in the state as the rice has been tested and confirmed to be edible.

Ondo State Coordinator of YESSO, Mr. Bankole Olaoluwa, said they have provide the state with Social Register of poor and vulnerable by capturing over 20,000 heads of households, which would aid the distribution of the palliatives.