During the upcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, the gubernatorial candidate representing the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Gbenga Edema, insists that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa needs to clarify how the palliatives provided by the Federal Government were distributed within the state.
Expressing concerns on behalf of his campaign organization, Edema mentioned that the state government’s silence on the distribution process is troubling.
The spokesperson for the Olugbenga Edema Campaign Organisation, Oluwatosin Ayeni, pointed out that only members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seemed to be benefiting from the aid, emphasizing that all residents, regardless of their political affiliations, should receive assistance as a priority from the governor.
Ayeni also highlighted the recent announcement from President Bola Tinubu stating that over N500 billion had been disbursed to states to alleviate the citizens’ plight, underscoring the need for Aiyedatiwa to clarify the allocation of Ondo State’s share.
“Based on the evidence available to us, Governor Aiyedatiwa seems to have designated the rice and palliatives received from the Federal Government exclusively for APC members, whereas these resources were meant to alleviate the hardships caused by the current APC-led administration for the general populace,” the statement emphasized.
In response, Kayode Fasua, the Information Director from Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC), dismissed the allegations, labeling them as unfounded.
“These claims lack credibility, especially after the governor reassured the people of Ondo State about the fair distribution of palliative items to support vulnerable individuals across all 18 local government areas in the state,” Fasua asserted.