The rumour making the rounds alleging that Ondo State Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of Palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa divertedfor personal use some of food items, specifically rice, meant for subsidy palliatives, has been debunked by the state government.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju made available to journalists in Akure described the allegation as spurious and unfounded.
She said: “Ondo State Palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee disavow in unequivocal terms the picture of a mini bag of rice bearing the picture of the committee Chairman, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa with “Palliative Show” boldly inscribed on it.
“This totally fake, misleading, and derogatory picture seeks to subliminally portray Mr. Akinterinwa as having diverted rice meant for the vulnerable in Ondo State, for political campaign.
“On behalf of the committee, we want the public to disregard the picture and its accompaniments as the concoction of idle hatchet men, bent on creating doubts and public distrust about the hard-working palliative committee and its programmes.
“We emphatically state that there is no truth to the claim. Mr. Akinterinwa did not divert rice or any other public good in the custody of the palliative committee.
“Once again, we reiterate that our committee is committed to probity, transparency, and accountability during implementation and distribution of palliatives occasioned by the removal of subsidy. We urge the public to be vigilant enough to identify mischief makers and leave them to their designs.”
Meanwhile, a picture a 5kg packaged rice with the picture of the Commissioner for Finance went viral on social media.
It was alleged that the commissioner who’s among members of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration muted to be ambitious to succeed the governor through the ballot diverted the Subsidy palliative to execute his governorship ambition.
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