Contrary to insinuations that the State Government of Osun had hoarded relief items meant for its citizens, the private sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) has written to the state, saying that the delay in delivery was due to procurement challenges it faced.
The coalition said that it had now secured the full consignment of the rice component of the food relief items and was ready to deliver to the State.
CA-COVID, in a letter to the State Government signed by its Co-Administrator, Osayi Alile, said: “In continuation of our efforts to conclude the delivery of all CACOVID food relief items to Osun State, you will be pleased to be informed that we have now secured the full consignment of the rice component of the food relief items designated for the good people of Osun State that was previously unavailable due to the procurement challenges faced during the earlier nationwide lockdown”.
Reacting to the CA-COVID letter, Osun State 21-man Food and Relief Committee has urged citizens and residents of the state to trust the government, describing the current administration as a responsible government that prioritizes the welfare of citizens.
Speaking during an interview, the Secretary to the 21-man Food and Relief Committee, Chief Adebayo Jimoh, said contrary to insinuations that the State Government of Osun had hoarded relief items meant for its citizens, “the letter that was recently received by the state government signed by Osayi Alile, a Co-Administrator of CACOVID, by which they more or less apologised for the delay in delivering approximately 13 trucks of rice having 40,332 units of 10kg bags, to Osun State.
“This letter that was sent to the State confirmed that Osun State government had no intention to punish its citizens, as some people had insinuated. This letter confirmed our earlier position that there was no hoarding of materials by the government. The donors were not ready then, but they are ready now, and their letter confirms this.
“The 21-man Food and Relief Committee, comprising eminent sons and daughters of the State, had through voluntary donations of its members, raised millions of naira to provide food and non-food items for citizens between May and July this year. This is different from the ones undertaken by the state government and the first lady at different times.
“If these had been done at different levels, it shows the depth of commitment of the government and the Committee it had set up for that purpose.
“We, therefore, urge citizens to be calm and believe in their leaders. What happpened with CA-COVID was an unfortunate incident, but the government has been vindicated by their letter. It is now left to our people to trust the government, which by several indications is a responsible one and one that has the interest of the citizens at heart”, Jimoh stated.
It has also appealed to the State Government for support with distribution to intended beneficiaries in all Local Government Areas of the State.
It will be recalled that the government of the State of Osun, during the Ede Warehouse attack, had announced that the food items that were looted were donations from CA-COVID which the government had no authority to distribute because the CA-COVID Office, Abuja, was yet to flag off the food relief programme in the State because the rice component of the donated items had not delivered.
