Osun 2014: I’m not distributing rice on behalf of Omisore — Fadahunsi

Against the backdrop of controversy, trailing allegation that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)standard bearer in the August 9 election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was not involved in the distribution of rice in the state, a chieftain of the party, Chief Francis Fadahunsi, on Monday, said that he was the one distributing rice on behalf of the party. Omisore, had while featuring on a live programme aired by Channels Television ,on Sunday ,denied inducing the electorate with rice, blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ,for the development. But, Fadahunsi, who addressed journalists in Osogbo ,defended the PDP’s candidate, stressing that “I have been distributing rice and other food items to our people in Osun State years back to assist in making life more comfortable and tackle hunger among the less privileged
in the society”. According to him, “I didn’t seek consent of the party’s flag bearer before commencing distribution of rice to people across the state, because it was not the first time I would be showing such gesture to the people”, expalining that “my names were bodily inscribed on the bags of rice being given out to avoid controversy”. “I am behind it and it is not starting today.So ,why the noise about it? I am distributing bags of rice and not poverty-stricken rice of a module per person that APC is giving to people.It is my own little way of helping my people out of poverty since the government that promised in its six-point integral action plan to banish poverty four years ago, had failed to alleviate, let alone banishing it”, Fadahunsi stated. He continued, “the level of poverty in Osun State ,has considerably risen under the administration of Mr.Aregbesola and that is why well meaning individuals must start to lend helping hands before hunger start killing people on the road. We have seen introduction of several programmes in agric sector since Aregbesola became governor ,yet ,a module of garri that was N80 in 2010, now costs N140 ,despite all the noise about his government’s interventions in the sector.” Fadahunsi, however, appealed to the electorate to vote for PDP in the August 9 election, adding that “the present parlous state of Osun’s economy had made people poorer and that the situation can only be reversed, if PDP is given opportunity to lead the state in the next transition”.