Residents of Osun state, Thursday, rejected the palliative measure provided by the state government, describing it as “poisonous rice.
Some units visited by our Correspondent rejected the rice, calling on government to call off the lockdown and allow them to continue with their works.
Among the units visited by our Correspondent include Osogbo Ward 4 unit 18, 19 and 20 Baruwa Estate, Surulere unit 10, Odio-lowo unit 5, Union Baptist Church unit 12, among others.
The governor flagged off distribution of 6020 50kg bags of rice to cushion the hardship of lockdown in the state, Wednesday. Two bags of rice were distributed to each of the 3010 polling units as directed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
But, contrary to the governor’s promise that the rice would be shared door-to-door, the rice were handed to the party leaders in each of the polling units and they asked the people to line up for the collection.
Some mobile police men were stationed at the venue of the distribution to avoid being hijacked by hoodlums.
While sharing the rice, some people were able to go home with one Congo, some with half, some got two milk tins and many went back home with nothing.
Speaking with our Correspondent in one of the units in Osogbo, one Lawal Wasiu (aka Azonto) flayed the government for distributing what he called “poisonous rice” to its citizens.
He said “it is glaring that this rice has been stored more than five years. they have turned us to goat. They are giving us poisonous rice instead of releasing us to go and work. We will go out if they try to extend the stay-at-home.
“This is not rice but COVID-22. The rice is not good at all. It is worse than COVID-19. They should not extend the lockdown beyond two weeks. It can not work. They should release us and allow us to go and find means of living.
A lady who simply identified herself as Ajoke, said the best thing the government should have done is to release people to go back to their work.
She said, “Not only that the rice does not go round, despite sharing it 3 milk tins per person, it is Coro-rice. It is not comestible.
At Ayetoro area, resident belated the state government for their “insensitivity to the plight of the people of the state.
The case was not different at Olorunda ward 8, Oloyede polling unit, Pepsi Cola area, Olorunda Ward 1 Osunkunle polling unit, Ayetoro, Olorunda ward 8 Ire Akari polling unit, Orita Sabo.
Meanwhile, residents could not observe the social distance as recommended and warned by the governor during the flag off.
Those in charge of sharing of the palliatives were overwhelmed by people who struggled to get their share of the palliatives.
