CONTROVERSY continues to rage over distribution of Christmas rice said to have been allocated to members of the National Assembly as palliatives for their constituents during the seasonal celebrations.
They items were said to have been shared by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, but an official of the ministry denied knowledge of distribution of any food items.
Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Adeyemi Adaramodu, also denied media reports that senators received rice worth N200million from President Bola Tinubu for distribution to their constituents during the festivities, even though another senator confirmed the development.
According to an online medium, Adaramodu, when confronted, said: “As for me, I have not seen anything. If they had handed it over to us, you would see trailers loaded with food items across all constituencies in Ekiti State, Ondo and Oyo and other states. Our people will even be happy to get the items from the federal government.
“As for me, Yemi Adaramodu, I have not received any food items from the federal government. The food I distributed to my people across my constituency was funded personally by me.
“I have read all these things on the Internet too; many people are just saying a lot of things, but for me, I have not received any food items from the federal government. Maybe when they give us, I will tell you.”
But a source close to the senate leadership confirmed that the allocation of rice to members for onward distribution to their constituents was ongoing, saying: “I know that there is a provision to give senators rice for their constituents.
“For instance, my senator has not received his and I believe there are many senators that have not received the rice. But I am aware that something like that is going on.”
It is still unclear whether such palliatives were actual given to senators and members of the House of Representatives for distribution to their constituencies during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, as discordant tones continue to trail the issues even from members of the National Assembly.
But one thing is obvious: most if not all the constituents were left out, if such were ever distributed, reminiscent of the COVID-19 palliatives saga.
