YAYI N50 MILLION COVID-19 PALLIATIVE: NO FRAUD OR MESS IN IMPLEMENTATION

The attention of Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) and chairman Senate Committee on Finance has been drawn to stories on some blogs and social media of purported fraud allegation on the disbursement of his N50million donation as palliative for poor and vulnerable persons, families and groups during the COVID-19 lockdown in Lagos West
The Senator who said he will not be dragged into the blatant falsehood contained in the sponsored write-ups, regrets the shameful attempt to politicize the issue of palliatives during a preventive lockdown for the containment of the global pandemic that is ravaging humanity on the altar of local petty politics stressing that the identity of the brain behind the campaign of calumny and his fraudulent antecedents are known as no amount of subterfuge by his minions and faceless group can wipe the trail of their huge financial inducement for the hatchet write ups publication.
“For the records my donation was not a political campaign gambit as there is no election anytime soon and neither is it a reward for party members or voters in the largest senatorial district of some 12 million people. It is a relief package targeted mostly at the poor and vulnerable individuals, families and groups for sustenance during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. I decided on cash donation in cognizance of the precautionary measures for the containment of the pandemic and for beneficiaries to address their specific needs on their own during the lockdown. And from the pictorial and video evidences I am seeing on the social media I am satisfy that the palliative is achieving its goal on targeted persons, families and group without any controversy” he stated.
 Senator Adeola said the ongoing disbursement which enters its 5th day is being implemented by a 6 –member Committee in each of the 10 LGAs and 18 LCDAs of Lagos West with replication at the ward levels adding that beneficiaries cut across individuals, families and groups like market women associations and League of Imams with sums ranging from #2,500 for individuals and graduated upward from #5000 to #250,000 for families and groups based on need.
The senator said he remain focus in discharging his duties as a senator which credible achievements for constituents including facilitation of skill acquisition training for over 4000 women and youth and 4 ICT Centers in 4 Secondary schools since the commencement of the 9th Senate stressing however that his donation is his modest contribution in the fight against COVID-19 that is a global pandemic and not a political payback.

Chief Kayode Odunaro
Media Adviser to Senator Adeola.
11th April, 2020.