The Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says the allegation that the state government plans to sell off the Sunshine Chocolate factory at Alade Idanre is spurious
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Ayo Akinyelure in Akure, the party said that the allegation was an attempt to portray the state government in a bad light.
Sen. Ayo Akinyelure(PDP-Ondo Central) had alleged that some aides to Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu had concluded plans to sell the multi-billion naira state-owned chocolate factory for N10 million.
Akinyelure alleged that the government officials were “out to take advantage of governor’s ill health, to sell off the factory at such a paltry sum without following due process.”
But, the Senior Special Assistant (Agric and Agribusiness) to the governor, Akin Olotu said that the claim by Akinyelure was not true.
While admitting that the state government was planning to sell the chocolate company, Olotu said the process was not yet concluded.
The APC, however, said as a responsible political party, it has to respond to set the records and bring to the fore the real intention of the senator, which it said was to de-market the ruling party in the state ahead of the general election.
“It is disheartening to hear Senator Ayo Akinyelure’s spurious allegations on a proposed sale of the multi-million naira Chocolate factory for a ridiculous paltry sum of N10 million by the administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
“This allegation was grandstanded as wastefulness on the state resources ahead of the forthcoming general election.
“The N10 million sales quoted by senator Ayo Akinyelure was a spurious claim, as this was deliberately intended for our party to amass public condemnation ahead of the coming elections.
“And consequently jeopardize our party’s strength in the state and affect our party’s continuous winning streak at subsequent elections since Akeredolu came to the saddle and as we move toward the 2023 general election.
“His action of portraying his state in a bad light in the senate chamber is infra dig of a distinguished Senator to do without adequate and proper investigation.
“He could have raised a concern if he thought something was amiss,” the party noted.
The party commended Akin Olotu, for his immense contributions to agricultural revolution and elevating the sector in tandem with Gov. Akeredolu’s vision.
“Olotu has brought a lot of innovations into the Agricultural sector that has engendered the sector’s viability and triggered growth and development of agric-business in the state, one area of investment growth never witnessed before in the State”, it said.
The party noted that agricultural sector was only given lip services by the previous governments before the revolutionary approach of Akeredolu’s renewed agricultural policy took effect.
“This once viable sector was comatose despite the abundance of arable lands in the State and the stable climatic condition suitable for planting in the State,” it stated.
The party said that Akeredolu’s administration was doing everything possible to improve the lives of the people of the state.
“Idanre being the hometown of Senator Ayo Akinyelure has received lots of infrastructural development in this APC administration.
“In the agricultural sector, the state government is taking steps to make Idanre town a hub for agriculture and agric-business in the Central Senatorial District of the state.
“The governor is hale and hearty, discharging his official duties, presiding over State Executive meetings, and attending campaign rallies in support of our party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other candidates of the APC in the state”, the party said.
