In one of the related videos obtained by SaharaReporters, a man in the background in his local dialect that he had never seen where such type of rice was given out.
Prince Jimi Odimayo, a member of the House of Representatives representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency of Ondo State, has been accused by some residents of distributing repackaged bags of rice not fit for consumption to his constituents during the Yuletide.
President Bola Tinubu's administration had approved N57.8 billion worth of food palliatives for members of the National Assembly for onward distribution to their constituents.
Many constituents across the country are accusing their representatives of hoarding the items.
While some lawmakers confirmed receiving palliatives, said to be worth N200 million for senators and N100 million for members of the House of Representatives, others denied that.
The Presidency, while showcasing Tinubu’s scorecard in palliatives’ disbursement to Nigerians, had revealed that each senator got N200 million worth of palliatives; and N100 million for each member of the House of Representatives.
However, Jimi Odimayo, in a viral video obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday was accused by some residents of distributing rice with stones.
In one of the related videos obtained by SaharaReporters, a man in the background in his local dialect that he had never seen where such type of rice was given out.
"This is a surprise to me because I have never seen where someone gave out this kind of rice. He said he would like to become the governor; see the kind of rice he gave out to people. We are not hungry, we feed on our own, so nobody should give us poison to eat. If you eat this one, Ibukunolu can’t do the surgery," the resident said.
Another resident said, "This is the rice Jimi Odimayo gave out; the man that said he wants to become governor."
Yet another resident said, “The rice is terribly bad and dangerous for consumption. It is not good at all. Look at the rice someone who wants to be governor is sharing. It is full of stones. The stones in it are even more than the rice.
“In fact, we couldn’t eat the one we cooked yesterday. Take a look at the cooked one and the uncooked one, both are obviously injurious to health if consumed.”
“You can imagine, someone who wants to be the governor had the courage to give out this kind of rice to people. Nobody including the young and old can eat it. It is not good at all. I have never seen this kind of rice before. The rice has two to three colours. Can’t you see how it looks? This is really serious,” the woman added.
However, the lawmaker in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Victor Adedeji, dismissed the allegations.
According to him, it is an attempt by detractors to tarnish the hard-working image of Odimayo
He described the video as lacking basis and appearing to stem from political motives.
According to the statement, the public should also know that the rice distributed was sourced from reputable suppliers and underwent stringent quality checks before distribution.
The statement reads in part, "The public is strongly encouraged to dismiss these allegations, considering them not just malicious but also an unscrupulous attempt by detractors to tarnish the hardworking image of Hon. Jimi Odimayo. His unwavering commitment to delivering democratic benefits to constituents remains steadfast.”
"The public should also know that the rice distributed was sourced from reputable suppliers and underwent stringent quality checks before distribution.
"Apart from the distribution of high-quality rice, Hon. Jimi Odimayo equally provided relief materials and financial aid sourced from his personal funds, a practice he has diligently maintained since 2014.
"Despite claims made in the video suggesting the rice was full of stones and unfit for consumption, Hon. Odimayo assures constituents that the rice provided was 'Brown Rice' approved by the federal government of acceptable quality and suitable for consumption.
"He reiterated his commitment to the welfare and well-being of his constituents and expressed regret over any misconceptions arising from the circulated video.
"However, Hon. Odimayo is open to clarifying any concerns raised by constituents and remains committed to addressing their needs effectively.
"The public should also note that efforts are ongoing to reach out to additional stakeholders for their perspective on this matter, and further updates will be provided as the situation unfolds," the statement added.