The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Titilayo Adeleke, of shortchanging its female members in the distribution of a business support grant initiated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The initiative, under Mrs. Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, aims to empower grassroots women across the country. In Osun, no fewer than 200 businesswomen drawn from the 332 wards received the grant, with each beneficiary getting ₦50,000 to boost their trades.
At the presentation held at the Tinubu/Shettima campaign office in Osogbo, Osun APC Women Leader, Mrs. Kudiratu Fakokunde, alleged that despite her appeal for a larger quota, the governor’s wife deliberately reduced their slots.
“When I went to meet the First Lady of Osun at Government House, she initially offered 100 slots instead of 300. After my protest, it was raised to 200, but we were still shortchanged. That is not fair,” Fakokunde said.
Also, a former aide to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Folake Olaniyan, urged the presidency to closely monitor the scheme, alleging that “the programme is not done equitably and the other party is benefiting more than APC.”
Similarly, Princess Foluso Adekoya, Chairman of Atakunmosa East Local Government, confirmed that each recipient was given ₦50,000.
However, reacting to the claims, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor’s wife, Adeleke Adewale, denied any foul play.
“They were never shortchanged. The empowerment is for 500 people, and they were given 200 slots. We always carry them along in all federal government grants or interventions,” he said.
