By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Tension is brewing in Osun State as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state’s First Lady, Mrs Titilayo Adeleke, trade accusations over the distribution of the Renewed Hope Initiative business grants spearheaded by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
APC State Women Leader, Mrs Kudiratu Fakokunde, accused Mrs Adeleke of sidelining party women leaders in the allocation of the empowerment funds. She claimed that although the scheme was designed to support women at the grassroots level nationwide, APC women in Osun were not given their due.
“When I went to meet the First Lady of Osun State at Government House, she initially offered us 100 slots instead of the 300 due to us. After objections, the number was increased to 200, but even then, we were still short-changed. That is not fair,” Mrs Fakokunde said.
Under the programme, no fewer than 200 women entrepreneurs drawn from Osun’s 332 wards reportedly received N50,000 each to support their businesses.
The Office of the Osun First Lady, however, dismissed the allegations as distortions of fact.
Mrs Adeleke described the claims as “not only unfounded but a deliberate misrepresentation,” and insisted the programme’s goals had been upheld.
“For clarity and the benefit of the public, the Renewed Hope Initiative is a noble programme of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, designed to uplift grassroots women across the country and provide them with resources to strengthen their businesses and support their families.
“The scheme is not partisan, nor was it created to serve the interests of any political party. Rather, it is a people-focused empowerment initiative that aims to reach women irrespective of their political, religious, or social affiliations,” she stated.
She lamented attempts to politicise the programme, noting that Osun received 500 beneficiary slots, of which 200 were allotted to the APC in recognition of inclusivity and fairness.
“This gesture alone demonstrates that the Office of the First Lady of Osun State does not discriminate against anyone based on politics. Indeed, women across the state, from various political parties and community groups, benefitted as intended by the First Lady of Nigeria.
“The claim that the Osun First Lady short-changed the APC is entirely false and mischievous,” she added.
