Osun Govt Says Food Poisoning Drama is a Scam

NEWS RELEASE

● Invites Security Agencies to Investigate Purveyors of Fake News

● Pupils Were Not Poisoned Under the O'Meal Programme - Management*

●Political miscreants behind false rumours

OSOGBO- 12/12/2023 - Osunstate.gov.ng

Osun state government has announced the results of its investigation into the alleged food poisoning of some pupils at Osogbo, declaring that the pupils were not poisoned under the Osun Home Grown School Feeding Programme, O'Meals

The government further noted that the videos and fake news stories were the handiwork of political opponents who were out to tarnish the image of the state government.

Findings of government investigation also showed the inconsistency in the testimonies of some of the parents as well as the shady circumstances between the morning feeding and alleged food poisoning late at night.

The report highlighted also the involvement of an opposition operative who stayed around the school and who videoed and distributed the arranged video with many in the video denying stories of food poisoning.

The government has subsequently invited the security agencies to investigate the matter with a view to bring those behind the fake drama and video to book.

Opening up on the outcome of investigation ordered by Governor Ademola Adeleke was the Special Adviser to the Governor on O-Meal programme, Hon Grace Ayodele, who declared pointedly that some pupils of St James Primary School, Owo-Ope in Osogbo were not poisoned from a meal served by a vendor of the programme.

Casting doubt on the circumstances surrounding the alleged poisoning, as it appears peculiar that affected pupils originate from the same street and were transported to the same hospital by their parents simultaneously and were video-recorded concurrently, she narrated the outcome of the on the spot investigation conducted for several hours today by top officials, parents and school officials.

She stated that the state government has carried out fresh tests on the alleged pupils and the results were returned as negative to food poisoning.

"The clinical tests conducted at the teaching hospital confirmed no traces of food poisoning and the affected vendors have been discharged accordingly, the Governor's aide declared.

The Special Adviser stressed that the pupils who were allegedly poisoned have since returned to school to continue their examinations.

The statement reads in part, "The reported food poisoning should not be associated with the mid-day meal given to the pupils by the O'Meals food vendors.

"The whole allegation was discovered to be politically initiated by some miscreants who intended to score cheap political goal."

According to Hon Ayodele, it will interest the public to know that the students who were said to have been poisoned have since returned to school to continue their examinations. They were fed in the morning and they showed no sign of illness throughout the day".

She went further to add that women recruited into the O'Meal programme as food vendors are certified cooks who prepare their meals under the most hygienic environment.

Signed:
Hon. Ayodele Oluwaseyi, Special Adviser to the Governor on O-Meal