THE RICE WE REJECTED.
The Oyo State government rejected bags of rice sent by the Federal Government through the Department of Customs and Excise, Oyo/Oṣun Command.
There is evidence that the rice consignment had weevils and is mouldy. This is unfit for human consumption.
Sadly, the Customs Dept has doubled down in her denial and those who are in opposition have been calling the Oyo State government names.
However, in this post, I want to show us that by rejecting the rice bags, the Seyi Makinde administration – and by extension OYO State – dodged a bullet.
We all know, by mere visual examination, what wholesome rice grains look like.
Samples taken from the bags of rice are not wholesome. They are discolored, the grains have coagulated, mouldy and are infested with weevils.
Weevils are insect-like creatures that eat; yes that’s what they do, the grains.
In eating up the grains, they devalue the grains. The Food Value of the rice thereby comes down and the consumer is deprived of the maximum value he should get from it.
What is more, if cooked, the organoleptic qualities of the food is compromised!
The food value of rice is as follows:
Calories: 242
Fat: 0.4g
Sodium: 0mg
Carbohydrates: 53.4g
Fiber: 0.6g
Sugars: 0g
Protein: 4.4g
Imagine ordinary weevils having taken away most of this by the time you ingest it and it gets into your system!
That’s one thing we escaped – feeding our people with very low grade rice!
Next is the effects of the moulds.
These are fungi that secrete a toxin called Aflatoxin.
This chemical is a poison.
I am familiar with aflatoxin.
It has been established clearly by research that it is a carcinogen (causes cancer).
Specifically, it is a hepatocarcinogen!
That means it causes liver cancer!
Now we are busy battling COVID-19 pandemic. Surely we must not add cancer of the liver to the burden!
The 1800 bags of rice have a street value of about N45 million.
Even our most inverterate political enemies know that government will spend way above that should we, God forbid, have a widespread case of liver cancer.
And that’s the second bullet we dodged.
It is better to be safe than sorry.
What is paramount in the mind of Governor Seyi Makinde is the best interest of Oyo State at all times.
We will never play politics with food and by extension the lives of the people of Oyo State.
May God Almighty take us out of this pandemic in double quick time.
Have a rewarding week, everyone.
Omi Tuntun, Ìgbà Ọ̀tun!