The Senator representing Osun Central senatorial district and Spokesperson of the Senate, Ajibola Basiru has stirred controversy as he distributed Wheelbarrows as part of his empowerment programme.
Governor Gboyega Oyetola was also present on Wednesday at a programme when the lawmaker rolled out his empowerment items under the 2021 zonal intervention projects of the National Assembly.
Many commentators on social media are wondering how a Doctor of Law could be distributing wheelbarrows to youths and farmers as empowerment items.
In his reaction, the spokesman of Transparency and Accountability Group, Ayo Ologun described the development as a new low in the representation of Basiru.
He called the Senator and some other politicians to stop abusing the word “empowerment”, stating that politicians only use the avenue to siphon public funds.
“Our lawmakers receives almost 600million as constituency allowance for the four years in office to commence constituency projects that will better the lives of the poor masses amidst all other allowances he collects. These politicians put off their main responsibility of attracting industries and investments to their constituencies for the creation of employment to rather distribute rice, tricycles, motorcycles, sewing machines, clippers, wheelbarrows, scissors and generator among other things in the name of “Empowerment”.
“The scam Nigerian politicians call ” Empowerment” is even more shallow than we thought because it seems every politician often do this “empowerments” for their loyalists, sycophants, bootlickers and praise singers. Even in this so called “empowerment,” you need the necessary “connection” to get your own share. An empowerment that is oblivious of the blinds, the disabled, the orphans, the less privileges, the widows, the aged, unemployed graduates is nothing but a big scam.
“I urge Nigerian politicians and CSOs to stop desecrating the word “empowerment”. Every little thing, “we empowered 10,000 youths” and you find out it is just a ploy to get people and take photos to show the world that they are supposedly working.
Also speaking, Mr Kamiludeen Lamina, the Chairman of World Instituted for Peace condemned the lawmaker for thinking that all what needed by Osun Central people are cutlasses and wheelbarrows.
“I condemn SRJ (Basiru) for doing such. If you would do such, beneficiaries should be those who needed the items most. We all know that we have a lager number of hawkers in Osun Central. So if our Lawmaker thinks that’s the only thing he can do, he should at least target the right beneficiaries and not political associates.” Lamina said.
