A House of Representatives member representing Oshodi-Isolo II, Lagos State, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, has been criticised for lopsidedness in the list of beneficiaries from the empowerment scheme in his constituency.
New Telegraph gathered that Onuakalusi, a non-indigene of Lagos, elected on the platform of the Labour Party’s empowerment scheme list, showed that beneficiaries were mostly non-indigenes, while indigenous Lagosians were not fully represented in the list.
He was accused of favouring most people from Igbo extraction, leaving the Yorubas with minimal slots.
The Empowerment programmes sponsored 20 participants to China to study cyber security, food processing, and artificial intelligence, among others.
Another programme sent nine participants to South Africa to study nursing and diabetic care. Of the 29 participants, 24 are Igbos, while the remaining 5 are Yoruba participants.
The list contained the following individuals;
1. Victor Ejike Obi – Course: Elite Agriculture | Location: Taiwan
2. Chief John Uche Onyebuchi – Course: Language and Culture | Location: China
3. Rev Aselem – Course: Language and Culture | Location: China
4. Engr Walter Ukaga – Course: Artificial Intelligence and Media Development | Location: China
5. MBA James Ihuoma – Course: Law and International Business Environment | Location: China
6. Barr Njideka – Course: Cybersecurity and Information Countermeasures | Location: China
7. Olamilekan Akinduro (Otunba) – Course: Malaria Elimination and Monitoring | Location: China
8. Samuel Ajayi-Crowther – Course: Tourism Development | Location: China
9. Mrs Stella Anigbogu – Course: Malaria Elimination and Monitoring | Location: China
10. Oloyede Taiwo – Course: Malaria Elimination and Monitoring | Location: China
11. Obinna Enwerem – Course: Malaria Elimination and Monitoring | Location: China
12. Emmanuel Onyika (M.C. Senator) – Course: Tourism Development | Location: China
13. Light Maureen Ogochukwu – Course: Tourism Development | Location: China
14. Mrs Ebere Goudjo – Course: Ground-Based Application of Meteorological Satellite Data Processing | Location: China
15. Dr Jairus Abba – Course: Ground-Based Application of Meteorological Satellite Data Processing | Location: China
16. Mr Michael Williams Ayodeji (AY) – Course: Ground-Based Application of Meteorological Satellite Data Processing | Location: China
17. Asobi-Peter – Course: Food Processing and Fermentation | Location: China
18. Richard Oru – Course: Tourism Development | Location: China
19. Kenneth Onyema – Course: Tourism Development | Location: China
20. Chukwuka Onuakalusi – Course: Tourism Development | Location: China
The following were sent to South Africa for training in Nursing / Diabetic Care:
1)Mrs. Gladys Chijoke
2)Dr. Jarius Abba
3)Mrs. Jenifer Chidinma Uchenna
4)Mrs. Oluchi Chioma Mark
5)Mrs. Chidinma Constance Ahaiwe
6)Mr. Barnard Chibuzo
7)Mrs. Ezinna Precious Adaukwu
8)Ngozi Uzo Nwabufor
9)Mrs. Abisola Shobande Roche (Representative & Coordinator)
The empowerment scheme has drawn reactions from concerned Lagosians who have described it as lopsided and a thorough show of nepotism.
Wale Ajetunmobi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State, described the empowerment scheme on X, saying, “This is utterly abominable. Marginalisation is not an accurate word to describe this; it’s outright ostracism. Haaa… a ti gba àbọ̀dè fun’ra wa.”
Sanwo-Olu’s aide also slammed a comment justifying the scheme, which claimed that the non-Yoruba majority favoured in the scheme deserved it because they are also Nigerians.
Ajetunmobi said, “So, the lopsided empowerment is fair game to you? You, sick people, are usually loud in criticising Tinubu for appointing Yoruba people to Federal positions, but conveniently forget that the president has been appointing Nigerians.
Now, a non-native Reps used resources meant for a Yoruba constituency to substantially empower his own kinsmen. Then, the beneficiaries suddenly became ‘Nigerians’.
You silly idiots shift the narrative conveniently just to look good before those marginalising your kinsmen in your land. O tin shiere.”
The Empowerment scheme has continued to stir widespread criticism; also reacting, popular blogger Japhet Omojuwa, described lawmaker Onuakalusi’s action as discrimination and a slap on his constituents.
@Omojuwa said, “This is a self-indicting post and a big slap on your constituency. That you didn’t even have enough self-awareness to post this makes me wonder what other forms of latent and blatant discrimination are going on against the people you were voted for to represent.”
@EweduBabexat said, “You were given a chance to represent the South West at the federal level. Your duty was to ensure the majority of that state’s indigene are well positioned, apart from developing projects. The people you mainly sent have a constituency in their state catering for them.”
@Teephirm said, “To all the Yoruba people who were angry and proved their hatred for Asiwaju by voting for Obi’s party from top to bottom — this is the outcome.
“I hope you are now happy. You have now become a second fiddle in your own land. Keep nursing that unnecessary anger, and continue allowing strangers to deny you your rights while they empower their own ethnic people.”
