Empowerment scheme: Sanwo-Olu’s aide, others knock Lagos Rep for favouring Southeast over Yorubas

A controversy has erupted in Lagos State, with a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Wale Ajetunmobi, and prominent commentator Japhet Omojuwa leading the charge against a Member of the House of Representatives, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi. The criticism stems from an empowerment scheme that allegedly disproportionately benefited the lawmaker's Igbo kinsmen over the Yoruba indigenes within his Oshodi-Isolo II constituency.

The core of the dispute lies in the published list of beneficiaries for foreign training programs. Out of 29 sponsored participants, a significant majority – 24 – were identified as Igbo, while only five were Yoruba. These programs included training in fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, food processing, tourism development, nursing, and diabetic care, with participants sent to China and South Africa. The stark ethnic imbalance in the distribution of these opportunities has drawn sharp condemnation.

Critics, including Ajetunmobi, have labeled the lawmaker's actions as more than mere marginalization, with Ajetunmobi describing it as "outright ostracism." The argument is that Onuakalusi, elected to represent a predominantly Yoruba constituency, has allegedly misused public resources to favor his own ethnic group. This has ignited a debate about ethnic representation, fairness in resource allocation, and the responsibilities of elected officials to all their constituents, regardless of ethnic background.

The situation, as reported by The Punch, highlights the sensitive nature of ethnic politics in Nigeria and the scrutiny faced by lawmakers, particularly those representing diverse constituencies. The controversy underscores the expectation that public office should serve the interests of all constituents equitably, and any perceived deviation from this principle can lead to significant public backlash and accusations of bias.

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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.