Yusuf Mutiu, a resident of the constituency, told SaharaReporters that Aishat shared the palliatives allotted to thousands of people in her constituency with only members of her party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The people of Ajikobi/Alanamu Constituency have called out the serving lawmaker, Hon. Aishat Tundun Alanamu representing them at the Kwara State House of Assembly for ignoring them during the distribution of fuel subsidy removal palliatives.
Yusuf Mutiu, a resident of the constituency, told SaharaReporters that Aishat shared the palliatives allotted to thousands of people in her constituency with only members of her party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Mutiu revealed further that Aishat took the palliatives to the All Progressives Congress’ ward chairman’s residence where all the party members were given 10kg bags of rice by virtue of their membership.
Mutiu said, “On the evening of Friday 25th, I was strolling with a friend in my community to check on a friend who lives around the Adewole address of the All Progressives Congress chairman's house. As we got to the chairman's house, I saw some brothers from the community holding 10kg bags of rice each in their hands. I approached one of them to find out what was going on and he told me the rice was a palliative they received from the member representing Ajikobi/Alanamu constituency, Hajia Aishat Tundun.
“The palliative is for APC members in Adewole Ward”, the brother told me.”
He continued: “While I know she needs the support of APC members across her constituency, Hajia Tundun should know that the votes of all APC members from her constituency can never solely deliver her anytime there is a poll. The number of APC members in the Ajikobi/Alanamu constituency is so meager compared to the numbers of the population who are of other parties or do not even belong to any political party. Well, Maybe, Hon. Tundun is only trying to represent and serve APC members; no one can tell.
“In my household, we are about forty, and not even a single person amongst us is a registered APC member, not even me. That's my household alone.
“Let me make it broader, In my compound — Olobi Compound — we are more than a hundred, and the number of registered APC members amongst us isn't up to twenty. Now, let's say 20 out of about hundred and twenty members of my family are beneficiaries of the palliatives from an honorable who's supposed to be representing all of us, but sending a clear message of representing APC alone. What will be the impact on my household, community, and the society at large?
“Hajia Tundun does not need anyone to tell her that our constituency shall never be a bargain for APC members alone. The harsh policy by the Federal Government doesn't affect the APC alone. It affects all of us. And God in His mercy. Those harsh and desolate policies by the Federal Government are the handiwork of our honorable's beloved APC. Hajia should stop playing and start thinking, or what should become of people, like my uncle, who has spent about six decades or more on this earth and has never attended a political meeting all their lives?
“We are her constituents and she has that sole responsibility to represent and serve us, and in such representation and service should be no discrimination in whatever guise.”
Another resident from the constituency who simply identified himself as Abdullahi also confirmed to SaharaReproters that it was only people with APC membership cards that were considered for the palliatives in Adewole Ward of Kwara State.
He said, “That is what surprised us. At least we heard the palliatives are for everybody, regardless of which party you support. APC or SDP or PDP. But Tundun is only giving rice to APC people.”
All attempts to reach Hon. Aishat Tundun Alanamu for a response to this claim were futile. When SaharaReprters called her phone number, it repeatedly said “switched off” and she did not respond to a text message sent to her phone as of the time of filing this report.