A fresh political controversy has erupted over the Oyo South Senatorial District race, with two serving members of the House of Representatives, Remi Oseni and Odidi-Omo, exchanging sharp words over the use of public funds, constituency projects and alleged financial contributions to constituents.
The disagreement followed comments by the Oyo South candidate of the Action Peoples Movement (APM), Odidi-Omo, who claimed that he had undertaken projects worth more than ₦1.2 billion in the constituency and would soon have them commissioned.
Speaking about his approach to supporting constituents, Odidi-Omo reportedly said, “I’ve done projects worth more than ₦1.2 billion that will be commissioned soon. I can’t be donating money around; how much is ₦100 million? I am doing projects that will impact the lives of your children.” He made the statement in an apparent response to questions and criticisms concerning financial donations and assistance to people within the senatorial district.
Odidi-Omo’s remarks appeared to suggest that his preference was to channel resources into projects with longer-term community impact rather than distribute large sums of money as personal donations. He also appeared to use the comparison to challenge the emphasis placed on cash donations, arguing that the value of infrastructure and other interventions should be considered in terms of their impact on residents, particularly children and future generations.
However, Oseni, who represents Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, fired back, questioning the claim surrounding the ₦1.2 billion figure and raising concerns about the treatment of public resources as personal investments.
Oseni said he became concerned after hearing the claim that someone had “invested N1.2 billion in you,” arguing that such a description could create the impression that public funds were being presented as an individual’s personal financial contribution. “I was worried when I heard someone said, ‘I have invested N1.2 billion in you.’ You’re personalizing public funds,” Oseni said.
The lawmaker further argued that public representatives should distinguish between personal donations and interventions funded through public resources. According to him, individuals who do not have the capacity to make personal donations should not be compelled to do so, but that should also not become a basis for attacking other people’s personalities.
“If you don’t have capacity to donate, please don’t do it and stop attacking personality,” Oseni added, while turning attention to specific items and interventions that he said were expected to reach constituents.
Oseni also questioned the whereabouts of rice and fertilisers allegedly intended for people within the constituency, asking, “Where are the rice shared in Abuja for the people of this constituency? Where are the fertilisers?” He cautioned residents against what he described as attempts to mislead them over the source and purpose of funds allocated for constituency-related interventions.
“Don’t let anybody brainwash you. The money is meant for projects, not his personal money,” Oseni said, insisting that public resources allocated for constituency development should not be presented to beneficiaries as private funds belonging to an individual politician.
The exchange has consequently brought the distinction between personal philanthropy and government-funded constituency interventions into sharper focus, particularly as both lawmakers seek political relevance in Oyo South.
At the centre of the disagreement is the ₦1.2 billion figure cited by Odidi-Omo and Oseni’s objection to the description of such expenditure as an individual’s investment. While Odidi-Omo’s position is that projects capable of delivering lasting benefits to residents are preferable to distributing cash, Oseni’s response focuses on accountability and the need for constituents to understand whether interventions are financed personally or through public funds.
The dispute also comes against the backdrop of growing political competition around representation in Oyo South, where issues such as constituency projects, empowerment programmes, agricultural support, infrastructure and direct assistance to residents are frequently central to political debates.
Odidi-Omo’s reference to projects worth more than ₦1.2 billion that he said would soon be commissioned places emphasis on physical and developmental interventions, particularly those he believes could affect residents beyond immediate financial assistance. His statement that the projects would “impact the lives of your children” indicates an attempt to frame his interventions around longer-term community development rather than short-term distribution.
Oseni, however, has challenged residents to scrutinise the source of funds used for such interventions and to distinguish between projects funded from public allocations and genuinely personal contributions. His references to rice and fertiliser distributions were also presented as questions about whether constituency beneficiaries had received items allegedly meant for them.
The disagreement has therefore moved beyond a simple argument over who has contributed more to the constituency, with both lawmakers presenting different interpretations of what effective representation should entail.
For Odidi-Omo, the emphasis is on the scale and anticipated impact of projects, while Oseni is demanding greater clarity over the ownership and utilisation of public resources and questioning the presentation of government-funded interventions as personal investments.
As the political contest in Oyo South develops, the competing claims are likely to keep constituency projects, public expenditure, empowerment initiatives and accountability at the centre of discussions among residents and political actors in the district.
