A civic technology platform, has cautioned Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola’s distribution of transformers to communities in Ogun State; allegedly paraded as his 56th birthday gift.
Penpushing reports that the organization explained that its findings revealed that the transformers were not funded by the senator but were federal government projects captured in the 2024 and 2025 national budgets.
The civic accountability platform added that identified that 2024 Project Code: ERGP20245144 – “Supply and Installation of 500KVA Transformers in various communities in Ogun East Senatorial District” – ₦125 million
‘2025 Project Code: ERGP20263486 – “Supply and Installation of 500KVA Transformers in Various Locations in Ogun East Senatorial District” – ₦200 million. Together, they amount to ₦325 million of taxpayers’ money, rebranded as a personal birthday gift’, the body added.
Penpushing further reports that the platform, agued that it is therefore misleading to present these public projects as personal birthday gifts or private interventions, especially as part of a political strategy ahead of the 2027 Ogun State elections.
‘This incident is not isolated. Across Nigeria, politicians hijack government-funded projects; toilets, boreholes, transformers, classrooms; and repackage them as personal empowerment initiatives’.
Penpushing also reports that the findings equally stated that it is a deception that thrives because of citizen ignorance and economic desperation, stressing that the Nigerian constitution frowns upon the misrepresentation of public projects.
‘Section 16(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that “the material resources of the nation shall be harnessed and distributed to serve the common good. Likewise, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (2007) and the Public Procurement Act (2007) emphasize transparency, due process, and accountability in the management of public resources’.
‘Section 13 & 14 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, which mandate honesty and avoidance of abuse of office. Sections 19 & 22 of the ICPC Act (2000), which prohibit the misuse of public property for personal or political benefit.
‘If proven, such acts could attract investigation and sanctions by the Economic and FINANCIAL Crimes Commission(EFCC) and ICPC for abuse of office, corruption, and deceitful misrepresentation’.
Penpushing reports that the findings indicated that by presenting federally funded projects as personal donations, a senator or any public officer potentially violate the constitution
The group, a project by the Forum for Promoting Civic Awareness and Good Leadership that fosters transparency, accountability, and active citizenship in society noted that same federal projects meant to reflect the president’s economic plan are now painted with senators’ faces, commissioned in their names, and advertised as birthday gifts or constituency empowerment.
Penpushing further reports that reacting to the development, a youth lamented that its known to residents that it’s government money, but hunger does not allow many to argue, stressing that at least they get small light and small rice.
The youth pointed out that this mindset; choosing rice over right is the cancer eating Nigeria’s democracy, stating that just like Esau in Genesis 25:34, Nigerians are selling their birthright of good governance for a bowl of porridge.
‘Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils… thus Esau despised his birthright.” – Genesis 25:34 (KJV) As the proverb says, the lie travels fast, but truth has longer legs’, he emphasized
Penpushing also reports that he noted that citizens, too, are not innocent, adding that when they trade their conscience for a bag of rice, they empower corrupt leaders to rule without fear, stressing that people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” – Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
The spokesperson for the Senator, Chief Kayode Odunaro when contacted said there was to need to react describing the allegation as a propaganda
‘We are not reacting as the stories that came out of the August 10 event over two months ago clearly stated the transformers were facilitated. But one of the Yayi structure have adequately responded and he is about publishing’, Odunaro wrote
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