Backlash As Ondo Speaker Distributes Standing Fans To 35 Baales In Name Of Empowerment
The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji Adesanmi, has come under criticism after distributing standing fans to 35 traditional rulers in Ondo East Local Government Area as part of what he described as an empowerment programme.
The Speaker shared photographs of the exercise on his official page, showing him handing over cartons of Ox Plus 18-inch high-speed standing fans to the Baales.
In his statement, Oladiji said the gesture was intended to appreciate the traditional rulers for supporting his administration and the ideals of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He also explained that the distribution was a continuation of his previous empowerment initiatives, including the provision of generating sets to Olojas and a ₦1 million contribution towards the Owena-Tepo II Town Hall project.
“I remain committed to strengthening our traditional institutions, promoting grassroots development, and ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach our communities,” the Speaker stated.
He also urged residents and political stakeholders to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and all APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
However, the initiative has triggered criticism from residents who questioned the decision to classify the distribution of household appliances as empowerment.
Some critics argued that the state faces more pressing challenges, including bad roads, insecurity, inadequate healthcare facilities and poor electricity supply, which they believe require urgent attention from elected officials.
They also questioned the usefulness of electric fans in communities where many households struggle to access reliable electricity or afford the cost of alternative power sources.
A Facebook user, Falade Omotayo, reacted to the development, saying, “It’s well. How is a standing fan an empowerment to Olojas? I wonder who advises these Ondo State politicians.”
The development has also revived debate over the type of empowerment programmes Nigerian politicians offer their constituents.
In several parts of the country, politicians have introduced initiatives involving the distribution of items such as wheelbarrows, clippers, detergents, plastic mats, charcoal and other household materials.
Supporters of such programmes often argue that the items provide immediate assistance to beneficiaries, while opponents insist that they do not offer sustainable solutions to poverty and unemployment.
Critics say meaningful empowerment should focus on skills acquisition, access to capital, job creation, support for small businesses and improved infrastructure.
The controversy surrounding the standing fans has therefore raised fresh questions about whether some constituency empowerment programmes are designed to improve livelihoods or primarily serve as political gestures ahead of elections.
