Ogun Rep Member, Isiaka 'Curses' Constituents For Demanding Details Of Constituency Projects, Says They're Stupid, Bastards

- Releases audio conversation with reporter

Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji 

ABEOKUTA - A federal lawmaker representing Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka threw caution to the wind on Thursday night when he verbally attacked members of his constituency for demanding details of constituency projects. 

Some members of Ifo and Ewekoro local government areas under the auspices of Concerned Youth Movement For Change had in a letter dated September 2, 2020 and addressed to the lawmaker demanded detailed analysis of 2020 constituency project as approved by the Federal government.

The youths, citing the recently released pictorial details of the 2020 Constituency Projects by TrackaNG, a social media platform that enables citizens to collaborate, track and give feedback on public projects in the community, called on Hon. Isiaka to explain the implementation status of the N124million projects nominated by him in his constituency.

The group in the letter signed by one Talabi Azeez, a copy of which was obtained by our reporter read, "We the progressive youth under the auspices of "Concerned Youth Movement for Change' humbly write to call the attention of our representative at the Green Chambers, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka to the recently released pictorial details of the 2020 Constituency projects by TrackaNG—a social media platform (Twitter) that enables citizens to collaborate, track and give feedback on public projects in the community in partnership with @BudgITng and #GetInvolved.

"Calling your urgent attention (as electorate and informed constituents) at a critical time like this to government resources amounting to 50% of the ZIP funds being released recently, becomes necessary going by the importance of the projects that cut-across agricultural sector and Small Scale Businesses— which if properly implemented would improve the living standard of the people in the two Local Government that houses the Federal Constituency while improving farming practices of the agrarian part. 

"Issues expected of our distinguish Lawmaker to address are outlined but not limited to the below: how the constituency projects were decided upon in the first place with their respective locations, who was awarded the job(s), how was the bidding and procurement process carried out, what stage(s) are the projects at the moment?, what is the engagement channel with the expected beneficiaries.

"However, over the years, the issue of Constituency Projects in our constituency has been bedevilled by a culture of corruption, lack of transparency and accountability as the popular belief remains that Constituency Projects are a clever channel for funnelling public funds into the pockets of members of the Legislators (State and National Assembly) willing collaborators in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government as well as conniving contractors who act as fronts for the political interests pulling the strings behind the scenes. 

"As much as we realize the huge impact those outlined projects would attract to the people if properly implemented, we reiterate the need for a community engagement in order to deviate from the practices of the past that has left the area and its people economically disempowered, socially disoriented and politically disenfranchised."

When THE ENCOUNTER NEWS contacted the lawmaker who is a member of All Progressives Congress (APC) on telephone interview to clarify the claims, Hon. Isiaka went haywire, describing the youths as vagabonds, and jobless stupid individuals. 

He further described the enquiry by the youths as a smear campaign to blackmail him and tarnish his 'untainted' image.

He said,  "I'm not a contractor, government project is not for me to execute. What you should do further is to ask them the name of the agencies involved. And find out from the agency if as at today (yesterday) 3rd September, 2020 they have released money or executed any project in Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituency. 

"This is just a smear campaign by some vagabonds, jobless, stupid individuals. They're fake agents and like I said, you will help me give it back to them. 

"I don't want to give you any answer, but I can at least provide an answer to tell you that, this border community is yet to do the constituency project in Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituency. SMEDAN is to do the constituency project in Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituency. 

"Go a bit further by contacting the DG of the two agencies and mention Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituency if allocation for the project have been released or they have done the project. 

"You will be able to give back to the bastards, idiots, the jobless and ready to be use devil hand. I want the answer to come from you. We have 360 federal constituency Reps, but these bastards have now found solitude on the fact to smear campaign of calumny against my person, so I'm giving you a clue. They are stupid, bastards, and out of their stupidity, penury, poverty and political vagabonds that have resorted to this cheap blackmail. It cannot work."

Meanwhile, what could have been a private conversation between our reporter and the lawmaker went public on social media as audio conversation between the reporter and the lawmaker was later released to the public.

To the utmost suprise of THE ENCOUNTER NEWS, the lawmaker who might have recorded the conversation, released the audio interview on various WhatsApp Platforms before the story was published.