A picture of Hajiya Fatima Aminu Aliyu Garu, wife of a member of the House of Representatives, Garu Aminu Aliyu distributing sugarcane sticks to some youths has gone viral.
Aliyu is the member representing Bauchi Federal Constituency of Bauchi State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the picture, the lawmaker’s wife and some children are seen holding the sugarcane sticks.
However, the date and place the incident took place could not be ascertained.
“Wife of Honorable Member Representing Bauchi state Federal Constituency Hajiya Fatima Aminu Aliyu Garu Doing an empowerment program to some youths last week,” an X user, @Abdoulrahmarn posted.
As of the time of filing this report, SaharaReporters had not received a response to its message sent to the lawmaker’s official Facebook page.
Such ridiculous donations made by politicians or their aides and spouses are not new in Nigeria.
Public officials have distributed various ridiculous items to constituents, including tricycles, motorcycles, grinding machines, water sachets, and shoe-shining kits.
SaharaReporters had reported how donkeys were given out in Kano and cassava stems in Anambra under the guise of economic empowerment.
SaharaReporters had reported how an aide to former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, once distributed wheelbarrows with the inscription, “Gov Ortom for You”.
The argument was that the beneficiaries would use the wheelbarrows to run errands and hawk.
The wheelbarrow empowerment initiative resurfaced in Taraba State as a member of the House of Representatives, Maigari Bello-Kasimu, representing Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency, also distributed wheelbarrows to empower some members of his constituency.
“All of them used to hire wheelbarrows and push to earn their living, but now they have the opportunity of owning their wheelbarrows,” the spokesperson for the lawmaker, Saidu Na-Anabi, said during the presentation.
Similarly, the late caretaker chairperson of Nsukka Local Government Area in Enugu State, Chinwe Ugwu, also gifted wheelbarrows to youths in the area for economic empowerment.
“These are poor people who cannot afford to buy wheelbarrows but had to hire for between N200 and N300 per day,” Ugwu said in response to critics.
Similarly, then Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said he spent N208 million to empower Mai Shayi or tea sellers in the state by giving them items like cartons of noodles, crates of eggs, spaghetti, bread, cocoa beverages, liquid and powdered milk, brown and white sugar, nylon and cups.
Also, the late Commissioner for Education in Katsina State, Halimatu Idris, handed out goats to female students at Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dutsinma.
The goats were reportedly given to female students in 20 secondary schools who were expected to return them to the state government after a year.
More recently, the senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Rufai Hanga also shared 5,000 white pieces of cloth and clay pots to the people of his constituency as burial materials for their loved ones.
Also, Ginger Onwusibe, the member representing Isialangwa North and South constituency in Abia State at the National Assembly distributed cassava stems, yam and other seedlings to his constituents to celebrate his first anniversary in office.
According to the lawmaker, he took the action to encourage his people to return to farming.
Peoplesmind
