Open letter to Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin, by Femi Ogunshola

Before I proceed, let me make it abundantly clear: this letter is not born out of personal animosity or political vendetta. It is, rather, a sincere wake-up call one rooted in the love for our people and the urgent desire for accountable representation.

When news of your victory broke in 2018, it was met with immense jubilation across Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin, and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency. You had succeeded in unseating the stronghold of the Saraki dynasty, an emblem of Kwara’s long-standing political captivity. It felt like freedom had finally come.

The streets of our towns and villages were filled with hope. The people rejoiced with the belief that they could finally breathe the fresh air of true democracy and enjoy the dividends they had long been denied.

For years, we heard how representatives handpicked by Saraki could not independently attract a single project, job, or appointment to their constituency without his explicit permission.

One notable case was that of Hon. Akeem Ayedun from Isin, who attempted to empower his people with grinding machines, motorcycles and others only to be shut down by Saraki for not seeking his blessing. That act ended his political journey.

So, when you, fondly known as Ajuloopin, emerged victorious in 2018, it was seen not just as a personal win but as the birth of Otoge the movement that declared Saraki was not invincible. Your victory inspired other zones and signaled the dawn of possibilities.

Your win raised expectations. Our people anticipated employment opportunities, appointments, empowerment schemes, and impactful legislation. But here we are, eight years down the line, and our hope is fast fading.

Sadly, there is little to no federal presence in our constituency. No significant job facilitation, no appointments, and no meaningful bill or motion that has translated into tangible development.

Let’s take your first bill the proposal to establish a Federal College of Education in Omu-Aran. The bill never saw the light of day. Not because President Muhammadu Buhari would not assent to it, but because there appeared to be no real willpower or strategy from your end to push it through.

Omu-Aran is one of the largest town in Kwara and till now there is no federal presence, this I believed you should have taken as a responsibility considering the fact that you are from the ancient town.

However, this is not meant to ridicule your efforts, but rather to compare with your colleagues who came into the House around the same time and have recorded tremendous legislative successes.

Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, for instance, sponsored several bills that became law, including the Federal Medical Centre Act, 2022, and the Federal University of Gashua Act, Yobe State.

Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau, was a fellow first-timer. He sponsored and saw into law the Nigeria Police Act, 2020; the Federal University of Education, Pankshin Act, 2021; and the National Hydrographic Agency Act, 2021.

These lawmakers did not assume bills pass by chance. They went the extra mile physically and financially. They were committed and strategic, and today their people are better for it.

Piqued by your lacklustre attitude to some of the workings of the National Assembly, some of your closest supporters urged you to become more active and follow through on legislation

They held a meeting where it was agreed that some Bills and motion should be sponsored, your response only produced three new bills and a motion:
1. A bill to establish the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Ayedun.
2. A bill to create Food Processing and Preservation Centres in Osi.
3. A bill for an Act to protect air passengers’ rights and regulate flight delays and cancellations in Nigeria.
4. A motion of urgent public importance on the deplorable Kwara-Kogi road.

None of these efforts were followed through to completion. This is deeply disappointing.

On job facilitation, I challenge any youth from our constituency who has benefitted from your influence to speak up. Even those who risked their lives for your campaigns have not been rewarded let alone outsiders.

One of your fellow lawmakers once confided in me that he spent his own resources to secure over 60 jobs for his constituents through MDAs. He did not mind the cost; what mattered was lifting his people out of poverty.

But you, Hon. Ajuloopin, have not shown such commitment. You held strategic positions Chairman, House Committee on Humanitarian and Disaster Preparedness; Chairman, House Committee on the North Central Development Commission yet not a single soul from our constituency can boldly say they got a job or appointment through your office.

You seem more concerned with immediate pecuniary gains than building lives with long-term impact. Every person removed from the unemployment pool represents a family delivered from poverty and that’s how societies change.

When you became Chairman of the North Central Development Commission, we hoped that loyal and competent staff who stood by you would be rewarded. But what a rude shock it was to see that not even one was elevated or appointed under your recommendation.

It took the intervention of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Lola Ashiru to secure a position for Rev. Bunmi Olusona your former campaign DG, whom you had unceremoniously turned against after stripping him of the campaign vehicle in a disgraceful manner.

Senator Lola Ashiru went further to install her woman leader as Managing Director of the Commission while you, the Chairman, could not secure even a secretary’s slot for your people.

This is a call to action. It is time for our representatives to be alive to their responsibilities. Our people need more than mattresses, food, and generators plus occasional N10,000. They need jobs. They need appointments. They need empowerment that has a multiplier effect on families and communities.

There is still time to redeem your legacy. But the clock is ticking. I write with deep concern and I pray there is an immediate change