Empowerment or Embarrassment? Abia Rep Member Hon. Ibe Okwara Sparks Backlash After Distributing Buckets to Women in His Constituency.

Published

7 months ago

July 16, 2025

In what was intended as a gesture of grassroots empowerment, the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has come under fire after distributing plastic buckets to women in his constituency as part of an empowerment programme.

The event, which took place in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, drew immediate reactions from both residents and social media users, many of whom described the gesture as “demeaning,” “insulting,” and a stark departure from the expectations of meaningful representation.

Photos from the event showed women, some elderly lining up to receive branded plastic buckets, sparking a flurry of criticism over what many perceived as a tone-deaf approach to empowerment in a region grappling with youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and economic hardship.

“This is not empowerment; it’s embarrassment,” a resident of Elu Ohafia told our correspondent. “We sent a representative to fight for opportunities in Abuja, not to bring us buckets as if we are refugees.”

Another community youth leader questioned the priorities of the lawmaker: “With all the constituency funds allocated, is this the best Hon. Ibe Okwara can offer the women of Arochukwu and Ohafia? Is this how he plans to reduce poverty, one bucket at a time?”

The incident has reignited the ongoing debate over what constitutes meaningful empowerment in Nigeria’s political landscape. Critics argue that symbolic or tokenistic gestures have replaced genuine development efforts, with many elected officials resorting to the distribution of trivial items under the guise of empowerment.

Attempts to reach Hon. Ibe Okwara for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, aides close to the lawmaker defended the initiative, describing it as “a modest intervention aimed at reaching out to rural women with useful household items.”

Still, for many constituents, the optics of the event speak louder than the intention.

Political observers warn that such missteps may have long-term consequences, especially as constituents become increasingly vocal about demanding transparency, impact-driven representation, and measurable development.

As the 2027 elections approach, residents say they will no longer be pacified with handouts, but will demand leaders who can deliver policy-driven progress and tangible infrastructure.

“This is 2025,” a frustrated youth from Abam lamented. “We can’t be clapping for buckets anymore.”

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan speaks after videos of her clashing with some National Assembly staff members went viral

Published

8 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has broken her silence after videos of her clashing with some National Assembly staff surfaced online.

In a statement released on her IG page, Senator Natasha stated that she was conspicuously secluded from the Senate Committee meeting of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) where the lawmakers interfaced with the Commission and deliberated on the its 2026 budget.

The Senator said she only got wind of the meeting twenty minutes before it was to be concluded and as a serving Senator from the region, she was meant to be part of the meeting.

She stated that she was neither informed of the meeting nor was she included in the Senate’s NCDC communication platform where official information is being shared and that her name was also not included in the register of the lawmakers to attend the budget screening.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DU1Ps1cDAyl/?igsh=MWF4aHhrNWxmaWF5dg==

Sources: El-Rufai to spend night in EFCC custody

Published

8 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

El-Rufai

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, sources have informed TheCable.

According to insiders, el-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who voluntarily presented himself at the EFCC headquarters on Monday after an invitation from the agency, will spend the night in custody as investigators continue to question him about alleged financial improprieties during his tenure as governor.

El-Rufai was governor of Kaduna between 2015 and 2023.

“He is in our custody, and he is going to spend the night there,” a source said.

A source said the former governor may be released after further interrogation on Tuesday, depending on the progress of investigations.

In 2024, the Kaduna assembly indicted el-Rufai over the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering and demanded that he be investigated by anti-graft agencies.

The former Kaduna governor has also been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and is expected to be interrogated on Wednesday.

Last Thursday, security operatives attempted to arrest el-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, when he touched down from Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

El-Rufai would later allege that the ICPC, at Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser’s instruction, asked the Department of State Services(DSS) officials to arrest him upon arrival.

On Saturday, during an interview on Prime Time, an Arise Television program, El rufai said “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone, allowing him to listen to the NSA directing security operatives to affect his arrest.

On Monday, the DSS filed a three count charge against el-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the NSA’s telephone conversation.

The former Kaduna governor is expected to be arraigned in court by the DSS.

Two Nollywood crew members found dead inside car in Lagos movie set

Published

23 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of two members of a Nollywood film production crew who were found dead inside a parked vehicle at a movie set in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

The deceased were identified as lighting director Ekemini “GeeTee” Imeh and his colleague, Ayodeji Walter Odediran.

They were discovered unresponsive on Saturday, February 7, within the premises of Evercare Hospital, which was reportedly being used as a filming location.

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to brief the media, said the two men arrived early at the location to install lighting equipment for the production.

After completing their assignment, they reportedly entered a Nissan vehicle parked on the premises to rest while awaiting further filming activities. Concern was raised later in the day when repeated attempts to reach them by phone proved unsuccessful.

According to the source, the production was said to be directed by former Big Brother Naija housemate Boma Akpore.

“At about 11 a.m., a member of the production crew reportedly brought breakfast to them in the vehicle. The air conditioner was on, and both men appeared fine at the time,” the source said.

“However, as filming continued, calls to their phones went unanswered. It was after production wrapped up around 8 p.m. that they were found lifeless inside the vehicle,” he added.

The source said that preliminary observations showed signs of distress, including foaming at the mouth, while one of the victims reportedly had bloodstains around the nose and lips.

Another police source confirmed that the matter was promptly reported at the Maroko Police Station, adding that closed-circuit television footage from the premises was being reviewed. The bodies were subsequently deposited at a morgue pending further forensic examinations.

Until his death, Imeh was the chief executive officer of a lighting company and was widely recognized in the Nigerian film industry for his work on major productions, including King of Boys, as well as music videos for top artistes such as Davido.

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, Yaba, for detailed investigation.

She added that autopsy and toxicology tests were being conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

Ekwutosblog reports that the development comes just days after a gospel musician, Matthew Ogundele, popularly known as Segun Praise, and three members of his crew were found dead inside a music studio in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah, Lagos State.