PDP Berates Oshiomhole Over Distribution of Grinding Machines as Constituency Project

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has criticised former governor and current senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, over the distribution of grinding machines, motorbikes, sewing machines, and cash gifts as part of his constituency projects.

Leading the criticism, a former lawmaker and PDP chieftain in the state, Segun Saiki, accused Oshiomhole of hypocrisy, saying the senator had once condemned similar empowerment schemes carried out by other lawmakers.

Oshiomhole had on Saturday distributed the items in his hometown, Iyamho, as part of his constituency intervention.

Saiki, however, described the gesture as a contradiction of Oshiomhole’s earlier stance, likening it to “eating his vomit.”

“Oshiomhole swallowed what he had vomited by doling out grinding machines, motorbikes, sewing machines and N100,000 as a constituency project,” Saiki said. 

“It’s like someone vomiting and swallowing it back. Which constituency project is he doing after two years in the Senate? What can anybody buy with N100,000 in today’s economy? Oshiomhole only gave money to people who visited him.”

He recalled that before his election to the Senate, Oshiomhole had publicly criticised legislators who distributed items such as sewing machines and motorbikes, describing such gestures as tokenistic and unproductive.

However, reacting to the criticism, Oshiomhole’s media aide, Victor Oshioke, defended the senator’s actions, insisting that the empowerment initiative was only a fraction of broader development efforts in Edo North.

According to him, Oshiomhole had complemented the distributions with major infrastructural interventions, including classroom blocks and market stores, which align with his vision of long-term impact.

He said, “What Oshiomhole meant was that a senator should not be judged by sharing items but by enduring legacies and jobs created.”

Before his election to the National Assembly, Oshiomhole had promised to “restructure the idea of constituency projects,” saying at the time, “I don’t want to go to the Senate for business as usual. I have seen my senator give out grinding machines and motorbikes as empowerment. That is more offensive. 

“How are you empowering a young man in his 20s with a motorbike? You are destroying him. The government must refocus on long-term strategies to empower people.”