Residents of Amuwo Odofin Seek Recall Of Lagos Lawmaker, Mojisola Macaulay Over Rebranding Of COVID-19 Palliatives as Birthday Gifts

Some residents of Amuwo Odofin State Constituency 1 are seeking the recall of their representative in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Macaulay over what they termed as unguarded statements, negative attitude and rebranding of COVID-19 palliatives as her birthday gifts.

The residents, mostly young men and women from different ethnic nationalities resident in FESTAC area, who spoke with newsmen, expressed their disappointment in the first term lawmaker over comments on the #EndSARS protesters and alleged diversion of COVID-19 palliatives.

According to them, the processes of recall against the lawmaker will soon be commenced.

Recalled that Hon. Mojisola Macaulay was quoted to have referred to Nigerian youths as drug users and abusers during plenary on Monday, when the Assembly was reviewing the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests and the violence that followed.

Also, the photos of the lawmaker's alleged rebranding and converting  of COVID-19 palliatives, meant for the vulnerable in the constituency, into birthday presents have also emerged.

Speaking during the interview, a member of the APC in the area, Mr Temitope Ogundipe said that Macaulay was trending on the social media for the wrong reasons, describing her as being far from the people.

"She deserves to be recalled with the report that she diverted and convert palliatives into birthday gifts. This is height of wickedness and insensitivity. We cannot allow this to go on. She is playing on our intelligence," he said.

Ajao pointed out that Macaulay has failed to be "a true representative of the people of the area based on her activities since she got to the office."

He added that the lawmaker had been elusive and that she has not been able to provide the dividends of democracy to the people of the area.

Also commenting, another resident of the area, Mr Ugochukwu Sylvester said that Macaulay had failed to perform to expectations and that the people of the area have started collating names and signatures of some residents of the area, who felt that they have had enough of the politician.

He also cited an example of the reports of the failure of Macaulay to distribute the COVID-19 palliatives given to her for the residents only for her to use parts of it to celebrate her birthday for selected members of the constituency.

Sylvester stressed that the lawmaker had failed to give due respect to the constituents in her dealing with the people of the area and that it was time for her to go.

"Apart from that, she is not approachable and people have complained that she has not done much for them since she got to the Assembly last year. We want to remove her and allow a competent person to take over.

"We have heard of her activities amongst her colleagues in the assembly and the latest comments attributed to her, which are trending on the social media, attest to her incompetence and unpopularity," he said.

A motorcyclist, Abdullahi Shehu said that most commercial motorcycle operators in the area had not seen the touch of the lawmaker.

On calls for her recall, Shehu said he doubted the possibility, adding that the last time the Okada riders felt the impact of any lawmaker was when Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu represented the area from 2015 to 2019.

Another commercial motorcycle operator, Sina Aremu, said: "We are not happy with her and most people here do not even vote for her. We voted for Olorunrinu in 2019 election but we didn't know how they changed the result.

"I am very sure so many people do not want her. I will support her recall. We really want a representative that loves and cares for us."

A chieftain of the APC in the constituency, who would not want his name mentioned, said that most party members regretted the development, alleging that the lawmaker had disconnected herself from the people.

According to him, the lawmaker was imposed on the party.

Some of those who also spoke with newsmen said that "there is no better time to remove Hon. Macaulay from office than now."