Stomach Infrastructure Debate: Hon. Lawrence Oloruntoba Sets the Record Straight on Akoko North Politics”
Stomach Infrastructure Debate: Hon. Lawrence Oloruntoba Sets the Record Straight on Akoko North Politics”
….Says Olemija, Elegbeleye performed better than BTO on stomach infrastructure…
The debate over “stomach infrastructure” and the performance of past members representing Akoko North Federal Constituency has continued to generate heated discussions across political circles and media platforms.
At the center of the conversation are contrasting claims about who truly delivered meaningful support to constituents.
In this exclusive interview with Our Heritage Reporter, Hon. Lawrence Oloruntoba weighs in on the controversy, addressing allegations, clarifying misconceptions, and offering a detailed comparison of past representatives’ approaches to tackling poverty and meeting the immediate needs of the people
Full details of the interview:
Our Heritage Reporter with Hon. Lawrence Oloruntoba
Reporter: Hon.lawrence, thank you for speaking with us. To begin, We have been seeing debate circulating several platforms and media chats or this subject have spark debate in various platform and media chat on the performance of past Akoko North Federal Constituency MHR on stomach infrastructure, what exactly do you mean by “stomach infrastructure”?
Hon. Olaitan: Thank you. Stomach infrastructure simply refers to projects or support systems that directly address immediate hunger and poverty. These are interventions that put food on people’s tables and provide urgent financial relief when needed.
Reporter: There have been conversations around this concept in Akoko North politics. Can you shed more light on that?
Hon. Lawrence: Yes, certainly. In Akoko North East and West politics, there has been a wave of propaganda driven by a political group linked to a household name from Akoko North West, particularly Okeagbe.
This narrative was deliberately created to gain public sympathy while discrediting past representatives from Akoko North East who have served the constituency in the House of Representatives.
Reporter: Are you saying those claims are misleading?
Hon. Lawrence: Absolutely. It is a fallacy. Many past representatives from Akoko North East, especially those from Ikare Akoko, have made significant investments in human capital development and what we call stomach infrastructure. Their records speak for themselves.
Reporter: Can you give us a specific example?
Hon. Lawrence: A good example is Hon. Otolorin Elegbeleye, who served between 2007 and 2011. During his tenure, he facilitated employment opportunities, provided vehicles for constituents, sponsored overseas trips, and even gave cash equivalents to those who couldn’t travel. These were impactful interventions that directly addressed poverty and hardship.
Reporter: Let’s talk about comparisons that people often make. There’s been debate between the approaches of Hon. Stephen Olemija and Hon. Bunmi Ojo. What’s your take?
Hon. Lawrence: Yes, that comparison is quite common. Hon. Stephen Olemija, who represented the constituency from 2015 to 2019, was known to give constituents ₦20,000 when they visited him at his residence in Ikare. On the other hand, Hon. Bunmi Ojo, who served from 2019 to 2024, reportedly gave ₦50,000 to constituents who visited him in Abuja.
Reporter: On the surface, ₦50,000 seems higher. Why is this still debated?
Hon. Lawrence: Because context matters. By the time you factor in transportation costs—about ₦15,000 for a round trip to Abuja—and deductions by intermediaries, beneficiaries were often left with about ₦25,000. In contrast, Olemija operated within the constituency. There were no travel costs or deductions, so beneficiaries received the full ₦20,000 directly.
Reporter: So, who would you say performed better in terms of stomach infrastructure?
Hon. Lawrence : If we are being sincere and practical, Hon. Olemija’s approach had more direct impact. Accessibility and full value delivery matter. The absence of bottlenecks made his support more effective for the average constituent.
Reporter: What’s your final takeaway on this issue?
Hon. Olaitan: The narrative that politicians from Akoko North East are less generous or less impactful is simply not true. Historically, they have consistently shown commitment to alleviating poverty and responding to urgent needs. The facts are there for anyone willing to look beyond political propaganda.
Reporter: Thank you for your time, Hon. Olaitan.
Hon. Lawrence: Thank you.
