George Ozodinobi sparks outrage after boasting of N19b in budget, fueling claims of opposition compromise in the House of Representatives

George Ozodinobi has ignited fresh controversy in the House of Representatives after a viral video showed him boasting about having N19 billion in the current budget, triggering outrage among fellow opposition lawmakers.

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The Deputy Minority Whip, who represents Peter Obi’s federal constituency under the Labour Party, made the disclosure at the Iwa-Iji (New Yam Festival) of the Igwe of Nimo in Anambra State.

His remarks, which surfaced online, have further deepened suspicions of collusion between minority leaders and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Angry lawmakers accuse the opposition leadership of cozying up to the APC government, sacrificing their duty to hold the ruling party accountable on issues such as crippling hardship, insecurity, and alleged corruption.

Some opposition members, speaking anonymously, claim financial inducements are driving the silence, pointing to opaque budget allocations, “zonal intervention projects,” and alleged political patronage schemes.

The revelation is particularly stinging because, by law, each of the 360 constituencies is entitled to no more than N1 billion for capital and zonal projects in the current budget.

Lawmakers argue that if George Ozodinobi, one of the lowest-ranking minority leaders, could boast of N19 billion, the allocations to others in leadership may be far larger.

Critics also highlight the irony of Ozodinobi’s claim, given his affiliation with the Labour Party — whose national leader, Peter Obi, has built his political reputation on transparency and accountability.

Dissatisfaction with the minority leadership, led by Hon. Kingsley Chinda, is mounting, with many lawmakers questioning its independence. “Can you name one policy issue the minority caucus has championed on the House floor?” one furious member asked.

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As calls grow louder for a shake-up in the opposition’s leadership, the controversy underscores growing discontent within the 10th Assembly and raises fresh doubts about the minority caucus’s ability to provide credible oversight of the APC-led government.