The war of words between Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and the Federal Ministry of Works headed by Mr. Mike Onolememen, has continued to inflame passion and controversy over the rightful ownership of the contract at five-junction in Benin City. The Federal Ministry of Works in a paid advertorial in a national newspaper on March 11 had laid claim of the road contract, an assertion which the governor described as “fraudulent.”
Based on this, Oshiomhole was said to have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call his minister to order before he faces the wrath of the people.
Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the governor, Prince Kassim Afegbua, in an exclusive telephone interview with THISDAY stated that there were several contradictions in the position canvassed by Onolememen.
According to him; “the governor is terribly embarrassed by the barefaced lies being advertised by the Federal Ministry of Works, even going to the extent of claiming the drawings of the state Ministry of Works to explain the project.
“We have searched our minds to rationalise what could be the motivation of the Works Minister to be laying claim to a project being undertaken by the state government, but we couldn’t find any reason other than mere politics and deliberate cover-up of inadequacies by the minister.”
Taking umbrage on the minister for his claims, Afegbua allegedly described him as a “busy body”, who was being economical with the truth.
According to him; “Edo people know those who are building the state’s infrastructure; roads, schools, hospitals and provision of water. We don’t want to join issues with the Federal Ministry of Works that has abandoned its statutory responsibilities of addressing the pitiable condition of roads across the country, Edo State inclusive.
“We are awed by the fact that the Federal Ministry of Works could be dragging the ownership of a township road network when several roads in the country are begging for attention. It only goes to show the desperation of the minister.”
He said the five-junction area of Benin City used to be notorious for flooding and traffic gridlock, hence the governor decided to take a “passionate interest” at ensuring that the area was attended to once and for all.
“You need to come to Benin and see the massive expansion going on there; the Ugbowo road expansion, the drains, the walkways, the de-flooding, the roundabout, the street lights and the water fountains that would form part of the beautification of that area. What the Federal Ministry of Works is doing is a mere resurfacing of the old road, which is like window dressing,” he added.
While advising the minister to look elsewhere for cover-up, Afegbua stated that “for want of anything to show the Good Governance Tour Team, the Minister decided to borrow our projects to cover up their shame. How bad?”
The works minister and his failed party people are confused lairs. He has attracted more hatred to himself by telling cheap lies when we all know the truth.
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