• Oshiomhole prodigious, wasteful spending N16BN on FG roads - EDSG
• Obaseki's Govt. a disaster to Edo State - APC
Kingsley Abavo, Benin (Managing Editor)
The six and half years of the Governor Godwin Obaseki's Government has been described as "a great disaster and nothing but a scam to the people of Edo State."
As it is said to lack focus, insensitive to the many challenges confronting the people of the State; and thrives in the misplacement of priority in the delivery of dividends of democracy, to the electorates.
The leading opposition political Party in the State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) made the damning assessment of the Obaseki's Government performance scorecard on Wednesday, 26 July, 2023 during a media briefing in Benin - City, the State Capital.
The Obaseki's led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration had on Tuesday, 25 July, 2023 in a statement by the State commissioner for Information, Chris Nehikhare explained why it cannot repair failing Federal Government roads in the State.
"The new reality where States have to generate their own funds with little or no federal allocation, would hardly permit Governors in the country to embark on federal projects with the hope of getting a refund; at least, not amidst the plethora of needs in a State, where the Governors have to draw scale of preferences in order to prioritize the manner in which those needs should be met."
It further condemned its predecessor, the Adams Oshiomhole's led APC administration for spending the sum of N16bn on fixing and maintainance of federal roads in Edo State saying: "it is controvertible and seemingly unreasonable to defend the allocation" of such funds, the Government said.
This is as it declared that the refunded N16BN by the Federal Government belongs to the people of the State and not an individual.
The Government was however silent on whether the refunded N16BN has been used on any project (s) or still intact.
Labelling the Oshiomhole's administration as prodigious and wasteful, the Obaseki's Government said: "If that money was earlier spent on building a decent school of nursing, instead of squandering it on federal roads which have become damaged so quickly, I am sure Obaseki would not have had to rebuild and restore the school beyond its former glory.
"Or probably, if Oshiomhole had spent it on the reconstruction and expansion of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in order to improve healthcare and solve healthcare challenges in the State, Obaseki would not have had to embark on such a project.
"Oshiomhole could have also spent it on a modern and state-of-the-art Civil Service Secretariat Complex like Obaseki has done, but instead he squandered it on federal roads.
"There are so many intervention areas which that sum could have fruitfully been allocated and Obaseki would not have needed to embark on such infrastructural interventions today; namely, Ekenwan Road reconstructing and rehabiltation, rehabilitation of the State High Court Complex, building of Industrial Court and Judges Quarters in the State, agricultural programmes for food sustainability and commercial profitability for both the people of the State, and a host of other interventions which the Obaseki administration has embarked on.
"Oshiomhole’s prodigious behaviour is akin to that of a man who pays the rent and school fees of his mistress' children while his wife and kids are denied basic amenities at home.
"As at the time Oshiomhole became that profligate with the State's finances, Edo State had the numerous challenges above and more, which that fund could have been used for.
"That is what the Obaseki administration has refused to do, as it prioritizes its resource distribution based on pressing demands by diverse socioeconomic sectors of the State."
Reacting, the APC termed the statement as "application of the escapist theory, lamentation, and the last kick of a dying horse.
"First and foremost, it is important to note that the Benin Storm water project, which was intended to address the issue of flooding and erosion in Benin City, was not completed by the Governor Obaseki junta.
"This lack of progress has contributed to the worsening flood and erosion problems in our State.
"Furthermore, the party less Government led by Mr Godwin Obaseki has engaged in gross misuse of funds allocated to Edo State by the Federal Government over time.
"Over 16 billion naira, was refunded to the State under the watch of Obaseki for the Federal Roads fixed by his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole during his tenure as Governor.
"Additionally, another 21 billion naira was given to Edo State from the Oil Derivation funds, which are intended for oil-producing States like ours, for infrastructural development, road inclusive.
"What we know is that Governor Obaseki presided over the misappropriation of these monies, without recourse to these critical sector of our living.
"In addition to these financial improprieties, Governor Obaseki has shown a disturbing pattern of demolishing public and private properties including but not restricted to the Central hospital, which land he allocated to his friends to build a museum that will not see the light of day.
"Instead of prioritizing crucial infrastructural developments, Mr Obaseki has chosen to build supermarkets all over the State which are over 45% owned by him and his cronies.
"These actions demonstrate a clear lack of vision, responsibility and a disregard for the well-being of the people of Edo state.
"The statement made by the Edo State Government, accusing the Federal Government of neglecting its responsibilities, is a clear attempt to divert attention from these failures and mismanagement.
"The burning question Edo People should ask Governor Obaseki is “What did he do with the N16 Billion refunded by the Federal Government to Edo State as money used by his Predecessor to repair Federal Roads coupled with the N21 Billion derivation funds?
"We must see through these falsehoods and hold Governor Obaseki accountable for his failures."
The APC further pointed out that the roads in the State are used predominantly by Edo people and that is why a focus administration, like the immediate past led by Oshiomhole took time to address the Federal roads in Edo state.
Also to ensure Edo people are safe in the comfort of their homes, the administration of Oshiomhole started the Benin Water Storm project to take care of erosion and flooding menace in the City, the APC asserts.
As it notes; that if the Oshiomhole's administration was succeeded by a responsible Government, that project would have been completed by now because Government is a continuum.
"Having failed in that regard and trapped in his own poison as experienced few days ago when the Governor could not even drive through some portions of roads in Benin - City, instead of doing the needful, he started crying wolf which I prefer to label; as the lamentation of a dying horse.
Defending Oshiomhole on the accusation of being wasteful and having misplaced priorities while in office as Governor of Edo, the APC pointed out: "if anything, the administration of Obaseki is the one which really do not know the meaning of the word priority.
"If there is any Government that lacks complete focus, that does not know the meaning of the word priority, I think it is the Obaseki's Government in Edo State.
"Is building a museum instead of a hospital that would cater for the health of the people; a better priority? If building a museum is a better priority in the definition of the 'word' I think the Governor has to go back to school!
"Nothing can be more important on the table of priorities than the delivery of roads infrastructure including intervention in the ones belonging to the Federal Government in the State, as done by the Oshiomhole's administration," the APC stated.
The Party noted the Governor was even an active member of the Oshiomhole's administration as an advisor and had helped executed some of the projects he now so demonize.
Hence, he has no basis in his criticisms of his predecessor in whatever form, it declared.
"I assure the good people of Edo State that the APC-led Federal Government is committed to addressing the road infrastructure challenges in our State," the Party appeals as it sue for a bit of patience by the people.
Col. Dr. David Imuse rtd, State
Chairman of the APC presided over the media briefing, with the State publicity secretary of the Party, Prince Peter Enosoregbe Uwadiae Igbinigie Esq, his assistant, Ofure Osehobo and other chieftains in attendance.
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