The Minister
of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, on Sunday responded to the allegations made by
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State over the recently approved road
rehabilitation projects in the state, saying the governor displayed ignorance.
The governor was said to have stated during the campaign rally
held in Benin that the Ada-Okere-Ukoni-Amedokhian Old Road rehabilitation
project awarded by the Federal Executive Council was non–existent and smuggled
into the federal budget.
But the minister in a statement by his Special Assistant
(Media), Mr. Tony Ikpasaja, in Abuja, said he did not believe in “politics with
bitterness”.
He said, “We are grossly disappointed in such misleading and
deliberate falsehoods publicly propagated by a governor who is expected to be
happy over infrastructural developments in his state by Federal Government.
“It is appalling and scandalous for Comrade Oshiomhole, Governor
of Edo State, to stand on a podium at a rally to politicise, criticise and
malign infrastructural projects in his state by the Federal Government, all for
the purpose of reaping cheap political votes. The Honourable Minister of Works,
Mike Onolememen, does not believe in politics with bitterness, and will never
condescend to verbalising public untruths in the name of politics.
“The minister is a well educated and cultured Nigerian driven by
passion to transform the road sector in line with President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan’s transformational agenda and will continue to do so.”
He added, “The Ada-Okere-Ukoni-Amedokhian road leads to Federal
Technical College, Uromi, the Esan Water Works project being executed by the
Federal Government in Ugboha and the Hydrocarbon mineral deposit recently
discovered by government in Uzea.
“Contrary to Governor Oshiomhole’s false claims that the
contract for the Ada-Okere-Ukoni-Amedokhian road was ‘smuggled’ into the
Federal Government Budget by the Honourable Minister of Works, we make bold to
say that the said road project have been designed and introduced into the 2010
Federal Budget, and later, into the 2011 Federal Budget, long before Mike
Onolememen was appointed Honourable Minister of Works.”
According to him, the road project was not the only project
being executed by the Federal Government in Edo State.
He said, “Others include the reinstatement of the gully erosion
disaster along Auchi-Okene expressway (near Omega Fire Ministries by Jattu
Junction) leading to Governor Oshiomhole’s residence in Iyamho, Auchi and
repairs of the erosion damaged portion of Ayogwiri-Fugar road in Ayogwiri.
“Both projects are being executed by Federal Government through
the Federal Ministry of Works with Onolememen as Minister. The two road
projects are located right in Governor Oshiomhole’s native Etsako West Local
Government area.
“Another road recently approved for rehabilitation by Federal
Executive Council, following a memo from the Honourable Minister of Works; Arc
Onolememen, is the South Ibie road, opposite the gate leading to the Federal
Polytechnic, Auchi. The road project is also located in Governor Oshiomhole’s
Etsako West Local Government Area and involves the construction of two new
bridges among others.”
Ikpasaja said the Minister had refused to engage Oshiomhole for
allegedly claiming credit for some rehabilitated roads “because falsehood can
never strive in Edo State where the people are enlightened and well-informed
about the rehabilitation programmes by the Federal Ministry of Works.”
While stating that Oshiomhole has never rehabilitated any
Federal road in Benin City and elsewhere in Edo State the Minister challenged
him to ask for claims or refund from the Federal Government for
intervening in Federal roads like other State Governors are currently doing.
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