The Edo State government led by Godwin Obaseki and the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state seem to set for a showdown over a multi-billion naira Benin stormwater project, commenced by his (Obaseki) predecessor, comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
The duo fight is coming after Obaseki, while inspecting the N30 billion Benin storm water project yesterday alleged that the project was a ploy to defraud the state by the immediate past adminstration.
Obaseki said the stormwater project, which was conceived by the previous administration, was designed not to work for the benefit of Edo people, adding that his administration will probe the project and recover all the money stolen through it.
He added that the previous administration spent huge sums of money on the water storm project.
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However, in a swift reaction, Chris Azebamwan, Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state in a statement, Tuesday, urged the Governor to carry out his probe, saying that the project was jointly handled by the State Environment and Public Utilities and Works with several commissioners including the present Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie.
Azebamwan said it is laughable Obaseki is threatening to prob a project handled by a government of which he was the head, economic team and that he regularly accompanied Comrade Oshiomhole on inspection of the work as it was progressing.
“While the project was ongoing, Obaseki (as chairman of the Economic Team), regularly accompanied his predecessor to inspect the progress of work after he played the key role of sourcing the first N25 billion from the Capital Market through his company, Afrinvest, which reportedly got N1.5billion commission from the deal.
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“Edo people know that the project was jointly handled by the State Environment and Public Utilities and Works with several commissioners including the present Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie, who was in charge of the Works Ministry, deeply involved.
“While the project was ongoing, Obaseki (as chairman of the Economic Team), regularly accompanied his predecessor to inspect the progress of work after he played the key role of sourcing the first N25 billion from the Capital Market through his company, Afrinvest, which reportedly got N1.5billion commission from the deal.
“The commission paid to Afrinvest was for acting as Consultants to the project and drafting the project proposal which, Obaseki as the Head of Economic team presented for approval to the State Executive Council and followed it up by shortlisting contractors for the project.
“It will be comical and equally ingenious of the Governor to carry out this probe. It will not only be revealing but end up as a milestone which could well turn out to become a benchmark for the country.
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“The APC is disappointed over the failure of Governor Godwin Obaseki to showcase any achievement in his 100days but would rather taking to chasing shadows by threatening to probe a project he supervised its takeoff and later abandoned,” the Publicity Secretary said.