By Oaldipo Airenakho
Ekpoma, Nigeria – Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Thursday flagged off the construction of dual-carriage intra-city roads in Ekpoma, Edo Central Senatorial district, saying his government will work till its last day.
The 7.5-kilometre intra-city roads, is to be completed in three months, Oshiomhole said, adding that his government has worked tremendously in all parts of the State, including Edo Central, where according to him, the administration has constructed numerous roads, schools and sunk industrial boreholes in very difficult terrains.
According to him, he decided to do the Ekpoma intra-city roads because of his conviction to spread even development to every part of the state.“By this week, we are releasing new contracts, about 200 contracts for primary schools such that in every ward, throughout the 192 wards in Edo State, new primary school classrooms will be built. Those contracts will be awarded this week.
So, Edo is working. We raised N3 billion to cover 192 wards, and I insisted that every ward must have a school to be rebuilt so that I cannot be validly accused during the election and even thereafter that there is any ward in Edo State, a political ward where my government did not touch the lives of the very ordinary person.”
His presence in Ekpoma on Thursday, about six months to the end of his tenure, he continued, was also quite significant beyond what the ordinary person will understand.
“We are working because our own projects are not meant to win votes. They are meant to touch lives. We do them out of conviction; we don’t do them for political convenience,” he declared. Oshiomhole however pointed out that financial constraint was the only thing limiting his administration’s scope of work, which according to him was no longer a secret.
“But I am driven by the fact that what we lack in our pocket, we compensate for with our will, the will to make things happen. I have directed the Commissioner for Works to convert the road to a dual carriage way. We will do that. I think what is worth doing at all, is also worth doing well.” He noted that the flagging off of the project was possible because the contractor has received his check and the cash transferred to his bank.
“We have already made a payment of over N300 million to flag off this job. So, it is not a verbal contract because there is no point starting what you are not ready to do. I will not be part of the governors that organize fanfare to flag off and thereafter, excuses set in.” “We will look for the money to do the job. Having paid the first instalment, other instalments will follow,” Oshiomhole assured.
He added that his administration has constructed very visible projects all over Esan land, saying: “If you take a chopper to fly around Esan land, you will find evidence of APC government virtually in every ward. That was why the royal highness in his wisdom, and I am eternally grateful, you awarded me the title of Adolor of Esan land. We need to sustain those jobs.” He told the people that his government has increased the subvention to the Ambrose Alli University from N100 million per month when he assumed duty to N254 million per month.
Oshiomhole took a swipe at the PDP which accused him of commissioning some projects in the school allegedly built by the PTF, saying the projects were built from the monies his government released to the school for infrastructure purposes. He said it was sad that a Pastor who was supposed to protect Christians collected and shared N700m from money meant to fight Boko Haram and protect Christians and other Nigerians.
He also used the opportunity to respond to criticisms on the new Edo University at Iyamho, noting that people criticized him for building a University in Iyamho, which is Edo State University and owned by the state, noting that some had in the past used state funds to build universities for themselves.
The Governor concluded, “In my handing over note, hopefully to someone I trust, we take those notes seriously. I will also be able to explain why we dualized, why
this is the first phase and where the second phase is meant to be, and the next Governor will continue from where we are obliged to stop on November 12th.
This road will be completed, dualized, and I hope the next government will be able to put street lights on the road.”
Earlier in a welcome address, the Onojie of Ekpoma, HRH Anthony Abumere II commended the Governor for making good his promise to construct the road and appealed for speedy completion of the project.
Similarly, a former speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Thomas Okosun joined other members of the community to extol the Governor for flagging off the dual-carriage road project. Governor Oshiomhole later inspected the newly completed Irrua-Igueben- Ebudin- Ugbekun-Ujogba road and the completed Ubiaja-Okhuesan- Emu-Ohordua- Ewatto-Ewohinmi- Igueben road with a bridge linking Emu and Ohordua which is expected to be ready in 40 days.
