By Alltimepost.com
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has flagged off a N5.7billion Auchi Erosion project to tackle the menacing gully erosion threatening to consume the community, describing it as a historic intervention that will change the fortune of the kingdom.
In his speech at the commencement of the project, a World Bank-assisted initiative last Friday, Oshiomhole said, “We have borrowed N5.7 billion naira to protect this great kingdom of Auchi, to restore hope and to remove the fear and the pain that people suffer when it rains because that is the primary purpose of government.
He told the audience that the loan was obtained with an interest rate of less than 1% and that it was spread so thinly for easy payment without stress, adding that it takes a sensible government, competency and transparency for people to access this World Bank facility.
“I want to congratulate you for witnessing this historic intervention which will change the fortune of this great kingdom and all those who reside in this kingdom.”
Comrade Oshiomhole went religious and philosophical when he said: “When men or women who are enthroned into office by God conduct themselves under the guidance of God and ensure that justice and fairness rule, then the people will rejoice because they will witness development.”
While he acknowledged attempts of different government in finding solution to the problem in the past, the former Nigeria Labour Congress leader said such efforts were mostly ill-conceived as those awarding the contracts placed their own personal financial interests above those of the State and people.
His words: “Different governments in the past have attempted to address this problem.
I am told that one contractor that was given the job in the past by some federal interests even have some of his second hand tractors trapped in the valley of this kingdom because whereas the people of Auchi wanted government to solve the problem, some persons in government were more interested in the name of the kingdom and in the name of this project to pocket tax payers’ money.
So rather than give the contract on the basis of well-thought-out designs that can be scientifically checked and verified as suitable and proper, they choose one of themselves who knows next to nothing about civil engineering or erosion control so that the money can be taken.”
The Governor went further to say a situation like this has always put him at odds with the People’s Democratic Party.
“So when you hear I criticize PDP, it is because this has been their habit. In the name of the unemployed, they will advertise, collect money and in the end people will die. In the name of Auchi erosion, they appropriated money, they took the money and Auchi people were worse off.”
“Today, we are here in spite of all the conspiracies from some quarters to deny us access to the ecological funds from which we could have raised even this sum to get this job done.
Even when they gave out N2 billion naira each to some state they didn’t to Edo State but I am not lamenting that now. Those they gave the money to have pocketed it, they haven’t launched any program that we can see”
Governor Oshiomhole expressed appreciation to the World Bank for the trust and confidence “but even for not just throwing money at us, but for having the passion and commitment to visit and see for themselves the nature of the erosion challenges and what we are trying to do.”
In his remarks, the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Program (NEWMAP) National Project Director, Mr. Chikelo Nwune said, whatever will be done, the challenge was on all the people and government to make it work.
“The money we are going to use to do this project is a loan that will be paid over several periods of years, so it is important for us to be prudent in the management of the project,” he advised.
The terrain of Auchi area, he said, is something no one can change, adding “we have done the design and the people who have the expertise and the skills are going to translate it and you will see the drain that will convey the runoff water into the water bodies.”
Beyond that, he continued, the natural environment would be tampered with, with some houses taken out, but assured that the resources were there to create some compensation.
He further stressed the need for sense of responsibility and maintenance culture in keeping the project alive after completion, otherwise the whole exercise would be in vain.
His words: “As development takes place, human beings lifestyle must change, people must generate wealth. As I look around, I saw garbage here and there, if these garbage enter into the drainage, they will distort the normal flow of water, so it is necessary for us to remind ourselves that there are expectations, from the government to pay the contractors, for the contractor to deliver and beyond that, for the maintenance.
We all must agree that after the work is done, we are going to maintain it so that it will stand the test of time.”
The Otarru of Auchi, HRH, Aliru Momoh, the Ikelebe 111 in his remarks appreciated the Comrade Governor for delivering the good things of life to the people of the state in general and the Auchi Kingdom in particular.
He said, “I have no doubt that what we are seeing here today is something that we have fought for. We demonstrated in 2006, we closed down the expressway and said that Auchi Erosion be declared a disaster.
“The Federal Government did not respond and we ended up with nothing but today, this is being realized through the efforts of Governor Adams Oshiomhole”.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba said, “today’s event is a culmination of a series of preparatory activities which took almost five years to accomplish.
Within this period, Edo State Government contributed an initial N30 million for designs, hosted an Engineering clinic to review the designs, signed the subsidiary agreement with the Federal Ministry of Finance, issued a legal opinion in respect of the project and provided office accommodation for the state project management unit.”
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