By Pleasure Onohwakpo
As Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori is about to inaugurate the construction of three flyovers in Effurun/Warri today, which he awarded to Julius Berger Company PLC recently, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Delta State has accused him of over-inflating the cost of the project to the tune of N50 billion and also expressed doubt that, as usual with the PDP government in the State, the project will not be completed in the next 8 years.
Gov. Oborevwori had a few months ago awarded the construction of three flyovers, cloverleaf and pedestrian bridges across PTI junction, DSC roundabout and Enerhen junction, to Julius Berger Company PLC, at a cost of N79 billion
A few weeks ago, a group, Delta Contractors Forum raised a red flag when they alerted that the N79 Billion flyover project was a total fraud, adding that contrary to the claim by the State government that the construction company was mobilized with N19 billion (which is about 25%), the governor actually fully mobilized Julius Berger with the total cost of N79 Billion.
The Contractors Forum further alleged that the governor connived with the construction company to refund a kickback of N50 billion, adding that the governor has arranged a variation of the cost of the project to jack it to N125 billion.
Although the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sir Festus Ahon, debunked the allegation saying that Julius Berger would not accept to pad a contract, he referred the newsmen to the Commissioner in charge of Urban and Highway roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze to respond.
In his own reaction, Commissioner Izeze described the Contractors’ Forum allegation contained in a petition to EFCC, as wicked and false. He however, diverted his response, saying that one of the components of the flyover contract, which he referred to as relocation of the 333 KV transmission line will cost the government N1.7 billion and that it will take more than a year to complete the replication process.
But as the governor is embarking on the groundbreaking of the project today, the Delta State All Progressives Congress, APC, has raised a confirmation alarm that, indeed, the multi-billion naira flyover project was not only a ruse, but a conduit pipe to fleece Deltans of over N50 billion.
A press release signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo, in Asaba yesterday, noted that it was impossible for three flyovers which are not up to 1,500 metres and the expansion of the NPA-DSC expressway from Effurun roundabout to cost up to N79 billion.
The party publicity Secretary accused the Oborevwori’s administration as continuing in the massive fraud which his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, visited on the state economy for eight years, adding that “the Leopard cannot change its spots”.
Onojeghuo stated that while Governor Zulum of Boko Haram-torn Borno State is celebrating 77 signature projects in his first 100 days in office, Gov. Oborevwori who continues to swim in hundreds of billions of naira allocations is celebrating his groundbreaking of three flyovers at a whopping cost of N79 Billion.
The state APC also noted that the immediate past Ebonyi State governor and incumbent Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi did not spend up to N79 Billion on the 18 flyovers he constructed in that state.
The party also called on Deltans to ask Governor Oborevwori to give account of the total allocations and IGR that have so far accrued to the state coffer in the past five months he has mounted the administration of the state.
“It is laughable to see the Sheriff Oborevwori administration inviting people to witness the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of 3 flyovers. How can Delta State with so much resources be talking about 3 flyovers at this point of its existence while states like Rivers under Wike had over 9 flyovers for 63 billion before his exit from government, but Delta under Sheriff is spending 78 billion to construct just only 3 flyovers?
“Former Governor Ben Ayade did not just stop at roads and flyover constructions, but also the establishment of various industries that created jobs for the indigene of Cross River State.
“But Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and his PDP cohorts in Delta State are celebrating the construction of 3 flyovers as an accomplishment. In Lagos State, Gov. Sanwo Olu has created a blue rail public transit system, while we are trying to construct 3 flyovers. This occasion is nothing more than the celebration of mediocrity”, he added.
