The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Governor Monday Okpebholo to make open the bidding process and procurement ahead of the proposed flyover construction at Ramat Park, Benin City, accusing the new Edo State chief executive of using the project awarded in a hurry to settle political debts.
Recall that Governor Okpebholo had on Tuesday flagged-off the flyover bridge, with the construction lasting 18 months.
The Edo PDP in a statement on Wednesday by the Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, challenged the Governor to make public the procurement procedure for the newly flagged-off overhead bridge.
Nehikhare who said Governor Okpebholo that spending money without appropriation was an impeachable offence, described the flyover he tagged ’emergency’ as a white elephant project meant to reward godfathers.
According to him, the people of the State deserve transparency and clarity on the cost of the project and timeline, how the contractors were selected and whether the process complied with the State’s Public Procurement Act, among other details relating to the project.
He said: “The recent activities and actions of the Monday Okpebholo-led government in the past few days of assuming office have confirmed our worst fears that the governor-select is going to run a profligate government, with blatant disregard for due process and fiscal irresponsibility. It is an ominous start and signals what Edo people should expect in the coming days.
“It is concerning and quite troubling that the governor-select is kicking off his administration with white elephant projects to funnel resources into settling and rewarding political godfathers and allies for their role in subverting the people’s mandate at the September 21 governorship polls.”
He added: “One of those projects is the emergency overhead bridge which was flagged off a couple of days ago at the Ramat Park axis of Benin City, which we are aware of bypassed all standard procurement procedures.
“We demand that he makes public the procurement procedure for this project, stating the cost of the project and timeline, how the contractors were selected and whether the process complied with the State’s Public Procurement Act, among other details relating to the project.
“We understand that the governor owes some political debts which he incurred procuring the services of the godfathers and their infantry lions and tigers during the last governorship election.
“But we must warn him that the resources of the people of Edo State must not be frittered away in settling debts of these gluttonous godfathers who he has now re-empowered and are desperately seeking every avenue to hijack the people’s patrimony to suit their over-bloated ego and appetite for state funds.
“While we sympathize with him over the baggage and political debts hanging over his neck, we insist that he must be transparent in handling the State finances and not mortgage the future of the State and its people to please and satisfy the gluttonous appetite of the godfathers.”
“As a party, we draw his attention to the fact monies spent without appropriation of the House of Assembly is an impeachable offence and the PDP will not hesitate to drag him to the ICPC for violating the public procurement Act.”
