Edo Citizens Should Start Asking Questions Before Things Gets Out Of Hands

GOV. OBASEKI, COMMISSIONER FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING, AND MEMBERS OF THE EDO GOVERNMENT CABINET, SHOULD TELL US WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

WEEKS ago, the Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Planning told Edo People and the Nation at large that N202m has been approved by the Obaseki led administration to fix a failed portion of one of the major roads in Etsako axis, the road is connecting 3 LGAs in Etsako.

Since the time of the press release by the office of the Commissioner for Budget and planning until today, it is on record and still available for the public to see that not even a stone has been thrown there. No contractor has been mobilized to the site, yet the Ministry of Budget and Planning said that they have approved funds for the immediate repairs of the failed portion. The commissioner, in his release, made it clear and portrayed it to the public as though money has been disbursed to the firm that will do the needed repairs immediately within a time frame.

As of today, no construction company has been truly mobilized. Funds have perhaps traveled out of the state coffers in respect of this project but not reflecting reality on site.
We have it on good authority that the state government has changed the budget and is set to withdraw additional funds for a project that has not kicked start at all. This attitude of misappropriation, embezzlement, and illegal withdrawal from public purses without recourse to accountability and public scrutiny should be checked.

I hereby call upon the Edo house of Assembly and her principal officers to immediately invite the Edo State Governor, H.E. Obaseki and the Commissioner for Budget and Planning Hon. J. Osilama Okuofu to appear before the house and give account of the said money and reason why the project has not kick started after the information about the release of such a huge fund to correct a failed portion of our road.

May I be kind enough to remind the Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Planning, that the road we are talking about is the major road to him hometown, and that his loyalty should first be to the people, as others would be secondary. In the same vein, I still choose to tell the members of the house of Assembly that the interests of their constituents across the 24 Constituencies supersedes the loyalty or their commitment to a Governor who wants them to be his puppets. We demand accountability and need clarity on this matter.

BOB-MANUEL UMORU
(Jesus Army)