The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Senator Monday Okpebholo to disclose the procurement process for the newly initiated ’emergency’ overhead bridge at Ramat Park in Benin City.
The opposition party has characterized the flyover as a white elephant project intended to reward political godfathers for their influence in undermining the will of the Edo populace during the recent gubernatorial election.
Furthermore, it was emphasized that expenditures made without proper appropriation constitute an impeachable offense.
In a statement, Chris Osa Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, asserted that the citizens of the state are entitled to transparency and clarity regarding the project’s costs, timeline, contractor selection, and compliance with the State’s Public Procurement Act, among other pertinent details related to the initiative.
“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 of the people’s mandate at the September 21 governorship polls,” Nehikhare said.
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 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.”
