03-01-2021, 06:51 AM
Quote:Chief Charles Idahosa, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state has advised Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo state governor; Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning and the Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to panic over moves by the Edo state government to probe the N30b Edo Storm Water project.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki had last week declared that the N30b Benin stormwater project embarked upon by the Oshiomhole administration was a ploy to defraud Edo people.
He said the stormwater project, conceived by the Oshiomhole administration, was designed not to work for the benefit of the Edo people, adding that his administration will probe the project and recover all the money stolen through it.
Speaking with newsmen yesterday, Idahosa, a former Commissioner for Information in Edo state said he welcomed the decision by the governor to investigate the controversial project.
While calling on those involved not to panic if their hands are clean, he said Oshiomhole’s recent letter in which he pledged his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari is a sign that the former APC national chairman is jittery and wants protection.
“On the N30b storm water project, t is a very strange development on the side of Adams Oshiomhole and his gang and his minister. As a sitting governor, you have a right to look into any issue that is not clear which Governor Obaseki is doing. I think the people involved in that project should exercise patience and let the governor do what he wants to do”.
“I read the letter of the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, who supervised the project as the then Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability in the state. I also read the letter of APC in Edo state. I don’t think there is any need for them to panic”.
“If the governor decides to look into the storm water project, they should allow him do it, at least, they will be represented legally at the panel set up to look into it”.
“They have been claiming that the governor is the chairman of the Economic team. The Edo APC even said he was the consultant. All these are just sign of panic and I don’t see any reason for that if their conscience is clear. N30 billion is a huge sum and we all live in Benin; we know what it means when there is downpour here”.
“So, I’m in total support of the decision by the governor to investigate the project and I believe nobody should panic if their conscience is clear that they have not done anything wrong. I believe everyone involved will be given a fair hearing, so, it is a simple matter”.
“This is not the Oshiomhole I used to know. Oshiomhole has turned himself into a frightened chicken and he behaves like someone who has a skeleton in his cupboard. The problem we have in this country is that people don’t show respect for institutions. Rather, they respect individuals”.
“Since Oshiomhole was disgraced from office as national chairman, he keeps saying ‘I hereby pledge my loyalty to the President’. What has the president got to do with all these things that is happening? Is President Buhari the chairman of APC?”
“We all heard what he said when he did his revalidation exercise just like Bisi Akande and Tinubu? How come Oshiomhole is the only person now denying and claiming that he was misquoted?
” Oshiomhole is just afraid of his shadows. Why is he pledging his loyalty to President Buhari now that they want to probe him on the storm water project? It is a big shame” he said.
https://www.independent.ng/n30bn-storm-water-project-dont-panic-idahosa-tells-oshiomhole-agba-edo-apc/