*Why Oborevwori Won ‘Governor Of The Year Award’
*Two Ministry Engineers Suspended Over Supervision Of Projects, Says Aniagwu
*Ndokwa Nation Not Abandoned
BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
THE Delta State Government will henceforth surcharge and prosecute any trespasser into its lands across the state.
Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, speaking at a press conference on Monday, February 3, in Asaba, warned land grabbers in the state to vacate government lands or face prosecution, saying government will not tolerate encroachment on its lands, even as he described the activities of land grabbers as “the height of criminality.”
He stated that the state government inherited lands from the old Bendel State and also acquired some, which will be protected for the benefit of the state, citing a case in Sapele, where an individual has been grabbing government lands and even destroyed a veterinary building.
Aniagwu stressed that the government will not only demolish structures built illegally on government lands, but also require the builders to pay for the demolition costs, to deter land grabbers and protect the state’s assets, recalling that government, through a task force, has reclaiming its lands across the state, including the land in Anwai belonging to the Dennis Osadebey University, from grabbers.
Aniagwu disclosed that the state government has suspended two engineers in the Ministry of Works in connection with substandard project executions, following a series of inspections that uncovered poorly executed projects across the state.
This is part of ongoing efforts to ensure strict adherence to quality standards in public projects and enforce accountability and proper project supervision, stressing that the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration has zero-tolerance for negligence and corruption.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the delivery of sustainable infrastructure for Deltans, adding: “The intention, ab initio, was to sack them. A committee has been set up to investigate them in line with the civil service rules and I can bet you that actions will be taken at the end.
“They have admitted to the things that were accused of and we are using them to show minor example. But after that, anybody who think because we tempered justice with mercy and may want to progress along that line will get the full weight of what the civil service rules provides.
“So we are already showing examples with individuals, and that tells you that we are serious when we say we want value for money.
“Any engineer or civil servant that connives with a contractor or that inadvertently makes us to lose money, thereby vitiating our results to get value for money, will go in for it, and we mean it, irrespective of how highly-placed. The governor is very clear about it.”
Responding to criticism by the immediate past deputy president of the senate, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege, on the choice of Oborevwori for the Governor of The Year Award by ThisDay newspaper, the commissioner stated that the governor was honoured for his fiscal discipline and innovative approach to governance.
Aniagwu said the state government under Oborevwori, had completed and also initiated numerous projects without borrowing to fund them, adding: “This speaks to the governor’s effective and efficient management of financial resources without borrowing a dime from anywhere.
“We thought we were alone, in terms of observation of these giant strides of the governor, not knowing that even in far away Lagos and Abuja, the editors of THISDAY and ARISE News were also busy with their eagle eyes, taking copious notes.”
On Omo-Agege’s allegation that the governor had neglected the Ndokwa nation, Aniagwu stated that the current administration had completed over 15 kilometres of roads, as well as the Beneku Bridge, among others, in Ndokwa nation, with many under construction.
He reckoned that the sterling performance of the governor had become a problem to the opposition, even as he noted that the governor was focused on governance and not politicking for now.
The commissioner listed the construction of bridges and flyovers in the Warri axis; the High Court Complex in Asaba; purchase of operation vehicles for security agencies and Judges; rehabilitation of 150 health centres across the state; equipping of Warri General Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Oghara; construction of storm drainages at Owa-Alero, Asaba and Ugolo Okpe; provision of N5billion to offsets civil servants’ promotion arrears and construction of projects across the state-owned higher institutions as some of the governor’s achievements in just 19 months in office.
“We do not have issues with some persons in opposition, particularly Omo-Agege. We are not stopping them from playing politics or making constructive criticisms, because it actually emboldens us to do more, but to begin to ask what we are doing and why Oborevwori was given the award could, at best, be seen as ‘pepper-body.’
“We expect that if their state has been picked as making progress, they should be happy. Trying to de -market the state because of personal interest is not in the interest of anybody.
“He went through this path in 2023, even when Oborevwori had not become a governor; yet, Oborevwori defeated him in 21 out of the 25 local government areas.
“So, I thought the lesson of that defeat was enough for him to know the kind of criticisms he could embark upon.”
He disclosed that government had reviewed the previous allocation of N1billion to N2.1billion to each local government area for road construction.
And to ensure that Deltans get value for money spent, he explained that the governor has directed all commissioners and heads of agencies supervising projects to embark on rigorous inspection of projects under their purview or face the consequences.
Aniagwu, flanked by Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and Executive Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr. Felix Ofou, stated: “We plead with Omo-Agege to be fair as he engages in politicking, which we are not ready for at the moment, because we have a covenant with the people of Delta to deliver on the MORE Agenda, with a view to advancing development in our state.
“If he is asking our people of Ndokwa Nation what we have done for them, I will remind him that, in Ndokwa Nation, we have completed the over 4-kilometre Obi-Ibabu road, which is awaiting inauguration; Ndemili-Utagba Uno and Eweshi-Utagba-Uno road, which are being pursued vigorously.
“We have also awarded a road in Amai, which has progressed to stone base; at Aboh in Ndokwa East, work is also ongoing; contract has been awarded for the construction of Asaba-Ase Bridge in Ndokwa East, linking Uzere in Isoko South.
“While Omo-Agege was in the senate, the few things he was able to attract, he took them to near his father’s compound at Orhomuru. Can he now compare himself to a man that is building bridges across the state to the extent that he doesn’t discriminate against members of the opposition parties in the state?
“Oborevwori has warned that nobody should be discriminated against on account of political affiliation. Whatever is due to the people is distributed without recourse to political affiliation.
“We all know that he didn’t work for President Bola Tinubu’s election, so if he is thinking that by saying these things he would warm himself up to Tinubu, he needs to think again and take a different route.”
On Senator Ned Nwoko’s recent resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aniagwu said Oborevwori and PDP were not bothered by the his serial defections, as PDP would continue to win in Aniocha North and other parts of Delta North senatorial district which Nwoko currently represents.
Regarding the simmering tension at the state-owned Pointer newspaper over the process of appointing a general manager, ahead of the retirement of the incumbent, Aniagwu stated that the position is political and the governor reserves the right to appoint anybody, even from outside the organisation, as against widely held views.
“The general manager is strictly a political position. The government can decide to appoint from within or without, because it is strictly a political position. The issue of appointment of a general manager is not what anybody is going to get via protest.
“So, those who are behind such demonstrations should be careful. Government will allow people to poke fingers into its eyes.”
It is alleged that a staff of newspaper on political secondment was been groomed for the position, above his seniors.
