Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has again given the federal government a knock on the head over the spate of bad governance in the country, charging the leadership of the APC-led government to rise up and give good leadership to Nigerians as people are in pains.
Governor Ortom who stated this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital while on visit to Governor Seyi Makinde to commission 65 kilometer Moniya-Iseyin Road, charged Makinde to continue to do more for the people of Oyo State while commending people for their support for the governor. He also urged the governor to always be on the side of the people.
“The PDP is working despite all the economic and security challenges. The PDP has demonstrated leadership and that is why we are commissioning this road today, which is amazing.”
He noted that all the geopolitical zones of the country are faced with security challenges, stressing that there would be no meaningful development without security. He called on Nigerians not to lose faith as they have no other country they can call theirs other than Nigeria. He however said it was clear from all indication that APC did not have the capacity to deliver.
“I want to challenge the APC in this country, because they have failed. Economically, security-wise, they have failed. Socially and politically, the APC government is in deficit. Government is all about providing security for lives and property. Government is about providing infrastructure like the one we are doing here today.”
“Let me, once again, call on the APC Federal Government to rise up and give leadership because our people are in pain. From North-East, North-West to North-Central to South-South, South-East and South-West, everyone is faced with security challenges and without security, there can be no meaningful development except in PDP-controlled state.“
Governor Ortom who accused APC-led federal government of bad governance went down memory lane by comparing the state of the nation before APC came on board in 2015 with the present situation of the country.
“In 2015, the mantle of leadership was given to APC. But from all indications, it is clear to every Nigerian that APC does not have the capacity to deliver. Go and check, economically, how much was one dollar when APC came into government in 2015. “What was the nature of our security in this country when APC took over power? What was our social relationship in this country? Politically too, where are we? But let us work hard and by praying. As we pray, whether Muslims or Christians, let us also apply work because faith without work is death.“
He called on Nigerians not to relent in the their efforts at demanding for the country of their dream, charging them to vote out APC-led government come 2023.
“So, let us work very hard so that come 2023, by the grace of God, we shall change the change,” the Benue governor said.
Earlier at the event, the host governor Seyi Makinde said reconstruction of Moniya-Iseyin road is a promise kept as the road was in a moribund state for several years under the past administration.
“I am sure I speak for myself, the people of Iseyin in particular and the good people of Oyo State when I say, we are delighted that you could be here today at the commissioning of the 65km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road.”
“This road remained in a deplorable state for several years. I remember that immediately after I became governor, I began to receive SOS messages regarding this road. I remember this particular request on social media from someone who said some parents have had to withdraw their children from school because of their inability to navigate this road to get to school.”
Governor Makinde berated the immediate past APC-led administration for abandoning the road even after awarding it to a contractor who did less than five percent job having collected millions of naira.
“Although a contract for rehabilitation of this road was awarded by the previous administration, our initial inspection visits in 2019 revealed that the contractors had not even done 5% of the work here before abandoning it. We therefore had to revoke and re-award the contract.”
“I always say that whatever decisions we make at any point in this administration will be based on science, data and logic. So, we factored in that we wanted this road to be top grade and last at least 10 years before any rehabilitations. For this reason, we decided to increase the stubbing course from about 150mm to about 200mm, and we also changed the asphaltic wearing course from 40mm to 50mm.”
“Looking at the initial design, we also realised that there was inadequate provision for drainage. So, we had to remedy that too.”
“More importantly, the original contract was for what they called, “limited rehabilitation.” This is just a fancy way of saying they would patch the road. They would look at those areas that they felt were bad and do some rehabilitation works. For us, this was flawed logic. We knew this would only amount to kicking the ball forward. In a year or so, we would be back to doing major rehabilitations.”
“So, with all the available data, we decided that the more logical thing to do would be to increase the contract sum by about 2.9 billion Naira and deliver the quality of road that our people deserved.”
“What we have done here is the total reconstruction of this 65km road at 9.9 billion Naira and this translates to 152 million Naira per kiliometre.
So again, based on science, data and logic we made the best decision overall.”
“Of course, we understood the economic significance of this road not only to individual residents but also to the growth of commerce and industry.
The Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road is the link between Ibadan and Oke-Ogun, Oyo State’s food basket. This road also hosts the once moribund Pacesetter Quarry and Asphalt Plant; not only have we resuscitated the plant, but it is already producing asphalt that we use in the building of our roads here in Oyo State. As we drive down this road, I am sure you will see the economic impact it has with the springing up of farm estates on both sides of the road.”
“So, as we commission this road, let me again remind our people that we promised you economic development and prosperity through our Roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State, 2019-2023. This is just another way that we are delivering on good governance. This is another promise kept.”