The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of inflating project costs within the state. The party alleges that the construction of three flyovers in Effurun, Warri has been significantly overpriced by the governor, reaching an excessive N78 billion, despite doubts about the completion within an eight-year timeline.
The APC refers to previous concerns raised by the Delta Contractors Forum, which labeled the N78 billion project as fraudulent. This group claimed that the state government paid the total contract sum to Julius Berger, totaling N78 billion, directly contradicting the government’s statement that only 25% was mobilized.
Moreover, the Contractors Forum alleged a kickback of N50 billion arranged by the governor in collaboration with the construction company, pointing to a projected variation in project cost amounting to N125 billion.
While the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Festus Ahon, refuted these allegations, the Commissioner responsible for Urban and Highway roads, Reuben Izeze, dismissed the Contractors’ Forum petition to the EFCC as false and malicious. Izeze focused on the relocation of the 333 KV transmission line, estimated to cost N1.7 billion and expected to take over a year to complete.
However, the Delta State APC reiterated its concerns, emphasizing that the N78 billion allocated for three flyovers and the NPA-DSC expressway expansion appeared exorbitant for the projects’ size. The party criticized the Oborevwori administration for allegedly perpetuating financial malpractice similar to the previous government’s actions, suggesting a continuity of economic mismanagement.
Comparatively, the APC highlighted instances where Governor Zulum of Borno State undertook 77 signature projects in his first 100 days, contrasting it with Oborevwori’s celebration of three flyovers costing N78 billion.
The party also referenced the past governor of Ebonyi State, now Minister of Works, David Umahi, implying that Umahi’s 18 constructed flyovers didn’t cost as much as the N78 billion projected for the Delta project.
Finally, the APC called upon the citizens of Delta State to demand accountability from Governor Oborevwori, urging a thorough review of the state’s earnings and allocations during his five-month tenure.
“It is laughable to see the Sheriff Oborevwori administration inviting people to witness the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of 3 flyovers. How can Delta State with so much resources be talking about 3 flyovers at this point of its existence while states like Rivers under Wike had over 9 flyovers for 63 billion before his exit from government?
“Why is Delta State under Sheriff spending 78 billion to construct just only 3 flyovers? Former Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade did not just construct roads and flyovers, he also established industries in different parts of the state that created jobs for the indigenous people of Cross River State.
“But in the case of our State, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and his PDP cohorts are celebrating the groundbreaking of 3 flyovers as an accomplishment at such a time when Gov. Sanwo Olu Lagos State has completed and is currently operating a blue rail public transit system and has commenced the phase two which is the red line rail system.
“This occasion is nothing more than the celebration of mediocrity and one of those jamborees which the PDP government in Delta State has been known for”, he added.
