Obaseki Under Fire From PDP, Oshiomole For Calling For Probe Of N30b Water Project

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has been criticized by the Chairman Of the All Progressive Congress APC, Adams Oshiomhole as well as the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Edo State chapter, Mr Dan Orbih, for calling for the probe of N30b Edo water storm project.

Governor Obaseki had asked members of the House of Representative’s committee on Niger Delta Development Commission to probe the water project during a visit to the state.

The Special Adviser on media to Oshiomhole, Mr Simon Ebegbulem made this known via press statement on Saturday.

He described the comment by Obaseki as unfair comment intended to rubbish the integrity of Oshiomhole.

Ebegbulem said “it is unfair for some mischief makers to try to drag the name of Adams Oshiomhole through the mire with regard to the N30bn storm water project. That administration completed six of the 23 catchment areas. Continuation is required by the current administration towards finding lasting solution to the problem. “Oshiomhole is no longer governor of Edo State; he would have seen to the end of this project if he were still in office, but as you know he has successfully completed his maximum eight years in office.”

He stressed that the water project was a long term project that required continuity from successive administrations.

“This is a project that another governor, even after Obaseki, will also continue. It is a huge project. Fortunately, the incumbent governor was chairman of the economic team in Oshiomhole’s administration – he was part of the system and he is well abreast with the project. I recall when the American ambassador and other officials of the American government visited Edo State then. They went on a tour of some of the projects executed by Oshiomhole and they singled out this particular project as one of the best initiatives of that administration,” Ebegbulem said.

In a similar vein, the state chairman of PDP, Dan Orbih berated Obaseki’s call for probe of the project, adding that he was the brain behind the project and as such should desist from the blame game.

He said “I want to use this opportunity of this visit to call on Obaseki to stop the blame game. We are aware that the bond taken by the government to embark on this project was facilitated by him as chairman of the then Economic Team of Adams Oshiomhole’s government in Edo.”

“The governor cannot embark on a blame game; from the inception, he was part of this project and today, the project has been abandoned,” Orbih added.