Osun state government says it takes over the reconstruction of the Osogbo-Okinni-Ilobu federal roads to alleviate the hardship road users face while plying the road.
One of the opposition parties in Osun state, the Accord Party had in a statement accused the State Government of taking over a road project that had already been awarded by the Federal Government.
Reacting in a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Osun state Governor, Mr Ismail Omipidan described the party’s claims as unfortunate, lame and illogical.
Mr Omipidan noted the road had been in a deplorable condition for so long and government could not afford to allow citizens continue to suffer on the road, saying the government followed due process in taking over the project.
He said while the contract for the rehabilitation of the road had been truly awarded by the federal government on two different occasions since 2012, no concrete work had been done on the project, a development he said forced the State government to take over the project.
“The contract for rehabilitating the road was first awarded by the federal government 10 years ago, but since then, no significant work has been done on the project that has caused so much hardship for our people who use the road.
“It was for this reason that the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola-led administration decided to take over the project to address the needless sufferings and loss of man-hours on the facility,” Omipidan explained.
He further noted that Accord party should be more concerned on how to sell its candidate to the people of Osun rather than engaging in a futile exercise.
“The party’s comments on the take-over of the road project by the State government are lame and illogical,” he added.
Omipidan further said: “Accord Party should simply bury its head in shame. Are they saying we should continue to allow the people of Osun to suffer under our administration simply because the road belongs to the federal government?
“If they were discerning enough and if they had listened to Mr. Governor’s speech on the day we flagged off the reconstruction of that road, I am sure they would not bother themselves issuing a statement that lacks substance.
“Mr. Governor said it clearly in his speech that the road contract was awarded about 10 years ago and that as a state government, even though it is a federal government project, we did everything possible to support all the contractors that have had cause to work on that road. But there was no positive result.
“The argument on the timing of the award of the project is preposterous and ill-judged. A government can award a project contract even a week to its expiration, as long as it is in the overall interest of the State and its people.
“During the Governor’s January broadcast, he stated it clearly that though 2022 is going to be an election year but as a responsible governor, he will not allow politics to over shadow governance, so if anything, the Governor should be commended for walking his talk.’
Mr Omipidan advised Accord party to be more concerned on how to sell its candidate to the people instead of attacking the governor.
Abiodun Adeoye
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