By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, led by Chief Dan Orbih, weekend, accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of awarding contracts estimated at over N6 billion without due process.

The party also asked the Governor to resign for allegedly using the state’s fund to sponsor the Dr Samuel Ogbemudia-led PDP in the state, through paid advertorials with the aim of destabilizing the party in the state. The allegation followed a memo, which purportedly originated from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the state government, instructing the General Manager of the state owned newspaper to publish an advertorial signed by the factional chairman of the PDP in the state, Elder Sunny Uyigue, welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to Benin.

Chief Orbih, who addressed newsmen in Benin City, insisted that “most of the road contracts were inflated seriously and when you compare them with that of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Ministry of Works, you will see a big difference. The Anegbete Ekperi Road and the Ewohinmi Road were never advertised. This government promotes corruption and over invoicing of contracts. It has the habit of cleverly refusing to state the distances of the roads and the contractors handling the projects.”

But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Anslem Ojezua, described the allegations as unfounded. He queried the authenticity of Chief Orbih as the chairman of the party in the state, when according to him, he never emerged from any congress of the PDP.

He said, “that memo they claimed came from the Office of the Chief of Staff was forged and that is criminal of Orbih.” He added that “since 1979, no government in this state has advertised contracts more than this Oshiomhole led government. And this is because of the resolve for due process and transparency. We have ensured that whatever we do, our citizens must get value for their money.”