By Simon Ebegbulem
GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has frowned at the decision of the Federal Government to replace Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, handling the Benin-Ore Road with a local contractor due to the incessant kidnapping of expatriate staff of the company.

He argued that rather than employ incompetent contractors to replace RCC, the Federal Government should use its security forces to secure all  highways,  since it was incharge of the army, the police and the State Security Services, SSS.

The Governor was reacting to the recent statement credited to the Minister of State for Works, Dr Chris Ogienwonyi, who recently said that the Federal Government had revoked the contract for the dualization of the Ugbowo Road embarked upon by the state government, due to alleged failure to obtain clearance by the state government.

He described Ogienwonyi’s outburst as anti-development, saying  “there are issues that have to do with public welfare  we must not politicize. Even if we must politicize them, we must have at the back of our mind that the essence of politics is the welfare of the citizens.”

According to him, “How can the Federal Government terminate a contract it never awarded in a democracy. If they thought any thing was wrong, why didn’t they invite me as a Governor to ask me why we awarded the contract. There was no  verbal or oral communication; like a general, they just went to announce that they had terminated the contract. I just want to re-assure the good people of Edo State that even before I became a Governor, I know I have a small frame and I am a quiet person, but I can become a lion when you want to oppress me.

“I have made up my mind long ago that I will never be oppressed again on this planet. I will fight every oppressor. So let nobody purports to use federal might to oppress me as the Governor of this state,” he added.

“But I want to say publicly to the Minister of that the Federal Government does not have any land in Edo state. Under the constitution the land is vested on the Governor and if I don’t give them permission they cannot construct road any where in Edo state. I don’t need the permission of any body, under the land use act to use any land in Edo state.

“I want to invite the Minister to read the constitution, appreciate his limit and stop harassing me just because he has Federal might. I expected him to ensure that all the Federal roads in Benin City that they are properly maintained.  It is a shame that this state has produced Ministers of Works, yet our roads have remained as an embarrassment not only to us but to the Federal Government. He has the obligation to assure us that that road along Ugbowo that is bad will be maintained rather than making futile attempt to revoke the contract that is beyond his competence” he asserted.