“0803-301-9018 Sir Uduaghan has no clue about governance. He mouths a 3 point agenda which has gone nowhere for 5 years. His only agenda was and still to cover up thieving of our commonwealth by Ibori and their clan. Pls ask them how much they have spent on the airport so far.

Ask them if they did any feasibility study, why the so called ant hills were not identified. According to them, the need for citing the airport in Asaba was to bring in revenue from the use by traders in the east. So why was it not built to that specification in the first place to accommodate bigger planes. Sir, pls ask the right questions otherwise you stand the risk of tarnishing your hard earned reputation…”

“0805-823-1669
The Asaba airport has turned out to be a case of financial terrorism and a brummagem Barmecidal dish in Delta State (frm N14 billion to over N40 b….”.

The columnist, given a small ration of space in a newspaper, each time, runs great risks of being misunderstood. Consequently, he gets punished, justly it must be added, by his readers for submissions not fully explained. The two text messages represent both the spanking, deserved by me, as well as an opportunity to explain more and to get more involved in this matter than anticipated when it started. Permit me to start with the second.

The second message, which arrived incomplete, has all the trademarks of my good friend, Chief Bobson Gbinije, living in Warri and a patriotic Nigerian, if ever there is one and a deeply concerned Deltan about any matter relating to Delta. His alarm is shared by all well-meaning Deltans, as well as Nigerians.

More than we realise, states are to some extent, artificial creations of politicians and the military. Our lives and our future are more inextricably linked across state lines than we suppose. The message raises two fundamental issues for the media commentator who must be fair to all concerned – including the government of Delta state.

Since it is a basic rule of journalism that facts are sacred, who ever makes a categorical statement must offer proof. So, to my friend Bobson goes the first question: has N40 billion actually been spent? And where is the evidence?

However, because the accused entity is government, in which everybody has a stake, the next question, which incidentally takes cognizance of the concerns of the first message, goes to the Delta State government. How much has actually been spent on the airport? And is it true that the original estimate was N14 billion? In short, is there any truth to the accusations?

The first message, whose author was graceful enough to worry about my reputation, poses a wider set of problems than issues relating to the Asaba Airport; it actually goes into the ultimate perceptions of Deltans about governance in their state and TRUST in the governor.

It is that confidence in me, which underlies the message that has now prompted me to present the accusations in public, so that everybody can intervene. As usual, let me state clearly that I last met Governor Uduaghan, personally, five years ago. And no envelopes changed hands.

Actually, any columnist worth his salt who wants to be compromised, and get rich doing so, will be better laundering the image of the President of Nigeria; the Presidency holds Nigeria’s biggest pot of gold. Yet, I have been critical of every Head of State, military or civilian since General Yakubu Gowon till Jonathan.

So, the author need not worry too much, even if in the course of this series on the Asaba Airport some things are written on which there is disagreement. As she advised, by the time you read this second part of the series, I would have endeavoured to get as much information as possible about the airport.

Any categorical statement read here can be substantiated. I am aware that the Delta State government has an image problem; I also believe that they have not explained themselves enough on this project. So, for now, suspend suspicion, I will get the answers – sooner or later.

Having said that; let me quickly recap what was written last week; the real content of which was not an endorsement of the government’s spending on the airport in general. There were three key points. First, a friend in the US wanting to invest in Nigeria in certain sectors had asked me to survey other airports other than Lagos, Abuja, Portharcourt for his venture.

On my own, and without holding discussions with government officials, I visited and shortlisted three airports – Owerri, Asaba and Uyo; and I highly recommended Asaba. But, there is a problem. Of the three, Asaba is the least developed and there is a need to know what the future development plans for the airport are. So, I have been trying to get an appointment with Delta government.

The planned Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, involved will be enormous. By, the way, the potential investor has a second choice – Ghana. It will break my heart if the money goes away to Ghana.

Second, there was controversy over the N7.5 billion spent to level “ant-hills” preparatory to the President’s visit. There is no way for me to verify if indeed N7.5 billion was spent; and if it was only disbursed to clear ant-hills. My point on that is simple.

If any state, Delta or not, has to spend N7.5 billion to ensure the safety of President Jonathan, they should do it; because, if any harm comes to Jonathan, Nigeria will lose over N2 trillion of naira within a few days of that occurrence. That still remains my position –even though I also think Jonathan should be planning to return to Otuoke, with truck loads of shoes, by 2015. Until, then he must be protected at all costs.

Third, and just as important, I warned that we risk losing FDI which the Asaba Airport might already be attracting by the noise over the N7.5 billion. Ordinarily, it is not the investors business whether you spend N40 billion or N400 billion on an aviation sector infrastructure.

He is only worried about whether it will serve his purposes. Furthermore, the fundamental question which everybody should ask is: will the Asaba Airport, as conceived be feasible, at any cost? If it is not, it will still constitute a waste of resources at forty naira (N40).

Several examples already stare us in the face – Ibadan, Akure, Minna and Sokoto. Even if no kobo was stolen when the contracts were awarded, to me, they have become monuments to somebody’s ego. The issue of whether the Asaba or Gombe airports represent value for money is secondary to determining whether they should be established in the first instance and if they are viable.

If the Asaba airport is potentially viable, then the government which conceived of it should receive credit for that idea first. And we should never forget that, “Ideas are the real capital; the rest is money”. It will amount to a deliberate misreading of that last statement to conclude that I endorse corruption.

To the best of my knowledge, I have published the first attempt to document official corruption in a book titled PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED. That is volume one; volume two is now being compiled and it will focus the grand larceny at state levels – all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.

The dilemma some of us face is again simple. We realize that Nigeria has infrastructure deficits everywhere – power, road, railways, waterways, airports, schools, hospitals etc. To reduce the deficits huge contracts must be awarded.

Huge contracts mean that some kleptomaniacs get the opportunity to rob us blind. Apparently we can’t have one without the other.  So, when the road is built, we clap first; then shout “thief” after. Right now what I am doing is clapping on account of the potential benefits the Asaba Airport will confer to Asaba, to Delta and to Nigeria. Rest assured, if there is evidence, I will join in shouting “thief”. All, we have now, as journalists will say, are rumours. And nobody, not even the Governor of Delta State should be condemned on hearsay.

Wait for my findings about the airport. I think that is fair – to all concerned.