By Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN—NEWLY elected Edo State Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr Thomas Okosun, yesterday, expressed dismay over the cancelation of expansion of Benin/Lagos Road from Oluku to five junctions by the Minister of State for Works, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi.

Dr. Ogiemwonyi was on Wednesday, quoted to have said that the Federal Government canceled the contract because the Edo State government failed to comply with the procedure by obtaning approval of the Federal Government before embarking on the expansion.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, yesterday, Mr Okosun noted that the most painful aspect was that a son of Edo State was the one inflicting pains on the people of Edo State in the name of politics.

Okosun, who was flanked by other elected state executive members of ACN, recalled that in recent past, another Edo indigene also used his office as Minister of Defence to disband the Joint Military Patrol Team constituted by Governor Adams Oshiomhole after passionately pleading with the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who gave his approval.

He said the Minister of State for Works must be reminded that history would judge him for the good and positive change he brought to Edo State and Benin City than the destruction he wants to cause the people of the state through the cancelation of the contract.

While urging Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to continue with expansion of the road which has claimed the lives of uncountable Nigerians, The Edo State Chairman of ACN, vowed that the party would resisr any attempt by anybody or group of persons to disturb the process of reconstruction of the road.

He said,   “We want to remind the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] that Edo State Government is not by any means asking for assistance in the development of the road”