Matters arising from Delta State Government’s revocation of Sector A of the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriageway
By GbaramatuVoice Editorial Board
Similar to the feeling of excitement nursed by the generality of Deltans of goodwill, over the recent termination of the nine-year old contract for ‘Sector A’ of the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriageway, GbaramatuVoice Editorial Board commends the Delta State Government.
The newspaper particularly acknowledges the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s sudden admission through the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who told the media, shortly after the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Asaba, that the council approved the revocation because the contractor had fallen below expectations for the execution of the contract as the government could not afford to be dragged back by the slow pace of work.
However, while GbaramatuVoice applauds the state government for its present action, it raises the question as to why it took Okowa’s led state government such a long time to arrive at this belated decision and painful recognition? Is the state government saying that it did not receive enough signs and early warnings to possible failure of the project?
Again, why is the project revocation coming at this period of electioneering, even when available information shows that the contractor that has been handling that project since 2013, when it was awarded, has persistently demonstrated lack of technical skills and experience needed to execute such a massive project? Can The Governor give Deltans reason explanatory enough to make them believe that this is not another political gimmicks?
Why must Okowa allow the contractor this protracted period of 8years to play ‘casino ‘with tax payers money? Isn’t that a mark of insensitivity and poor leadership judgment on the part of the Governor?
What becomes the fate of the now revoked project? Is it going to be re-awarded to another contractor or fall into the legion of abandoned projects which currently litters the state?
What about the state’s fund so far disbursed to the now sacked contractor? Is it going to be refunded or join the league of ‘go and sin no more’ syndrome which has visibly become both trademark and hallmark of the present administration in the state?
Indeed, while it is important for the Governor to provide answer to the above questions, it is equally important that the newspaper draws the attention of the Okowa-led government to how his poor leadership judgment presently promotes wastage and deprive Deltans of infrastructural development and other democracy dividends.
GbaramatuVoice therefore, holds the opinion that it is important that a new contractor be appointed, backed with adequate funds, superior technical skills and experience to replace the sacked contractor, who obviously lacks the wherewithal to complete the bridge.
It also calls on Delta state to, at this critical moment of her existence, perform this traditional but universal responsibility of provision of economic and infrastructural succour to the citizenry, which the instrumentality of participatory democracy and election of leaders confers on it.
This must be done not for political reasons but for the overall development of the state and its citizenries.
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