The Edo State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have traded words over the reconstruction of the Benin-Asaba Road.
Governor Monday Okpebholo visited the project site on Wednesday and praised the Federal Government for the ongoing reconstruction. He commended President Bola Tinubu, expressing confidence that the road would be completed as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The governor also reviewed the progress on Amufi Road in the Agbor area which connects four communities of Amufi, Okpagha, Iyanomo, and Egiekpe.
However, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee in the state, Chris Nehikhare, said it was dishonest and laughable for the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, to claim credit for the ongoing reconstruction of the road.
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He said the Benin-Asaba Expressway reconstruction project was initiated, structured, and finalised by the immediate past PDP-led administration of governor Godwin Obaseki.
“In January 2024, Obaseki signed a landmark N228bn concession agreement with Triple A Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, InfraCorp, and Africa Plus Partners for the comprehensive redevelopment of the expressway. The project falls under the Federal Government’s Highway Development and Management Initiative.
“This was not just another government contract, it was a well-thought-out Public-Private Partnership, anchored on a solid funding and implementation framework aimed at reducing pressure on public finances while unlocking long-term economic gains for Edo and Nigeria at large.
“This political maneuvering, at the expense of timely infrastructure delivery, speaks volumes of APC’s priorities.”
In response, Okpebholo, in a statement by his CPS, Itua, said he was bequeathed failed roads, collapsed infrastructure to Edo people in eight years.
Okpebholo added that his administration would fix the failed roads in Edo Central, which he said he inherited from the previous administration.
“Bad roads across Edo State are one of the things I inherited from former governor Obaseki and the PDP for eight years they were in power.
“I was with the President about a week ago, and he told us as governors to look into our bad roads and fix them. So, I am going round to implement what Mr. President requested from the governors.”