By Igbini Odafe Emmanuel
My attention was drawn this morning to Media Reports of ongoing fierce controversy between the PDP-led Government of Delta State and some Officials of Delta State All Progressive Congress (APC) over the size of Reinforcement Bars (REBARS) currently being used by Julius Berger Construction Company for the ongoing construction of Flyovers at PTI Junction at Effurun near Warri. This was shocking and sadden me at a time that I was celebrating Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for breaking the jinx in contracting Nigeria’s Leading Construction Company, to execute these very laudable Projects in the Oil City of Effurun and Warri.
While the said Officials of the Delta State APC are alleging that the size of the Rebars used for the Piers is not more than 10mm in Diameter, which if proven to be true, is grossly undersized for such Flyovers meant to carry massive load, the Delta State Government through its Commissioner for Works, Comrade Reuben Izeze, insists that they are 16mm Diameter as provided in the approved Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME).
Whatever the truth is about the size of these Rebars being used, it should and must be verified by Independent and Credible Persons trusted by the Delta State Government, Opposing Political Parties and Deltans. I volunteer to do this for the overriding Interest of the people of Delta State.
However, my major concern and unhappiness is with the leadership of Delta State All Progressive Congress (APC), the leading Opposition Political Party in Delta State for failing to constantly perform its role of monitoring, analysing and evaluating all major policies, actions and projects of the Delta State Government to make sure that they serve the best interest of the people of Delta State.
Opposition Political Parties are not only to sit back to criticise and find faults in incumbent Governments but are to act as Co-Government, objectively analysing the Policies and Actions of Governments at very early stages, and where necessary, criticise any wrong in them but more importantly, provide alternative ideas to get things done right
The construction of these flyovers has reached an advanced stage such that correcting any engineering error or fraud now would require complete demolition of the massive concrete works already done on the Pile and Piers and beginning afresh. These will not only be a waste of precious time but a huge loss of funds in billions of Naira to Delta State
If the Delta State APC had from the commencement of the construction of these Projects, deployed Engineering Experts to the Sites to daily monitor the quality, quantities and sizes of materials being deployed and the quality of concrete mix, this controversy would have been averted.
It is on record that when I was still the leader of the Opposition Political Party (Peoples Redemption Party, PRP) in Delta State from 2007 to 2015), I consistently monitored and analysed all major policies and actions of the Delta State Government under Governor Uduaghan, commending some that deserved to be commended while strongly condemning those that should be condemned but above all, I played a critical role of advising the Government on how better to do certain things for the overriding good of our State and people.
May I inform us here that it is in record that I strongly condemned the design of the Flyover at Effurun at the initial stage of commencement of the Projects under Governor Uduaghan but sadly, the Governor was misled by the Engineers in charge and today, the reality has proved that I was right and billions of Naira is now budgeted and approved to correct this error.
– Comrade (Engr) Igbini Odafe Emmanuel former Governorship Candidate of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Delta State
