PDP Faults Oshiomhole's Re-award of Benin Central Hospital Renovation Contract

Says it is a time bomb
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has raised the alarm on the dangers posed by rebuilding parts of the Benin Central Hospital that collapsed during construction two years ago.

Edo State government had last week re-awarded the Central Hospital project to Messrs S & A Construction company with a one-year completion period.

However, the PDP at a press conference by its state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih faulted the move. The party challenged the state government to publish the report of the panel that probed collapsed hospital building.

Orbih said the failure of the state government to completely level the building, in accordance with the recommendation of the panel could pose serious risk in the future.

“We cannot fold our arms and watch this government endanger the lives of innocent people. The lives of the people is important to us as a stake-holder in the state.

“We challenge the Edo State government to publish the report of the findings of the panel. We will challenge this in court as we will not allow more people to be killed”, promised the PDP chairman.

He continued, “The initial sum of the project was N2.7 billion. They later increased it to N3 billion before the disaster. Now, they have come out saying that they have re-awarded it. We ask the state government, how much of the initial sum was paid the old contractor and how much was paid the new contractors?”

The party also claimed that contracts were being awarded in the state without recourse to due process.

“Only few days ago, the Minister of Works, Architect Mike Onolemenen, flagged off the Egba-Akure road. The road is 25km and it was awarded for N3.2 billion. In Edo State, the Oba Market Road of about 700 metres was awarded for N2.1 billion.

“The walkway of the Sapele road which is less than 1.5km was also awarded for N1.5 billion. Now, Governor Oshiomhole doesn't even have roads to commission but already constructed Federal Government road such as the Dawson-Uselu-Ugbowo road.

“The governor went there last week to cut a tape, saying that he was commissioning the road. Good thing is that the Federal Controller for Works in Edo State has exposed the fraud,” stressed Orbih.

On the controversial teachers' competency test, Orbih chided Governor Oshiomhole for being contemptuous of the court injunction restraining the state government from conducting the test had been granted by a court.

PDP lauded Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) for reportedly questioning the powers of Edo State government to conduct competence test on teachers, and the pledge to join the teachers in what he described as “our fight”