Oshiomhole In A Fight Between The Elephant And The Pit

By Ehichioya Steve Odion

Edo People have faulted the recent claim by the Minister of State, Budget and Planning, Prince Clem Agba that the Federal Government has sited 60 projects in Edo State.

You will recall that the Minister, Prince Clem Agba was in Edo state recently to inaugurate and inspect some ongoing Federal Government projects.

Agba said FG has sited no fewer than 60 projects in Edo State under the Economic Sustainability Plan to open up and integrates in the state, adding that the inauguration of the projects in the rural areas was as a result of 60 per cent post harvest loss by farmers and to reduce poverty in rural areas.

But some stakeholders in Edo State who did not want their names mentioned here strongly faulted the Minister's claim that President Buhari's government was doing well in the area of projects in Edo State. They said any project in Edo without the inclusion of the Benin Auchi Road project which is now a death trap for road users may not be appreciated by the people.

They also challenged Prince Clem Agba to mention the areas where the 60 projects are  located across Edo State to justify his claims. They said that from their findings they discovered that 80% of the projects he claimed he came to inaugurate and inspect in Edo were concentrated in Uzanu Community in Etsako Local Government Area of Edo North where the Minister hails from. "For the avoidance of doubt the FG projects sited in Clem Agba's Community Uzanu includes 1.5 km Mogbe - Edegbe Road, 4.5 km Agenebode - Unedeger Road, 2.5 km Ekiwosor - Ivikhue Road, Imukena Road, installation of 500 KVA transformer in Agenebode, Bore hole, Open Stalls Market and Solar street lights".

Other projects inspected or inaugurated by the Minister include construction of 31 km Uzanu - Ajaokuta Road in  Kogi, 215 km Uzanu - Okpekpe Road, 6km Ogeneda - Ugochi Road, 10 km Egbegene - Ate Road all in Etsako Local Government Area  and Somorika Road in Akoko Edo.

He also commissioned a water project in Uromi.

They charged the Minister, Prince Clem Agba to be sincere enough to always spread the projects allocated to Edo State by the FG to other Senatorial districts as a representative of Edo State at the Federal level, instead of concentrating them in his local government and particularly his  community Uzanu.

They therefore, called on the Federal Government to fix the Benin Auchi Road as quickly as possible, as that is the only way they can feel the Federal Government's presence in Edo State.