Senator Adams Oshiomhole
• Says criticism not political but mere duty call as a Senator
From our Bureau Chief, Abuja
The former national Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole has continued the questioning of the Minister of Works, David Umahi over his decisions on road projects.
Oshiomhole insists that Umahi is biased in the allocation of funds for federal road projects, arguing that fixing bad existing roads ought to have been prioritised before considering the building of new ones.
The ever outspoken Senator representing the northern senatorial district of Edo State, was said to have again tackled the Work Minister during a podcast interview circulating on the social media.
He revisited his clash with him over the ministry’s budget and handling of federal roads.
Oshiomhole was quoted to have explained that his criticism of the minister at a National Assembly budget defence, was merely a part of his job as a lawmaker to question government spending and ensure money was deployed to where it was most needed.
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He said he questioned why Government was budgeting for new roads when many federal roads across the country were in bad shape and needed urgent repair.
The ministry should first make existing roads motorable before embarking on the building of new projects, he maintained.
“As a manager, you don’t keep building new houses when you can’t maintain the ones you have. It is common sense,” he said.
Though he remains a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and an ally of President Bola Tinubu, the former Governor asserts his position was not in any way political.
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This is as he further accused Umahi of hiding behind the President’s name instead of responding to the issues raised at the hearing.
“Ministers should not drop his name to cover up their own mess,” Oshiomhole said, adding that the President cannot supervise every ministry.
It was the duty of the Works Minister to assess road conditions, set priorities and propose budgets accordingly, he argued.
Saying available funds should be used to repair existing roads, Oshiomhole also faulted the Minister’s plan to take more new road projects to the Federal Executive Council.
While also questioning how some contractors got the jobs, he stated the ministry must take responsibility for the contractors it hires.
In his criticism, Oshiomhole noted the Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA) was established by the Government to maintain roads, hence there must be a better coordination between the agency and the ministry.
Therefore the Minister must use reports from federal controllers of works across the zones to help him know which roads are bad and need attention, even if he cannot visit every road himself.
#AdamsOshiomhole, #@theNig.senate
#David Umahi’s and Nig. South-South roads
#FG action on road projects, #war on Nig. bad roads
