Nigeria Content Online

The Edo State
government has awarded a N30 billion contract for the construction of a
modern moat to check erosion-ravaged Siluko Road, otherwise known as
“Teachers’ House,” in Benin City, the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole,
stated in Benin City yesterday at the commissioning of the newly
reconstructed and dualised Oba Market Road.

The proposed 45
square meters, 7 meters deep moat will capture erosion water from
Adolor Road, in Ugbowor, Teachers’ House in Siluko Road and terminate
at the Ogba River.

The governor
revealed that the contract includes the construction of eight adjoining
roads around the areas captured in the project, all to be completed
with side drains, walkways and street lights.

The Teachers’ House
area of the city has suffered from erosion for many years, and has
defied all palliative measures by past administrations to check the
menace of the ravaging waters coming all the way from Ugbowo, Uwelu and
down to the Siluko area.

Several lives have
been lost and many houses totally submerged as a result of the effect
of the erosion, forcing many to abandon their houses. Those who remain
were always in fear whenever the raining season approached. Driving
vehicles to the area was always a nightmare, resulting in the high cost
of transportation, as many commercial drivers usually abandoned the
route, while those who ventured into the road increased their charges.

Mr Oshiomhole
restated his readiness to give the best to the people of Edo State at
whatever cost. “We are ready to do it, because this city deserves our
all, and we are ready to give,” he said, adding that the government
acquired the waste management equipment at high cost “to help cast away
the waste of the city as it is done in the more civilized world. The
challenge of fixing Benin City will be approached with facts and study,
and work done based on knowledge”.

The waste
management equipment launched include: two units of ELGIN Pelican
three-wheeled broom mechanical street sweepers, 3 units of
Roll-on-Roll-off trucks with hydraulic hook, 350 steel waste bins, 300
galvanized polythene bins, 500 standard wheel barrows, 10 mowing
machines and others.

Mr Oshiomhole also
used the occasion of the commissioning to lash out at his critics. He
said that the occasion was significant to him, as it marks the
fulfilment of some of his electioneering promises, and freedom for all
the people of Edo State from godfathers who hitherto used the lean
resources of the state to finance their party machinery and to further
their own selfish nets alone.

Not borrowing money

Refuting
allegations by opposition PDP that his government has continued to
borrow money to “plant flowers at the Ring Road,” thereby, increasing
the debt burden of Edo State, Mr Oshiomhole said, “We will continue to
borrow to develop Edo State if we have to do so. We will borrow for the
development of our state if necessary. But I am happy to tell you that
we have not borrowed. What we are using is the savings that used to go
to Uromi. He can no longer take our money to Abuja. He can no longer
disburse the state’s money to fund his party machinery. The state is
free for good.

“From Edo North,
Edo Central, and Edo South, godfathers have died and are buried
forever. They can go and take NPA’s money to fund their party. But we
must remind them that those who used NPA’s money in the past to help
rig elections in 2007, we know their address.” He said that the one
purpose he has is to make the wheel of progress irreversible, and that
the struggle will continue until Edo people are free and the children
inherit a clean society.

“Whatever honest mistakes we make in the process of fixing the state, they will be corrected,” Mr Oshiomhole said.