...Task Oborevwori To Retain Julius Berger For Significant Projects
By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Following increased monthly allocations accruing to Delta State from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), an environmental activist, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade has challenged the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to allow these huge resources to reflect in physical infrastructures across the State.
Chief Mulade, who is the National Coordinator for Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), made the call shortly after he was decorated as Patron of Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council in Warri, recently.
Expressing his opinion on the increased Federal Allocation to the state, Mulade said Oborevwori, is privileged to govern the State at the moment, saying he is the most richest governor in Nigeria.
“Delta State today, is the most richest State in Nigeria and our governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is privileged to govern the most richest State. That qualifies him to be the richest governor governing the richest State in Nigeria.
“It is my personal thought and opinion that at this point, Deltans want to see these huge resources to reflect in terms of infrastructure and in all areas of the State so that we can in turn appreciate and thank the governor for doing well.
“Some of us will not commend him for political reasons, as an activist who is the voice of the voiceless and hope of the hopeless, we are not anti-government, but we will continue to express the plights of the people to the government.
“The governor should translate the resources in the State into development. This state at this moment, is not expected to borrow money from any institution either locally or international because we have the resources to run Delta.
“Delta is rich enough to even borrow to some other states with the current economy, we are well blessed to even lease to other states with interest as also the former the of investment that comes to the State.
“We appreciate the governor today, for embarking on some projects across the State. One of such, is the flyover at PTI junction being constructed by Julius Berger and we can see the work; we don’t expect anything less from Julius Berger, from what they are doing because we know them.
“When you visit Akwa-Ibom, Rivers State – Port Harcourt and even Abuja, you can see what Julius Berger is doing. So, we are not surprised that they can work in this speed.
“This projects should not be the only project that Julius Berger will embark on in Delta State. This should be a pilot project, just N78 billion”, it should be a pilot project, the UN Peace Ambassador reiterated.
Continuing, he said: “N78 billion is just about two or three months Delta State money from FAAC. Julius Berger should be engaged to embark on other significant projects. I expect that the governor will use Julius Berger to kick off the Ayakorimo Bridge, leading to Burutu and Forcados terminal.
“Forcados terminal under Burutu local government area, is the economy life wire and base of Nigeria oil and gas. Escravos terminal is there, these are two terminals and if you go to some States, they struggle to get one terminal but Delta State is blessed with two terminals that Nigeria, is struggling with.
“So, if these two terminals are connected to the upland, Delta will be a designation for development.
“The governor should retain Julius Berger in this State and use them to embark on those important projects”, he restated.