Daniel used Air Cargo, Power Plant Project to siphon money, says Amosun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, Southwest, Nigeria has declared that the power plant project initiated by the past administration in the state was meant to siphon the state funds.

Amosun disclosed that his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel and his cohorts did not mean well for the state with the project, saying it was not done in a good faith.

The governor stated this when he featured on a live radio programme, “Meet with the Governor” on Paramount FM station in Abeokuta, the state capital yesterday.

Amosun who was fielding a question from a caller who asked him about the power plant project, revealed that he would prefer to remain silent on the matter and instead, look for a way out, but decided to break his silence.

“I have decided not to talk about this issue again but if I continue to be silent on the matter, the good people of Ogun state will not understand what has been happening. When we came on board, what we met was not good at all, they claimed they have done seven but we met only two, and the two were not functioning well.

“In the records we met on ground, they said they have spent almost N10billion but some people also came to demand for a payment of about N8billion, claiming that the past administration owed them such amount on the same project. If you add them together, it will give you N18billion. I said I can’t pay such money and they took us to Arbitration court, we are still in court as I speak.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel
Otunba Gbenga Daniel

“They came back later for settlement and demanded that we give them N5billion and forget the remaining money but I said I can’t pay them a dime. I remember that I once told them to pack all the materials they claimed to have bought, and sell them off and we will pay them the balance. They refused and I said there is no way I can pay for the obsolete equipment.

“No right thinking person can buy the equipment, no one can read the Chinese language written on them and to make the matters worse, the prices were too high and ridiculous, it was a way of stealing the state money. The past government did not mean well for this State with the project,”Amosun revealed.

The governor however challenged those who proposed the project to come out and explain if truly what he has been saying is not correct. He said with his findings and investigations within the state, it clearly showed that the past administration wanted to use the project to siphon the state treasury.

“Let me say this and anybody can go out there to verify it. I have contacted three big companies within the state who also have similar projects to run their businesses and with the rate they gave me, it is far below what they said they will spend to fix it.

“The first company is Dangote Cement, they use 140 megawatt, Lafarge Cement at Ewekoro also uses 90 megawatts and the last was WEMPCO, they too have 70 megawatts. All these companies,anybody can go there to confirm what I’m saying, Dangote get theirs done at around N26billion, Lafarge,around N18billion and WEMPCO, N13billion.

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“The past administration said they wanted to have 49 megawatts and they just started with just seven and only two are ready but the amount they have spent to get these two fixed is outrageous. And to cap it all, the maintenance they quote is too much. The amount quoted for maintenance of the seven, if completed is triple the amount Dangote is using to maintain all its 140 megawatts, so, why should we continue with this.

“The power plant they did was the one we extended to communities along Siun- Obafemi- Interchange way for those that can pay for it. It was not true that we give the power to Day Waterman School alone, it is for those along the route. So, it is better we establish our facts before we criticise. But, I repeat, with all sense of transparency, anybody can go to confirm what I’ve just said,” the governor said.

Commenting on the aborted air cargo project started by his predecessor, the governor maintained that at no time did he say he will not complete the project, adding that, there was nothing on ground in contrast to claims by the past administration that the first phase of the work was nearly completed.

He asked Ogun people to be patient his administration, saying, he just spent 44 months in office and everything cannot be completed within the short period.

“We need to be considerate with our expectation, someone was in office for eight years and in 2005, he promised to complete the air cargo project and he left office in 2011, nothing was seen to show that he meant business and you people now want me to perform miracle within just three and half years.

“To let you know, there was nothing on ground contrary to claims by them. Someone came to claim that we have to give him some money for the job he has done for them. He said he was contracted to design the project which he said he had done. We asked him to bring the design and we will pay him. He refused and said unless we pay him, he will not release it. It was all lies, they like to say what they can’t do. We will not do that and we will not say what we cannot do?

“You can go out there and confirm. We have contacted a company in USA, ROT, which is an expert in designing airport and air cargo. They have done similar jobs, you can check on them and confirm what I’m saying now. They have done the design and the amount they charged us was far from what the man is claiming.

On Monday,the governor charged his cabinet members to rededicate themselves toward service to humanity in the new year.

Governor Amosun stated this at the first executive council meeting held at the Governor’s office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

He thanked them and the civil servants for their support and commitment in the last year, soliciting for more dedication and commitment in the new year in the course of discharging their duties.

Amosun however pledged to continue with the developmental projects across the state, and vowed not to be deterred by criticisms.

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