26th July, 2017
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State chapter, has described the reconstructed accident and emergency unit of the Benin Central Hospital, as a disaster waiting to happen.
The State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who issued the warning in Benin on Tuesday, said this was due to the refusal of the government of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, to follow certain recommendations concerning the reconstruction of the hospital.
He accused former governor of ignoring the recommendations of a probe panel set up to look into the remote causes of the collapse of the building in 2011.
According to the PDP chairman, the team of expert recommended a total bringing down of the structure or massive reinforcements through the construction of expensive beams in order to avert a future collapse, but that the then state government disregarded the recommendations.
He said: “After the collapse of the building, a team of experts put together recommended a total bringing down of the entire structure or reinforcements with beams that could be as expensive as reconstructing the structure.
“Neither of the recommendations was however followed. This is scary and I seriously pray that innocent lives will not be lost in that place due to the negligence of some people.”
Orbih also took a swipe at statement credited to Governor Godwin Obaseki that the state government would partner a firm to equip the hospital, informing that fund needed to equip the hospital had been provided for in the original contract for the construction of the hospital
“I am aware that the original contract included the supply of equipment for the hospital. The contractors were paid upfront. When the hospital collapsed, the supply could not be done.
“By the time the reconstruction was completed, the contractors admitted that they were to supply equipment but that they could no longer supply the equipment as the exchange rates had gone up.
“So, there are many questions begging for answers. Does that mean that the money paid to the contractors has disappeared? How much was the original contract sum? Most importantly, the State government must tell Edo people the total cost of building the so-called five-star hospital that is no more than a hall now,” Orbih said.
Commenting on the true identity of the owners of the Edo University, Iyamho, Orbih alleged that the law establishing the institution stated that the “University will be a public-private partnership arrangement between the government and a company where the present Governor was the Chief Executive Officer.”
He, therefore, challenged the state government to open the books of the University, so that the identity of its true owners would be known.
When contacted for comments, the Media Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, described Chief Orbih’s comment as false.
He said, “The state has qualified architects and structural engineers which certified the building after the contractor has finished his job.
“Private organization that will come to run the hospital will do their homework. PDP is saying a lot of things. We welcome their role as opposition.”