Obaseki Not On The Run, As PDP Questions Flyover Project

By Osariemen Idiaghe

The immediate past Publicity Secretary of Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chris Nehikhare, has debunked claims in some quarters that the immediate past Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, is on the run.

He debunked the allegation while introducing his successor, Mr Dan Ogbegie, to journalists in Benin City.

Nehikhare said that Obaseki is willing to appear when invited by any of the anti-graft agencies to answer any questions, if any.

The immediate past Publicity Secretary added that while Obaseki has not been so visible in the state, is because he wanted to give the present governor the opportunity to prove his worth to the people of the state.

He also said that the past administration constructed 1,300 km of roads across the state between 2016 and 2024.

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Also speaking, the new Publicity Secretary of the party, Dan Ogbegie, said the construction of the Benin flyover at the Ramat Park axis, Ikpoba Hill, was not necessary, and instead, roads in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) should have been fixed.

Ogbegie, said though he was expressing his personal opinion, based his reasons on the economic viability of the area.

According to him, “I didn’t even address the issue of the flyover that the current government is doing.

And I was wondering why. For me, a flyover is good, but we are having very terrible roads right now. Inner roads, especially in the GRA. What do you do? Do you fix your bedroom first or do you fix your city room first?

” It’s always about fixing the city room because the outsiders who are coming will see the city room first, and it’s a good advert for you to have yourself or your home. ”

“For me, GRA roads are the keys that external outsiders use to enter Edo state. And this GRA has about 90% of the big hotels in Benin City.

“So, if you fix roads in the GRA, it will have more economic impact on Edo state than in most other areas. That’s my personal opinion.Other people may have other opinions”he added

He also blamed the present administration for abandoning its predecessor’s projects, adding that government is a continuum.

“Today, how many of us can travel to Abuja on the road using Auchi road? Very few. How many of us even have the funds to take a flight from here to Abuja? Not many of us.

” But if the government is able to revamp the security architecture of Edo state, then there will be relative security. Now, we, as PDP, are not even saying revamp the security architecture of Edo state.

“We are saying the security architecture that you met, why change it? You can take it and improve on it. Why did you discard it? The only thing Monday Okpebholo has done as governor is dismantle all the structures of his predecessor because they are in different political parties.” He said

“He doesn’t understand that government is a continuous process. Somebody was there before. You are there now, and you will leave.

“After the four years, by the special Grace of God, you will leave, and somebody else will replace you. So, if everybody keeps bringing their own and holding their own all the time without improving on or adopting what they meet, then we will never make progress as a people.

So, I want to call on Gov Monday Okpebholo of Edo, to look at what he met on the ground and improve on them,” he added