PMB INAUGURATES PROJECTS IN ONDO...PDP calls for probe

As President  Muhammad Buhari  inaugurated the  Ore interchange flyover on the Sagamu-Ore-Benin expressway and the Ondo Linyl industrial hub in Ondo state with an assurance that the Federal Government will sustain massive investments in the provision of infrastructure across the country, the People's Democratic party (PDP) has call for probe into the three years activities of Akeredolu's led administration in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the flyover at Ore town in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, the President said the Interchange will boost economic activities in the State, ease traffic congestion as well as reduce accidents often experienced on the major road.

The President used the occasion to assure the government and people of Ondo State under Oluwarotimi Akeredolu that the Federal Government will meet its obligations to the State on the construction of this Interchange Flyover in due course.

President Buhari recalled that the re-designing and construction of the road to accommodate Interchange Flyover was overdue as a result of the growing population in the town.

In his words "During the civil war and during my campaigns since 2002, I have become familiar with the terrain of Ore which is a connecting city between the Southwest and the Eastern parts of our country. As a result of this, the city has a cosmopolitan population that is in the neighbourhood of 300,000.

''This is a city that can be described as a mini-Nigeria as almost all ethnic groups of our country are happily represented here. Let me commend Governor Akeredolu and his team for their great efforts and professionalism in putting this project in place.  

''This project is executed in line with the spirit and drive of the Federal Government which puts great emphasis on infrastructural development across our country, especially in the area of transportation, '' he said. 

President Buhari praised a consortium of Nigerian Engineers for the design and supervision of the impressive-flyover of international standards.

 The President advise that a maintenance system should be in place to safeguard road users throughout the lifetime of this very impressive fly-over.

While commending the impactful performance of the current Ondo State Administration, the President affirmed that the Akeredeolu administration had cleared six months out of the seven months arrears of salaries/pensions owed by the previous administration.  

He  lauded the state government for being up-to-date in payment of salaries and pensions. Noting that it is gratifying to note that Ondo State is one of the first few states in Nigeria that have started implementing the New Minimum Wage. Adding that the state have been able to achieve these feats in spite of limited available resources. 

The President who reaffirming the resolve of the Federal Government to continue to invest heavily in the provision of infrastructure, announced that his administration has expended more on the provision of railway services, rehabilitation and construction of roads and bridges across the country.

Earlier, the President while commissioning Ondo Linyi Industrial hub congratulated the Government and people of Ondo State on the remarkable achievement.

 Speaking at the Ore Flyover, Governor Akeredeolu told the President that the commissioning of the star projects were part of activities to commemorate the third year anniversary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in the state.

While thanking the President for honouring the State with his esteemed presence, the Governor requested the refund of state funds spent on federal roads in the state, totalling about#10.89bn.

While in a release by the People's Democratic party (PDP) in the state and signed by Zadok Akintoye, director of media and publicity titled  " Akeredolu three years of empty promises:A presidential endorsement of corruption" posits that the last three years Akeredolu's led administration in the state can simply be described as one with empty promises.

According to the PDP scribe, areas like education, health, infrastructures amongst other were only been lip-service as decay pervade. Despite huge resources acrued to the state without proper accountability.

In his words, " We have challenged this government to keep to its preelection promises of transparency in public funds administration. As it stands, there is no publicly accessible record of accrued revenue and expenses for Ondo state since *Akeredolu came on board (or a published audited account). Government tenders are shrouded in secrecy even amidst major allegations that state funds are being used to service the first family at major costs to fellow citizens. 

" Allegations that the Governor's son is the consultant to the state on revenue collection and that funds belonging to OSOPADEC and Local Governments are being used to fund the First Lady's pet project have not been addressed till date"

"We would wish that Mr. President General Mohammadu Buhari Rtd GCFR would rise beyond prebendal sentiments and provide leadership to Nigerians in line with his campaign slogan of "No tolerance for corruption", by ensuring that he is not seen publicly as endorsing actions of present state actors that may soon be proven as criminal complicity to defraud Ondo state and its people by the Rotimi Akeredolu SAN government(we are not unaware that a similar precedent was set in Kano early 2019)"

"The criminal action of valuing a less than 100metre overhead bridge in Ore at over #5bn calls for great concern considering the myriads of allegations by members of the APC against the governor and his family"  PDP noted.