Group refute publication made against Uviejitobor over completed protects

Following a report in The Rainbow Newspaper of Tuesday 28th June 2016 credited to a group known as Udu Political Elites which tongue lashed Hon (Chief) Peter Okagabare Uviejitobor, Minority Whip of Delta State House of Assembly Representing Udu constituency over completed construction and renovation projects of classroom blocks at some primary schools in Udu Local Government Area, a group known as Crusade for Democracy and Good Governance (CDGG) yesterday refuted the said publication, saying that it is a calculated attempt by enemies of progress trying to tarnish the good image of Hon Peter Uviejitobor.

Udu Political Elites had in the said publication accused Hon Peter Uviejitobor of taken the glory of projects executed by his predecessors, stating that the first person to have attracted those projects into budget of the state was Hon Harvest Igben who was the then minority leader in the DTHA, using his influence to put the said projects in the 2010 budget of the state. The statement further alleged that the project execution could not be possible because of approved budgetary provisions that was too meager and as such could not execute the projects before expiration of his tenure in 2011.

The group added that when Hon Keston Okoro came on board in 2011 as member representing Udu constituency in the DTHA; he raised a memo for additional funds for the projects which according to the group was approved by the state government. The group posited that it was the additional fund that gave birth to the award of the contracts to contractors for the renovation of the said projects thereby crediting the projects to Hon Keston Okoro.          

But in a swift reaction, Spokesman of Crusade for Democracy and Good Governance, Comrade Patrick Runor wondered if Hon Keston Okoro was aware of the report written by Udu Political Elites before publication.

The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a report published in The Rainbow Newspaper tongue lashing Hon (Chief) Peter Okagbare Uviejitobor, Minority Whip Representing Udu constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly over a full-page congratulatory massage he made to Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on his one year in office on page 2 of Pointer Newspapers of 3rd June 2016.

To put the fact straight, those persons who made the said publication were ignorant of what is known as budget making and project execution.  Budget can be made for over ten years without execution. For instance; Udu Harbour Market that has been on budget for several years without execution which is to be executed by the present government of our amiable Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and at the time of Hon (Chief) Peter Okagbare Uviejitobor, member representing Udu constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.”

The statement noted; “When these said projects are completed; the same group might ignorantly credit same to the former lawmaker, Hon Keston Okoro who was a member of DTHA in the 5th assembly under the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; therefore, it is worthy of note that every other projects completed and ongoing in Udu constituency with effect from June 8th 2015 till date, are executed by this present administration of Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa alongside Hon (Chief) Peter Okagabare Uviejitobor. All the completed and ongoing projects published by Hon Uviejitobor in the said full-page advert in pointer newspaper of 3rd June 2016 are projects of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) which was executed by the Federal and State government counterpart fund approved by the 6th assembly. It should also be noted that such projects does not pass through the state budget as posited by Udu Political Elites.”

“We also want to state clearly that the present Delta State House Assembly is the 6th assembly and not 7th assembly as ignorantly published by the so called Udu Political Elites. There is also a difference between budget making and budget execution. In addition, house of assembly members do not issue memo except commissioners of the State Executive Council.”

“For avoidance of the doubt, we educate you on the following completed projects of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB); construction of 3 classroom block at Ekete-waterside primary school,  6 classroom block at Orhuwhorun primary school, solar water scheme at Orhuwhorun primary school, 3 classroom block and painting of fence at Orhuwhorun primary school, 3 classroom block at Ujevwu primary school, 6 classroom block at Egini primary school, renovation of 3 and 6 classroom blocks and painting of fence at Otor-Udu primary school, 6 classroom block at Ekrota primary school and 3 classroom block at Ukperheren primary school.

Others are; road maintenance by Direct Labour Agency (DLA) at Orhuwhorun town, Mofor-Police-post, Orhuwhorun road, New-York road and Aladja junction. While the 2016 ongoing Udu constituency projects are at top gear. They include; construction of 6 classroom block at Orhuwhorun Secondary School, construction of 6 classroom block at Aladja Grammar School and construction of 6 classroom block at Adadja Secondary School, Emadadja.
“All these projects are done in this present administration and should be credited to His Excellency, The Governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon (Chief) Peter Okagbare Uviejitobor member representing Udu constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.” The group reiterated.  

The group however urged reporters of community newspapers especially The Rainbow Newspapers to always verify and balance their reports before publishing, noting that such unfounded reports can tarnish their own image which may lead to litigation.