Hendrix Oliomogbe
The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has threatened to drag Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to court if he goes ahead with his plans to float the state owned Edo Airline.
A statement Tuesday in Benin City by the regional president, Dr. Samson Isibor accused Governor Okpebholo to stop what he insisted as wasteful spending of Edo monies that are not beneficial to the people of Edo State, threatening:
"We are ready to take him to court, if he goes ahead to implement the so-called Edo Airline."
He accused the governor of attempting to prioritize some self-adulation projects, like the airline that should not be the immediate priority of any government that is people oriented.
Dr. Isibor advised that any project that has no bearing on the lives of the people of Edo State, should not be executed.
Against the backdrop of hundreds of state roads including federal roads begging for rehabilitation, especially in the rural areas where many of their roads cut off and with many villages having no roads to bring their palm produce to the urban areas for sale, he said that establishing an airline was uncalled for.
While lamenting the rising daily cases of insecurity in the state and unemployment of thousands of youths, the CPPP regional president said that by his action, it's obvious that Governor Okpebholo is not bothered about the plight and poor conditions of life in the state.
He challenged the governor to tell Edo masses what they have benefited since he assumed office, noting that the governor has no agenda for the poor masses in Edo State. Since Governor Okpebholo assumed office, everybody is lamenting the critical situation in Edo State.
He posed some questions: "How much does it cost to acquire one airliner like a Boeing 707? What happened to the Ñ41 bn loan approval by the House of Assembly? Is it productive to establish an airline that will cost the state over N5 trillion?
Dr. Isibor further asked: "Can’t we use this money to revitalize all the moribund government companies that can employ more than 50,000 youths in those establishments such as Uromi Cassavita, Ehor Fruit Juice Factory, Ewu Flower Mill, Ewohimi Cassava Factory, Fertilizer company at Auchi, Bendel Brewery and many others?
"Why waste so much money to acquire an airline? Airlines are beneficial only to the rich and politicians. How many citizens of Edo State can afford to fly? We know that air transport fares are beyond the reach of any average Edo citizen."
The regional president advised Governor Okpebholo to take a cue from other state governments which prioritize roads constructions and purchased more than 100 busses for their citizens to convey them to and fro from their working places free of change.
Comments
Post a Comment