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The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has urged Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to get in touch with the Ministry of Works with a design if the State is desirous of giving attention to any federal road within Edo State.
Umahi made the call on Wednesday during his second day of an inspection tour of Status of Federal projects in the Southwest region.
The former Ebonyi State Governor said his door as Minister is open and can be reached at anytime by the Edo State Governor even via WhatsApp for repairs approval within two hours.
He was reacting to a statement credited to Obaseki on Monday in Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of the State, where the governor called on Edo people to plead with President Bola Tinubu to allow him (Obaseki) fix federal roads in the state.
“I want to repair and fix your road but you have to help me beg them in Abuja to let me do it because they say it’s their own road and will not allow a State to work on their roads and fix them. So, you have to help us beg the Federal Government so that they will allow us to take these roads and fix them,” the governor siad.
But, reacting, the Minister of Works noted that elections are now over and urged Governor Obaseki to stop playing politics with the lives of the residents of Edo State.
According to him, there was no need for unnecessary politicisation of the issue of deplorable Federal Roads in Edo State when it affects the lives of the citizens of the state and other road users.
His words, “Tell my brother in Edo State (Obaseki) to seek approval from the Ministry of Works. When I was governor, we also intervened in federal roads. So he doesn’t need permission as such to give a better life to the people of Edo State and other Nigerians using the roads.
”I want him to approach the Ministry of Works and seek its permission. Even if he sends me a request on WhatsApp, I will give him approval within two hours so that they can start. But I am going to visit Edo State and I am going to look at those roads. Mr President is very committed to every part of this country.”
A few weeks ago, the Edo State Governor’s official car and other vehicles in his convoy were filmed stranded in a waterlogged part of an highway with onlookers throwing jabs at him for his failure to construct good roads in the state.
The State Government responded by placing a signpost on the road along the Benin-Asaba road indicating that it is a Federal and not a State road.