Abiodun Onafuye/ Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State ,southwest Nigeria has declared that the power plant project started by the past administration in the State was meant to siphon money from the State.

Amosun disclosed that his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel and his collaborators did not mean well for the State with the project, saying it was not done in good faith.

The governor stated this when he featured on a live radio programme, “Meet with the Governor” on Paramount FM station in Abeokuta,the State capital.

Ibikunle Amosun: Ogun state governor

Amosun who was fielding a question from one of the callers who asked him about the power plant project, revealed that he would prefer to maintain silence on the matter and instead, look for a way out, but decided to break his silence.

According to him,”I have decided not to talk about this issue again but if I continue to be silent on the issue,the good people of Ogun State will not understand what has been happening. When we came on board, what we met was not good at all, they said they have done seven but we met only two and the two was not functioning well.

“In the record we met on ground,they said they have spent almost N10billion and some people also came to demand for a payment of about N8billion,claiming that the past administration owed them such amount on the same project. If you add them together,it will give us N18billion. I said I can’t pay such money and they took us to Arbitration court, we are still in court as I’m speaking.

“They came back later for settlement and demanded that we give them N5billion and forget the remaining money, I said I can’t pay them a dime. I remembered that I once told them to pack all the materials, as they claimed to have bought them, and sold them off and we will pay them the balance. They refused and I said there is no way I can pay for the obsolete equipment.

“No right thinking person can buy those equipment, no one can read the Chinese language written on them and to make the matter worse, the expenses was too much and ridiculous, it was a way of stealing the State money. The past government did not mean well for this State with the project,”Amosun revealed.

The governor however challenged those who proposed the project to come out and explain if truly what he has been saying was not correct.

He said with his findings and investigations within the State, it clearly showed that the past administration wanted to use the project to siphon money from the State treasury.

“Let me say this and anybody can go out there to verify it. I have contacted three big companies within the State who also have similar projects to run their businesses and with the rate they gave me,it is far behind what they said they will spend to fix it.

“The first company was Dangote cement,they have 140 megawatts, Lafarge Cement at Ewekoro also has 90 megawatts and the last was WEMCO, they too have 70 megawatts. All these companies,anybody can go there to confirm what I’m saying, Dangote got theirs done at around N26billion, Lafarge,around N18billion and WEMCO, N13billion.

“And to cap it all, the maintenance they quote,is too much. The amount quoted for maintenance of seven units,if completed is triple the amount Dangote is using to maintain all its 140 megawatts,so,why should we continue with this?

“The one they did was the one we extended to communities along Siun- Obafemi- Interchange way for those that can pay for it. It was not true that we give the light to Day Waterman School alone,it was for those along the route. So,it is better we establish our facts before we criticise. But,I repeat, with all sense of transparency,anybody can go out to confirm what I’ve just said,”the governor said.

Commenting on the aborted air cargo project started by his predecessor, the governor maintained that at no time did he say he will not get it done.

He said he met nothing on ground,compared to the claims by the former administration that the first phase was nearing completion.

He stressed that the people should be calm and reason with his administration,saying,he got into office about 44 months ago,and everything cannot be completed within the short period of a time.

He said,”we need to be considerate with our decision, someone was in office for eight years and in 2005, he promised to complete the air cargo project and he left office in 2011,nothing shows that he meant business and you people now want me to perform miracle within just three and half years.

“To let you know,there was nothing on ground contrary to the claims by them. Someone came to claim that we are to give him some amount of money for the job he has done for them. He said he was contracted to design the project which he has done. We ask him to bring the design and we will pay him,he refused and said unless we pay him,he will not release it. It was all lies, they like to be saying what they can’t do,we will not do that and we will not say what we cannot do?

“You can go out there and confirm, we have contacted a company in USA, who is an expert in designing airport and air cargo, they have done so many of such jobs before. The company is known as ROT,you can check on them and confirm what I’m saying now. They have done the design,intact, the amount they charge us was far from what the man was claiming.

“We are also doing aero-port, you know we have one of it around Alamala area. You will see everything,I want to assure you,in the next two years,you will be amazed with the rapid development you will be seeing in the State. Our Metro City would have started, they are being mischievous as they don’t believe what they are seeing,but,they haven’t seen anything yet,” Amosun promised.

Earlier in the day,the governor charged his cabinet members to re-dedicate themselves toward service to humanity in the new year.

Governor Amosun stated this at the first executive council meeting held at the Governor’s office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta yesterday.

He thanked them and the civil servants for their support and commitment in the last year, soliciting for more dedication and commitment in the new year in the course of discharging their duties.

Amosun however pledged to continue with the developmental projects across the State, vowed not to be deterred with his critics unguarded utterances and unfounded lies.