The All Progressives Congress in Delta State has leveled allegations against Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, accusing him of inflating the cost of key infrastructure projects in the state.
The party claims that the governor has been involved in overpricing the construction of three flyovers in Effurun, Warri, with a staggering sum of N50 billion, and expressing doubts that the project would be completed within the next eight years.
The party, in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, questioned the feasibility of three flyovers and the expansion of the NPA-DSC expressway costing N78 billion.
Onojeghuo accused the Oborevwori administration of perpetuating a massive fraud similar to his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, alleging, “The Leopard cannot change its spots.”
The APC compared Governor Oborevwori’s project cost to other states, asserting that the expenditure on three flyovers exceeded that of 18 flyovers constructed by the former Ebonyi State governor and current Minister of Works, David Umahi.
The party also called on Deltans to demand accountability for the state’s total allocations and internally generated revenue during the five months of Governor Oborevwori’s administration.
In their statement, the APC characterized the groundbreaking ceremony as a celebration of mediocrity, contrasting it with achievements in other states like Lagos.
The controversy surrounds the earlier award of the construction contract to Julius Berger Company PLC for three flyovers, a cloverleaf, and pedestrian bridges across PTI junction, DSC roundabout, and Enerhen junction, at a cost of N78 billion.
The Delta Contractors Forum had previously raised concerns about the project, alleging that it was a complete fraud.
The forum asserted that the state government’s claim of mobilizing Julius Berger with N19 billion contradicted the reality, as the entire project cost was allegedly disbursed to the construction company.
Moreover, the Contractors Forum accused Governor Oborevwori of orchestrating a scheme to receive a kickback of N50 billion, while simultaneously arranging a variation of the project cost to a staggering N125 billion.
