PDP Warns Obaseki: Don’t Use Alleged Fraud In Hospital Contract To Silence Oshiomhole

By Ayodele Oluwafemi, Benin

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State has warned that ongoing moves to reconcile the present and immediate past governors of the state must not cover the allegations of fraud in the construction of the Benin Specialist Hospital as admitted by the state government.

The chairman of the state chapter of the party, Chief Dan Orbih in a statement made available to GreenWhiteGreen while commending Governor Godwin Obaseki for admitting the fraud warned that the issue must not be seen as an item for political horse trading.

Orbih drew attention to the fact that the PDP was the first to unravel the alleged fraud in the execution of the hospital contract which he said has been proved to be excessive of the cost of hospitals of superior scope in other states.

“The APC government of Godwin Obaseki now agrees with our position that the project is indeed a five-star classic fraud ridden scam. Starting from the unadvertised without due process award of the contract to the sad collapse of the building of the north western section of the project on June 4th 2012 and the eventual commissioning of the of the uncompleted project.

“By 2016, the government had wasted over N10,267,413,000.00 and every year, the Obaseki Government have been allocating and spending millions of Naira to  “complete” the already commissioned project.

“By way of comparison, the specialist new hospital (NOT WARD) in Calabar with comprehensive package of secondary gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, internal medicine, General surgery, Orthopedics, laboratory services, Basic cardiology, Dermatology and other medical services was built, equipped and commissioned at a cost of N6.4 Billion. The Akwa Ibom and Bauchi specialists hospitals were constructed at even lower costs.

“Let’s state once again my earlier position that the Edo State 200 bed accident and emergency ward, poorly equipped and non-functional, is the most expensive hospital ward in the world. No patient has been admitted or treated since it was commissioned. It is a glorified edifice for blood pressure test and diagnostic services.

“Interestingly, after several past denials and defense by Godwin Obaseki’s government, they have now come out to admit that the project is a fraud. They stated that the phased opening of the Hospital to public use is as a result of fraud in the contract and non supply of equipment fully paid for by the government.

“Let me commend the belated admission and disclosures by the government as contained in the Press release of July 4th by Crusoe Osagie. Government admitted that “based on the advise of local and international experts on the operational state of facility , the state government is carrying out a major structural adjustment on the facility”.

“The great question of the day is what is cost implications of the structural adjustment? At whose expense?

“While the timing of government admission of fraud in the award and execution may look political because of the current disagreements between the Godfather and his Godson, the issues cannot be ignored. Government must resist pressure to resolve current political disagreements with this issue.

“In the interest of the people, all those connected with the award, poor execution and commissioning of the project must account for their roles.”

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