By Zika Bobby
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Modestus Umenzekwe, has called on detractors to allow Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola do his job, saying unnecessary distractions will only slow work process.
Umenzekwe, in a statement at the weekend, said Fashola stood as the only opposition governor in the South-West and performed well to the admiration of many, including those who are now members of the National Assembly.
“Other governors then started copying Fashola’s unequalled outstanding performance in governance and infrastructure development. He was then rated the ‘first among equals’. He left a legacy that becomes indelible. Today, some of those who printed his name in gold have turned round to pull him down all in the name of politics. Enough of this distractions.
“It appears there is jealousy over Fashola’s achievements in the three principal ministries. Fashola will be the last man to compromise public interests over individual or group. I know very well that all projects, which are going to be executed in line with the approved budget, are classified under either exclusive list, concurrent list or residual list; and it would be a disservice for anyone to attempt to mix them up all in the name of constituency projects.”
He applauded the minister over steady increase in power generation and the Benin-Ore expressway, which he said is wearing a new look.
“Those of us that use the road regularly while visiting our home states in the South-East spend less hours on the road as result of the face lift given to the road. Enugu-Onitsha highway is equally receiving serious attention of the minister though Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway is badly affected and delayed due to unwarranted distraction given to the minister by the National Assembly. I am surprised that the National Assembly failed to see the need to make provisions in the budget for the unexpected or unforeseen issues that could take care of such issues as in the case of Jebba-Mokwa-Tegina road, Minna-Suleja and Tatabu.
“In Sokoto, Tamburuwa Bridge and in Lagos, Ijora Bridge were given urgent attention when they failed as a result of these contingency provisions. But the minister is being hunted for such excellent initiative and actions.
“The housing programme of the minister is fantastic and no one is taking time to look at these things before making allegations and criticisms,” he said.