Ifere Paul|5 November 2015|3:10am
1. The government announced employment opportunities in the Green Police (GP). They conducted the screening exercise with pregnant women vying for positions at the stadium. They also had a screening exercise at the Ikom township stadium. Ogoja followed suit. The government through its media director and Secretary to
government, Christian Ita said that "over 1 million people were screened. Therefore, the governor
through his magnanimous efforts has increased the intake into the GP from 1000 to 1500".
Until now, the government has not offered to the public the number of people that have been employed through this exercise. The government has not issued any explanation why the most hyped
employment wuruwuru in Cross River State has not taken place. Abi na ghost workers dem employ?
2. The Garment Factory (GF) is one of the most vibrant of the signature projects. In July, the government advertised a 1000 vacancies across
the State. Applications were called from widows across the State for screening. Media aides to the
governor through this arrangement collected monies between 3 to 10 thousand naira as bribe to help influence positions into the GF. Reports were on the internet of accidents of candidates coming
for the screening exercise. Some young girls and women were used as sex tool in the name of
influencing their chances.
This caricature arrangement of employment by the governor cannot
be easily forgotten. Can we forget the lies by internet moles like Eval Asikong, Inok Solomon, Declan Oga Genesis, Paul Ojeka, etc? Supporters of the AMT rats have since kept quiet. The hype of the 95% completed GF is still not declared open for business even though electric sawing machines which the governor called computer sawing machine have since been
delivered. The governor and his internet media attack rats have kept mute about the progress of
this project that had my support with over 50 pages of guidelines for the government to make it work. In
spite of the support, the media attention has sapped and reality is that the project is still 15% complete.
Where are the women that have been employed now? This sham was instigated by the governor.
Investigation revealed that Christian Ita was said to have been threatened to be sacked by the governor if he does not play along. When is the GF going to start working?
3. The Superhighway (SHW) was a great idea. Especially when the President came for the
groundbreaking. Hmmm. Then Okoi Obono-obla stole the show. Pictures of him trended over the internet for weeks. That's irrelevant. Yes. The groundbreaking came and went as
planned. But the real construction of the Superhighway has until now been delayed by Leophina for lack of preparedness. It has been a week
and two days now and yet no activity except for one crampy guy from Germany that's said to be the
quality control officer. The guy looks like a red bull drunk from a German cell. Thanks to Ayade.
The contract to build the road was given to Leophina without due bidding process. Leophina is owned
and controlled by Governor Ben Ayade. 90% of the whole road is given to Leophina with its broken,
obsolete, and dilapidated equipments. The caterpillar grader has always broken down ever since the day of the garment factory. It was broken in Nsan during the preparation of groundbreaking ceremony. Its parts couldn't be
found in Bedwell Street for days until they were ordered from Lagos. Leophina always manage to do
their job. Just managing. The caterpillar has broken yet again and waiting fixing. In one of my argument with Governor Ayade, he
bragged that he was going to bring equipment from Volvo in Sweden. Your Excellency, with due respect,
I beg to remind you that this is the right time to bring those machinery and heavy duty equipment you granted interview about. Sweden's Volvo, you said, was ready to lease on IOU. Please, your Caterpillar is delaying the job with its frequent
breakdowns. My Governor, remember that you promised that
once the groundbreaking is complete you will mobilize the best firms to site.
Leophina is sure not the best firm. Sermatec and Lilleker are sure on the same feather with Leophina. Where are the Julius Berger? RCC? MCC? or better still CCECC or CCC.
My Governor, CCECC and CCC are Chinese companies with over 20 years experience in construction in Nigeria. CCECC constructed many
roads in Abuja. Your company Leophina will disgrace us. Please take them out from the
Superhighway and get in more serious minded construction companies. I thought we are talking
about 1.2 trillion naira? Please, that can get the best companies around the world to do us a good job. Unless you've been lying about the monies. Your Excellency, these are the companies on site now. Non of these have experience in tunnel construction. Not even companies like Leophina and Sermatec. Zenith Construction Company, MBHH, Leophina, and Sermatec. Breakdown of grading work is as follows:
*Zenith Construction Company takes 60km from
Bakassi to Akamkpa.
*MBHH will take up 50km from Akamkpa.
*Leophina will take 50km around Central Senatorial District.
*Sermatec will take the northern fringes. Sermatec is a company own and operated by Imoke.
This article is just a reminder of the things we haven't done and the ones we are doing badly. For posterity sake, let's do the things worth doing
rightly.
Ifere Paul
Is an Environmental Activist, Policy
Analyst, Socio-political-cum-economic Commentator & Columnist.
