N22billion road project: GPBI, Ondo & Ekiti youths protest abandonment of Akure – Ado-Ekiti road, say contractors & public servants should stop frustrating Buhari’s efforts
Great Patriots’ for Better Initiative (GPBI), Ondo and Ekiti youths have protest abandonment of dualization of Akure – Ado Ekiti road project which was awarded the Dantata & Sawoe Company.
The project was awarded to Dantata & Sawoe for N22billion by President Buhari in 2020 and subsequently mobilised same. Unfortunately, the road was abandoned by the said company.
The heavy protest was staged today, 21st July, 2021 along Akure – Ado-Ekiti road, Igoba junction by
youths and residents of the area.
The youths displayed placards of various inscriptions such as Mr. President is trying but contractors are frustrating his effort, we want genuine contractor not Dantata & Sawoe, fix our roads, save our souls, after 15 months of mobilisation, Dantata & Sawoe Company is no where to be found, N22 billion Akure – Ado-Ekiti road project has been abandoned by Dantata & Sawoe and we are tired of abandoned projects in the Southern Nigeria
Others are: Enough is enough, say no to corruption, revoke Akure – Ado-Ekiti road contract from Dantata & Sawoe, GPBI demands Director-General of BPP, Mamman Ahmadu to be prosecuted, Mamman Ahmadu frustrating Buhari’s effort, Mamman Ahmadu must be put to book, Mamman Ahmadu, Director-General of BPP should resign now and so on.
The Executive Chairman of Akure North Local Government, Hon. Ogbesetore Bankole who was present at the scene described the abandonment of the road as a devilish act by the contractor. He called on President Buhari to look into the matter very quickly and ensure the road is constructed and completed.
While reacting, the Executive Director of Great Patriots’ for Better Initiative, Prince Poroye Biyi Bill, commended the efforts of President Buhari GCFR on road infrastructural projects across the country especially in the South West of Nigeria. He said, the abandonment of the road has posed as a serious threat to the life of travellers as killings, kidnappings, robberies, raping and terrible motor accident have become uncontrollable on the road. He further condemned the unwillingness of the contractor to construct the road after they had collected mobilisation since 9 months ago.
Poroye noted that President Buhari GCFR is not the enemy of the south but rather the contractors and public servant, who are bent on frustrating his efforts. He also express his displeasure at the manners at which Director General (BPP) awarded the road contract.
According to him, “we cannot afford to die in silence, we want to strongly appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, to please look into this matter as a matter of urgency. Mr. President should not allow his name to be dragged into the mud on this matter since he had performed his constitutional right by awarding the contract and that he must ensure his directive is complied and also carry out disciplinary action against the contractor where necessary”.
In the same vein, the Head of Monitoring team of Great Patriots’ for Better Initiative, Comrade Niyi Majofodun, passed vote of no confidence on the contractor (Dantata & Sawoe) over her inability to start work on the road after 9 months of collecting mobilisation. He finally expressed the determination of GPBI to ensure the road is completed within the stipulated time to protect the life of the road users.
