The people of Oyo metropolis comprising Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West local government areas angry over non-execution of contracts awarded by the House of Representatives in 2013 for the construction of dams, to ease acute water scarcity.
The two dam projects located at Atiba and Fiditi were awarded for N85 million.
The uproar came at the weekend during a town hall meeting organised by Oyo Metropolitan Development Association for a member of the lower chamber representing the constituency, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, to render his stewardship in the last one year that he was elected.
Leader of a civil society group, Vanguard Against Impunity and Corruption, Mr. Adetayo Adekunle, who fired the first salvo, hinted that the Atiba water project was awarded at a cost of N50 million, while that of Fiditi town was N35 million.
The revelation elicited sharp reactions from angry residents and indigenes who, in their separate comments, berated the immediate past federal lawmaker, Mr. Kamil Akinlabi, for what they referred to as “shirking in responsibility”.
The people called on the Metropolitan Development Association to, as a matter of urgent concern, set up a high-powered committee that will investigate the failed projects and report back within the shortest possible time.
They added that findings of the committee should be made available to appropriate authorities for necessary action.
Rendering his stewardship, Adeyemi, who received
information about the failed projects with shock, said contract for the abandoned Erelu water project has been re-awarded and would be completed within 15 months.
He stated that contract for the project, which was initially awarded for N1.420 billion, was delayed because the contractor was paid only N1 billion, leaving behind a sum of N420 million unpaid by the last administration.
Adeniyi added that when completed, the water project would serve 15 communities.
The federal lawmaker also hinted that in addition to the project, deep wells with hand pumps and boreholes arre being sunk in 14 communities.
They include Lagunna, Araromi, Agboye, Olufayo, Onidese, Koso, Bale Ojongbodu, Ladigbolu, Oja Akesan, Akinmorin and Jobele.
“Five transformers will be supplied, installed and energised
at Aladota, Agunpopo, Kosobo, Jobele and Ajiwunmi junction. Provision has also been made for the presentation of an Ipad to each brilliant student from all public secondary schools in the federal constituency.
Two private schools in each of the four local governments would also benefit.”
Earlier, Chairman of the Metropolitan Association, retired Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, who expressed delight for the large turn-out of people, said the maiden programme designed for political office holder to showcase their achievements to the electorate would, henceforth, be observed bi-annually.
