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APC, PDP bicker over ownership of Edo modular refinery

By Michael Egbejule, Benin City
24 August 2020   |   4:13 am
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has described attempts by the state government under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to claim the private-owned modular refinery project in the state as mischievous.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has described attempts by the state government under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to claim the private-owned modular refinery project in the state as mischievous.

Addressing journalists in Benin City yesterday, the Chairman of APC Media Campaign Council for the September 19 Edo governorship election, John Mayaki, accused the PDP governorship candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, of taking the glory of the project in Ologbo.

Mayaki described the announcement of PDP as contributor to the project as campaign of deceit and falsehood ahead of the governorship election.

His words: “Today, the lie is with the Edo modular refinery at Ologbo, a project funded by both foreign businesses and the Federal Government, that is near completion and commissioning.

“Suddenly, Governor Obaseki is scheming to mount tape and ribbon at the site and take glory for a project he knew he contributed little to. To be clear, and for the record, it is important to state here that the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company (ERPC) is a joint venture.

“Ultimately, we demand the PDP, the governor and other agents loyal to their deliberate campaign of falsehood to desist from ignoble activities of laying claim to what does not rightly belong to them. They should stop deceiving the populace and retire to an honest revelation of achievements duly executed by them.”

According to the APC chief, the Federal Government supported the project by granting duty waivers on refinery equipment.

But Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said the role Obaseki played in the establishment of the refinery unsettled the APC.

“After last week’s visit of Federal Government’s delegation to the Edo modular refinery in Ologbo, the APC is now clearly confused, as its campaign seems to have been deflated by the stellar performance of Obaseki and the near total acceptance he enjoys from Edo people.

“Truth will continue to dwarf and ultimately blot out falsehood and propaganda as the Ologbo visit by the Federal Government delegation has just done to APC’s efforts at misinforming the public.

“Just last week, the presidency sent emissaries to Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Council of Edo, to inspect the project and the federal officials were not only satisfied with what they saw on the ground but showered encomiums on Obaseki for the landmark achievement,” he stressed.

During the visit, the seed investment of N700 million, which Edo government made to kick-off the project, was eloquently highlighted as well as other interests of the state government in the project, he noted.

Chairman, ERPC, Michael Osime, represented by the Global Advisor, Frans Ojielu, also confirmed that Edo government supported the company with N700 million.

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