The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, on Wednesday, urged the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Olasijibomi Ogundele, to stop whipping up emotions over his invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ogundele, popularly known as Sujimoto, has been in the spotlight after being declared wanted by the EFCC over his alleged failure to deliver 22 Smart School projects awarded by the Enugu State Government. The government later accused him of defrauding the state to the tune of nearly N6 billion.

Reacting to the controversy in a statement, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, stated that no form of public display of emotion would deter the government from recovering public funds.

While describing Governor Peter Mbah as a “game changer”, Okwu said that the time had gone when people collected money for contracts from the government only to abscond later.

Okwu said: “It is a clear indication that it was no longer business as usual; the time had gone when contractors pocket government money and think that nothing would happen. We are happy that Governor Peter Mbah has come as a game-changer.

“If you are a contractor and you lack capacity, why accept to undertake a project? Now, after you have been paid, you have turned into a crybaby, thinking that it would turn the public narrative in your favour.

“Sadly, contractors such as these are the reasons Nigeria hardly makes progress, leading to a litany of abandoned projects here and there.

“A clear look shows that the Smart School projects under the Sujimoto contracts are all at foundation level despite the heavy payment already made to him; this clear sabotage of government effort is a very sad situation and should be condemned by well-meaning Nigerians.

“We are glad that Governor Peter Mbah has sent a clear signal to other contractors by this singular action. It is no longer a time where government money was treated as nobody’s money.”

Okwu urged the governor not to be deterred but to ensure that every kobo belonging to the government was refunded, adding that any other contractor sabotaging government efforts should be made to face the music.

He added, “For Sujimoto, our advice to him is that he should gently surrender himself to the EFCC and avoid unnecessary drama.”