The Issele-Asagba/Otulu road project has created division between the immediate past minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, who represented the Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency and the majority leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, (DSHA), Hon Emeka Nwaobi, representing Aniocha North.
While Nwaobi's Media Support Group, led by Comrade Patrick Ochei had claimed that the said road project was attracted by its principal and alleged that the contract was awarded to Elumelu, the former minority leader however disagreed that the road project was attracted by him, labelling Nwaobi's claim as misleading.
Elumelu's Media Office in a statement said it was indeed shocking that the Nwaobi Media Support Group could go public to lie and heat up the polity by falsely claiming that the project was attracted by their boss, even when it is clear as boldly written on the project Signpost that Elumelu attracted the project.
"The Ndudi Elumelu Media Office believes that this is not a mix-up but a deliberate attempt not only to claim credit and appropriate the efforts of Elumelu in attracting the project and numerous others to our people, but also to create confusion by falsely naming Elumelu as the project contractor.
"We strongly counsel the Nwaobi Media Support Group to go search for projects attracted by their Principal and desist from spreading falsehood and attempting to claim projects attracted by Rt. Hon Elumelu..
"We demand that the Nwaobi Media Support Group immediately pulls down their disingenuous article within a period of seven days and apologise to Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, as their action is not only embarrassing but also actionable.
"More inexcusable is that the Nwaobi Media Support Group went ahead to mischievously claim that the contract for the road was, according to it, "allegedly" awarded to Rt. Hon. Elumelu, even when the name of the contractor, Diamond Leeds Limited, is also boldly written on the project Signpost.
"For the avoidance of doubt, Rt. Hon. Elumelu and not Engr. Emeka Nwaobi attracted the project. The project contractor is Diamond Leeds Limited. These facts are boldly written on the project signboard.
"We are aware of the effort made by Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu in ensuring the inclusion of the construction of Issele-Asagba-Otulu road, a link road that crisscrosses two local government areas, Aniocha North and Aniocha South, within Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, in NDDC 2019/2020 budget.
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"Unfortunately, the contract was not awarded, until recently when he met with the current Governor of Delta State and drew His Excellency's attention to the urgent need for the construction of the said road. He graciously listened to him and gave approval for the contract to be awarded, having been included in the state budget.
"While we recognise the desire by the Nwaobi Media Support Group to shore up the image and performance rating of their Principal, we strongly condemn this resort to lies, falsehood, false claims and deliberate distortion in a failed attempt to score cheap political point.
"Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, in his unparalleled commitment to the good of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili, has and is still attracting landmark development projects in all sectors, including roads, traditional institutions, electricity, education, healthcare, recreation, transportation, ICT, security as well as numerous citizens economic empowerment programmes that continue to positively impact on the lives and wellbeing of our people."
Meanwhile, national general secretary of Issele-Azagba Development Union, Mr Chibuzor Ofor, speaking on the matter gave special thanks and commendation to the Nwaobi and others for their untiring efforts and dedication towards the construction of the important road.
