Another major crisis has hit the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Benue State.
The latest leadership tussle is among stakeholders of the party at various Wards and Local Government Areas.
According to Abuja-based journalist, Yemi Itodo, both anti graft agencies, EFCC and ICPC are reportedly set to visit the State on the invitations of some party stakeholders who are alleging gross irregularities and fraud in the award of contracts to some APC heavyweights, some of whom are currently holding public offices in the State.
According to the report, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has enmarked over 700 projects in State owned primary schools, which ranges from construction of new classroom blocks to renovation of existing facilities across the 23 LGAs of the State.
According to the available information, the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, in his own magnanimity, allegedly mandated executives of each of the 276 council wards in the state to nominate a party member that is a contractor to bid and be given a contract project for each of the wards.
This gesture by the Governor, according to the report, was to enable the party excos use the proceeds from the execution of the contracts in funding the party activities at the ward and LG levels, rather than waiting for funds from the state.
Trouble however started when after raising funds amongst themselves and sponsored a company to obtain tax clearance and regularise the bidding documents and bided for a contract afterwards, some wards and LGAs were not favoured in the award of contracts.
Instead, companies that did not participate in the bidding process and some companies belonging to party leaders and public office holders were allegedly given as much as 5 slots across some LGAs.
This situation did not go down well with many ward and LG excos who are now demanding that the instructions of the Governor must be adhered to, otherwise, the party must refund their hard earned money which they contributed to fund companies.
One of the APC stakeholders, Comrade Michael Inedu who spoke to our Correspondent in Okpokwu said “I have never seen a thing like this since my years of politicking, where party contracts meant for 12 wards were given to only one man who is not even from Okpokwu local government without consulting either stakeholders or party excos.”
In Ogbadibo LGA, a party Chieftain (name witheld) also explained how only 2 persons allegedly hijacked the 14 contract slots allocated to the local government area.
“Ogbadibo has 13 wards and excos of each ward is allocated with a project and the LG excos having one also. Out of the 14 slots that were bided in Ogbadibo, only 11 slots have so far been awarded and to our surprise, just 2 companies hijacked the 11 slots, living the party excos who went and borrowed money to finance the process in disarray”, he said.
Speaking further, the source said “what angered the party excos and stakeholders most was that one of the two companies that hijacked the 11 slots, Nee Oil and Gas Nig. Ltd., belongs to a former Chief of Staff to former Senate President and now a Chieftain of APC in Ohimini LGA, Chief Agbo Ogah.
“Why should Agbo Ogah who is not from Ogbadibo come and hijack what the Governor has already programed for the poor wards excos in Ogbadibo? Another company, Ifene Nig. Ltd. which did not participate in the bidding process came and hijacked the remaining slots, simply because the Owner of the company, Rt. Hon. Moses Oduh is a Special Adviser to the Governor.
“Should Moses Oduh, a Public Office Holder be allowed to be a Contractor under the Public Procurement Act?”
Mr. Michael Akor, another party stakeholder in Ogbadibo LG also expressed his grievances on the issue.
According to him, party excos in some wards spent as much as N400, 000 to fund a company through tax and regularisation process, only to be shortchanged at the end.
“It’s unfair! This is not what the Governor wanted for the people. We expected that, with the formula designed by the Governor the award of contracts would trickle down to the ward level where party excos would not only benefit, but would also be privileged to monitor the project, since it is to be situated in their ward”, Mr. Akor added.
All efforts made by our Correspondent to get Hon. Moses Oduh and Chief Agbo Ogah to react to these allegations proved abortive as both of them could not be reached on their cell phones.
As at the time of this report, the APC State Chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro who is also from Ogbadibo LGA is said to be far away in United States of America attending some functions.
However, a source at the party secretariat in Makurdi confirmed to our Correspondent that some party leaders in the state were aware of the petitions to the anti-graft agencies and that efforts were being put in place “to arrest the situation”.
The source who pleaded anonymity also revealed that the reason why some wards have not benefited from the slots may not be unconnected to the fact that some companies nominated were not prequalified.
He also explained that “some wards excos submitted their pre qualifications to the APC secretariat in Makurdi instead of submitting at the SUBEB or tender’s board, as the case may be.
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