Umahi  Revoked Road Contract To  Competent Company, Handed It To Firm  His Son Is Director  – Katsina Elders Forum

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Katsina Elders Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to step in urgently to reverse the revocation of the contract for the construction of the 147 km Katsina-Dutsinma-Marrarabar- Kankara road by the Works Minister, Engr. Dave Umahi.

The Forum said much as they don’t want to attack the person of Umahi, it is nevertheless in receipt of  information that the Minister has re awarded the contract to a company in which his son is allegedly  a Director.

In a statement issued in Kano on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, its Spokesperson, Dr Namanga Danmajiya, noted that the  road contract awarded in April, 2024, by the Tinubu administration represents the most  signature project being executed in the State by the President.

They wondered how the Works Minister would suddenly sideline a competent firm already doing a good job of the project, and re- award it  to a company in which he has vested interest.

The Katsina Forum warned that Umahi’s action is not doing any good to the image and perception of the President by the people of Katsina.

“Because of the award of the contract by President Tinubu, his popularity and support base swelled like a wild fire among the citizens of Katsina.

“Many welcomed the development with happiness because it will help in the transportation of goods across the Country.

“We don’t want to believe and work on the allegation against the Minister of Works that he revoked the contact because he has personal interest in the firms that he re-awarded the job to.

“The allegation further says that one of the contracting Companies has his biological son as a Director.” the Katsina Forum stated.

Dr Danmajiya said  after the road contract was awarded by the President, stakeholders in Katsina established a monitoring and supervision team to  follow the progress of work due to the importance the people attached to the project.

According to him, as at the time the contract was revoked and taking from the contracting firm, the monitoring team  attested to the good job it was executing .

The Forum, therefore, wondered on what other grounds, apart from some ulterior motives, the contract should be revoked by the Works Minister.

The Forum called on the President to intervene so as to protect his integrity and the love the people have cultivated for him because of the importance of the road project to the lives of Katsina citizens.

“We believe strongly that President Tinubu is being manipulated as far as the issue of the revocation is concerned”, the Forum noted.