By Akinwale Kasali
Governor Godwin Obaseki has come under strong criticism from the All Progressives Congress, APC, alleging his failure to address the water problem in the Edo Central Senatorial District.
Obaseki, was a Governor under the APC, but joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the build up to the 2020 Governorship Election in Edo State.
A Statement issued by the Edo State APC spokesman, Chris Azebanwan, and made available to newsmen by the APC the party said that the Obaseki administration has, within the last five years, focused on water supply and, hence, sees no reason for water shortage in the state.
Azebanwan stated that the Edo Governor had said there was no reason for people not to enjoy public supply of water in their homes, considering the resources his administration has so far committed during electioneering, but the APC is disappointed and baffled by the unavailability of water in the State.
He said that of particular importance is the case of Edo Central, where the Federal Government, as far back as 2018, had completed and handed over the Northern Esan water supply scheme to the state government.
“This water scheme designed to cover much of the senatorial district was estimated to have cost N3.85 billion and was supposed to generate two million gallons or nine million litres of water per day.
“The project was initiated by the Federal Government, with the expectation that the state government would carry out the reticulation aspect of the scheme so that the people of Edo Central could have potable water.
“In September 2019, the Edo Government publicly declared that a water reticulation project as part of the scheme, was nearing completion,” it said.
It added that the state claimed it had concluded the training of communities to set up water associations while it planned “to meter the water from the plant”, to regulate usage and check leakages.
It said that the party wondered why close to one year now after he was sworn in for second term, that no drop of water was available from this water scheme to any home in the catchment area of the project.
The State APC spokesperson called on the Government to admit that it had failed on that score, rather than making further promises of how it intended to erect giant boreholes and lay pipes for the same purpose.
“The people of the affected areas are tired of Gov. Obaseki’s promises and having suffered for too long, waiting for water.
“The best the government can do is to take action instead of gallivanting and claiming to be inspecting the water projects.
“There are practical options to make water available and affordable to Edo people.
“APC is willing and ready to give Gov. Obaseki the blueprint for a viable and sustainable water supply scheme for the State,” the statement added.
