Fresh facts emerge over purported letter stoping repair of Otukpo township road

Fresh facts have emerged over a purported letter from the Ministry of Works and Housing, ordering Ochacho Foundation to stop further repair of the abandoned Otukpo township road.

IDOMA VOICE had obtained a letter, which has since gone viral online ordering immediate stoppage of work on the dilapidated road.

The letter signed by one C. O Okeke, Federal Controllers of Work, Field Headquarters, Federal Secretariat, Makurdi, Benue State, claimed the foundation had distorted the original plan of the road.

It also claimed that the contract of the road had already been awarded to Rockbridge construction company, hence the need to stop work.

However, findings by IDOMA VOICE have shown that the Federal Ministry of Works Abuja and Housing was not aware of the said letter.

An insider told our reporter that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola was not briefed neither did he approve the said letter.

“You know the Minister can never approve such an error-baked letter. Did you read through the letter? You know such a letter should personally come from the minister and  an unknown person.

“People play politics with anything in Nigeria and this is one of them. They are probably envious of the foundation and what they have been doing.

“I have been in the ministry of works for over 25 years now and I know how such issues are treated or handled.

“There was no petition from anybody against the project or the organization at the headquarters here in Abuja. The Benue office was apparently cajoled by some politicians to write that letter.

“The Minister was actually disappointed when he read the news.

“An official statement would be issued to that effect, but now, you can take it to the  bank that the letter should not be taken seriously because it did not get the nod of the honourable minister,” the insider who pleaded not to be mentioned said.

Similarly, a staff of Ochacho Foundation has described the letter as a mere distraction.

The insider said President Muhammadu Buhari is a good man and deserves every needed support from Nigerians; irrespective of religion or political affiliation.

“This is not time for politics but time for action. We are not doing this to prove any point.

“The road project is one of the many projects we have embarked on in Benue South.

“Already, workers are back on site and we hope to make the road better before the rains come.

“We won’t be distracted by those who hate development in our community.

“We will do our best to support the government,” the insider who pleaded anonymity, said.