Soludo, who showed up at the road construction site on a whim on a Sunday, said the company was incompetent and lacked the resources to complete the project.
A video showing the governor’s visit to the site of the road construction project has been making the rounds online. However, the name of the corporation responsible for the project was not stated.
It has been learned that the road contract is for a federal road that connects the town of Ekwulobia to the governor’s village, both of which are located in the Aguata Local Government Area.
The governor told the project manager on site, “Take off all these things (equipment) because this contract has been terminated. I just called the commissioner for works and told him that this contract has been terminated.
“See what you are doing. I have terminated the contract, and you are supposed to return the money you were paid. Useless company! We gave you this contract because you are an indigenous company, but see what you are doing. This is what we see. You blocked the entire highway, and nobody could pass by. Now, I am going to my hometown, how do I go? This is a federal highway.
“For months, you blocked the road; even for people to pass through the other highway, you blocked the road.
“This job was supposed to have been finished in October, and that was the contract you were given. Other companies that were given the same contracts like you have all delivered.”
The governor paid no attention to the project manager on the ground, who tried to explain that the road’s unique characteristics made meeting the deadline problematic.
“There are other very difficult terrains, and the contractors have delivered. I have terminated the contract, and there is nothing you can tell me about it. Take off all your equipment from this place and move out because another person is coming to take over the job. It is at your own risk if you continue because we are not paying you a dime. Instead, we are asking for a refund,” the governor stated.
Attempts to reach Christian Aburime, the governor’s press secretary, were fruitless as of the time this story was published; he had yet to return any calls or messages left on his phone.