Former Edo State Governor and current Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has expressed confidence in Governor Monday Okpebholo and his political will to make the right decisions regarding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).
Oshiomhole, who chairs the committee established by Governor Okpebholo to assess the legal and operational status of MOWAA, said the panel will clarify the roles, rights, and stakes of the Benin Royal Palace and Traditional Institution in the project.
Speaking in Benin City, he assured that the committee would operate strictly within its terms of reference to determine whether the project should be recognized as MOWAA or EMOWAA. He expressed optimism that the findings would offer clear guidance on the way forward.
On constituency projects, Oshiomhole revealed that he was entitled to N2 billion and confirmed that projects worth the full amount had been allocated across Edo North’s six local government areas.
He clarified that items such as grinding machines, tricycles, motorcycles, and refrigerators recently distributed to constituents were personally funded, while markets, schools, and boreholes he inaugurated were executed by the Federal Government.
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According to him, “I believe that constituency projects should not be abolished but provision of constituency projects is not at the heart of my mandate. The tricycles, motorcycles, and grinding machines are not in the federal government budget. They were my personal hand-outs. It was from my pocket.
“I don’t have to be a Senator to do all those things. I have always shown that empathy before I became a Senator. When I was in the Textile industry, I used to give out wrappers and do other things for the people. Those things I gave out are not from the federal government budget. The Uchi market, for example, was from the federal government.
“It is not my money. Will the federal government ordinarily know about Uchi market? We rebuilt a new school and put in furniture. There is no way Abuja will remember Ojah. We have provision for schools in Owan West and Owan East. Those are tangible things. They are from federal government money. Those villagers would not have benefitted even though they voted for Mr. President.
“The whole thing is acting in good faith. The federal government is so far from the ordinary people but the Senator cannot be far from those that elected him. They are the proverbial okro. We cannot grow taller than them. After blowing all the grammar, I come back home to see things are ok for the people.”
“I am not against constituency projects but it has to do with the individual. I told the contractor to let the people know that it is a federal government funded project. The funding is not coming to Oshiomhole’s pocket. I am only entitled to N2bn. I have to try to ensure it spreads. The money is not given to the Senator but my influence in it is that I decide what I want to put in my constituency and that determines the agency that executes it. The federal government awards it and they pay directly to the contractor.”
