IPP STEPDOWN: Sherrif denies discussion, Sen Ned gives fresh details of discussion

IPP STEPDOWN: Ned gives fresh details of discussion when Sherrif denies discussion

Following the demand for the State Government to fund the Independent Power Plant built in Okpai Delta State and commissioned since 2005 without being steeped down for the Host

The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Nigerian 10th Assembly disclosed to the Constituents at a meeting with the NNU at Ezionum in Ukwuani LGA the efforts he has been making to successfully STEPDOWN Power from the Okpai Independent Power Plant.

The Senator in a widely circulated video told the people that he has requested that the State Government fund the project costing not more than 35billion naira but that the Governor said there was no money in the State as he is paying back the debts of past administration.

This has brought lots of mixed-up mostly on loyalist of the Governor who felt the statement was an attack on the credibility of the Governor.

In a recent development, the Honorable Commissioner of Finance, Hon Okenmor Tilije have said that it was not true, that the Senator never discussed such with the Governor, infact below are his exact words in a WhatsApp group called Ukwuani Bu Anieze during a heated debate between the Commissioner and Chinoye Eunice Abanum SA on Media to the Senator

*The Commissioner said* :

Clearly, you do not expect the Governor to address this platform. I am not denying for the Governor. I went to discuss Ned’s presentation with him one on one and he told me face to face that he did not at any point discuss this issue with Ned at all. Ask me who I will believe? I will believe the Governor because I have had better and more meaningful discussions with him. Furthermore, I also discussed with the Commissioner for Energy, who told me he had never met with Ned on any issue at all. In any case, nobody in the Government of Delta State has seen and / or known how Ned came about N35 billion bill of quantities as costs of the step down. Would any reasonable mind believe that any Governor in Nigeria will disburse N35 billion directly to a third party without Executive Council approval. Please request your principal to post the BOQ of the step down scope and costs asap as a starting point. God bless

Seeing this response, Chinoye Eunice Abanum Immediately copied it to the Senator and the response of the Senator was explicit. Below is the senators position on Governor Sherrif Oborevwori denial of not having the discussion at all.

*Senator Ned Nwoko said*

I have had over 5 such meetings with the Governor.

I also raised the issues at the PDP Caucus meeting. Okenmor Fidelis Tilije was there.

James Manager stood in defence of the governor who was presiding over the meeting. James manager said it was not the right place to discuss such matters. That I have access to the governor to raise such matters privately.

But I had been discussing privately and nothing was coming out of it.

In any event, it wasn’t a private matter. I am not looking for a contract from the state.“`

“`I discussed okpai IPP project, Ogwashi-Uku Dam, Asaba-oko-okpai-aboh road severally with the governor among other smaller projects. None has been done

When they are ready to takeover the project, the two contractors will give them the total bills.

Have they ever engaged the contractors? Are they interested in discussing with the minister? TCN or the contractors or they just thrive in playing politics instead of finding solutions to the power problems?“`

It’s painful to see that the leaders of the people the Senator is fighting for are the ones making excuses for the State Government and even telling lies to further move the people against their helper and support their oppressors.