The Campaign Organization of the Isoko All Progressives Congress, (APC), federal house of Representatives candidate, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has described a publication titled “Isoko APC House of Reps Candidate, Joel-Onowakpo Embroils in Contract Scam” targeted at him, his family members and one of his close political allies, on the Asaba Metro online news platform, as a figment of the author’s imagination, asserting that the sponsored spurious publication has indeed vindicated him at last.
Reacting to the publication in a statement signed by Mr. Obah Sylva, for the Joel-Onowakpo Thomas Campaign Media Team, and made available to Journalists, noted that in “the so watery publication without any atom of facts, the uninformed author accused Joel-Onowakpo Thomas of using his influence to award contracts to his family members and cronies.”
According to the statement, “Though the publication is watery and without any substantial evidence or proof, we are constrained to set the records straight because of the reading public.”, adding that with the report, it can be clearly seen that Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, never cornered any government contract to himself or family members but some qualified Isoko sons and daughters benefitted.
“We wish to state with our head high that none of the under listed companies belong to Joel-Onowakpo Thomas nor any member of his family. The companies as reported are: PatGra Enterprise, Osue-Ona Nigeria Enterprise, Ewoma-Eno Nigeria Enterprises, Vicomech Integrated Resources Nigeria Limited and Egwomira Ventures Nig. Ltd.
“For instance, Egwomira Ventures Nig. Ltd is a well-known construction company that has handled many contracts both in the Public (government) and in the private sector. This company is owned by an illustrious Isoko son from Isoko North LGA. Our brothers from Isoko north can confirm this.
“We have constantly stated that if Joel-Onowakpo is elected as member House of Representatives, we will ensure that qualified Isoko sons and daughters are adequately patronized with contracts, consultancy and other form of government patronage. We will be glad to see more Isoko sons and daughters prospering.
“This is a clear departure from the usual contract grabbing by our representative which has been exposed by the EFCC. We have seen reports where companies, that he is the sole signatory to and those of his family members been published and many are currently under investigation.
“It is laughable that the author also published four (4) attached documents and called them ‘classified’. Those who are conversant with civil service procedures know that, document of those classes are stamped on every page as “SECRET”, “CONFIDENTIAL” or “CLASSIFIED”. Therefore the documents are not classified as claimed by the author.
“We also noticed that two (2) of the only signed document where done by government officials outside the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue. One was signed by the then Commissioner of Housing and the other was by secretary to the Delta State Tender Board. Is this not indication that due process were followed by the board in award of all contracts?”
Continuing, the statement further noted that “The author accused Arch. Ambby Okuhor another Isoko illustrious son of being the consultant to the DBIR Headquarter Building.
“The author is so uninformed to the point that he is unaware that there are standard scale of fees established by the federal government by a decree which is gazzetted, as it relates to architectural consultancy practice, and we are sure Arch. Ambby Okuhor, a member of Nigeria Institute Of Architect ( MNIA) can not be found wanting. We hereby refer you to the 1996 Federal government scale of fees of works for public sector.
“We are yet to understand why the author is so bitter about this. is it that the Arch. Ambby Okuhor, an Architect of international repute is not qualify to handle a consultancy job or is it because he is an Isoko son? Are the jobs completed as at when due or is the quality substandard?
“Akpuzo Okperi in one of his FREE EDUCATION series has educated one Akpodhoma Mike Mikoko, the Press Secretary to the minority leader and member representing Isoko federal constituency in the house of Representatives, on what consultancy means, we therefore do not want to repeat that education in this piece.
“We are proud that the entire 23 construction jobs by DBIR were completed within the stipulated time and we are glad that no abandoned project has been linked to us more than three years after our exit from DBIR.
“Isoko youth! This is your time! The time for you to be adequately patronized. Just as Isoko sons were patronized by the Joel-Onowakpo led DBIR board, more qualified sons and daughters will be adequately patronized and empowered. Never again will our common wealth be the sole right of just one family. There will be adequate redistribution of wealth round all the wards in Isoko nation.
“We sincerely thanked the author for the endorsement and reaffirming our promises to Isoko people that Joel-Onowakpo Thomas will concentrate on legislative business and allow Isoko sons and daughters to be contractors and consultants. We will be glad to see beneficiary of these contracts speeding up our progress.”, the statement concluded.
