Reactions have continued to trail recent allegation against Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, over alleged procurement violation over awards of some road contracts by a transparency group on Sunday after Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, weighed on the matter describing the claim as smear campaign against the minister.
Ugochinyere, said that enemies of ongoing road revolution under the present administration are the ones behind smear campaigns against the minister.
Ugochinyere made his position known in a statement made available to journalists at the weekend in Abuja.
The federal lawmaker spoke amid reports that Tracka, BudgIT’s platform for monitoring service delivery, has alleged that Umahi disbursed a total of N9.3 billion from the Federal Ministry of Works to FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd, an apparent violation of the 2007 Public Procurement Act.
According to Tracka, the payment was made between June and December 2023 for 62 projects, including the construction of road projects across the country, amongst others.
But the federal lawmaker described the allegation and others as part of orchestrated plans to defame the minister and portray him in a bad light.
According to Ugochinyere, it’s obvious to all fair-minded individuals that during his short period at the Ministry of Works, the ministry has witnessed tremendous reforms under Umahi.
He attributed the campaign of calumny against the minister to those he said are not comfortable with the reforms in the ministry and the road revolution in the country.
Ugochinyere therefore urged the Minister not to be distracted and remain focus so that Nigeria and indeed Nigerians can continue to benefit from the ongoing reforms in his ministry.
He also urged Nigerians to disregard the smear campaign and support the Minister towards better road reforms for the benefit of all.
The statement read in part, “Nigerians are all aware that one of the ministers that have easily keyed into the President Bola Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda is Senator Dave Umahi who has been spearheading reforms in the Ministry of Works.
” It is also clear to all that under his leadership of the ministry, the country has been witnessing road revolution.
“It is therefore not unexpected that enemies of the road revolution will go after the Minister. I make bold to say that these faceless people are the ones behind the smear campaign against the Works Minister.
” I commend Mr Umahi for debunking the reports. Unscrupulous persons are bent on defaming the minister and distracting him from his assignment.
” I condemn this calculated smear campaign against the minister in strong terms while urging those behind it to desist forthwith.
” I also urge the minister not to be distracted, rather, he should remain focus so that Nigeria and indeed Nigerians can continue to benefit from the ongoing reforms in his ministry.”
