The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, yesterday, accused governors of denigrating the image of President Goodluck Jonathan and lamented that there was inadequate Federal Government presence in the states.
Maku who stated this at the Banquet Hall of Government House Makurdi, during a town hall meeting on national good governance said the federal government was committed to changing the lives of the rural dwellers and has accordingly executed various infrastructural projects across the 36 states of the federation, which he said was targeted at fighting corruption and reducing poverty in the country.
However, LEADERSHIP investigations revealed that in Benue State, there was virtually no federal government projects including roads that have been concluded.
Maku said, “Every State we go to, the governors complain of inadequate federal government presence, but I assure you the federal government is doing its best. In Benue for instance, it is constructing a 330/132KVA substation and transmission lines, which will impact on power supply.
The federal government has just re-awarded the contract for rehabilitation of Otukpo -9 Mile Road after the first contractor failed to perform. The new contractor (Rockbridge) has promised to deliver the Otukpo -9 Mile Road by March next year.”
According to Maku, the country was bedeviled with corruption and insecurity which he noted has caused underdevelopment, and insisted that there must be positive change of attitude from both the governors and the governed before rapid development could thrive.
The minister further said there was need for state governors to focus on improved seedlings to boost agricultural production, improvement of primary education and construction of industries to create wealth. He said that the governors should ensure physical development in their domain.