By Angela Atabo

Mr Segun Showunmi, a chieftain of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has lauded President Bola Tinubu on infrastructure development and cautioned against malicious criticism of the administration.

Showunmi made the commendation and his position known in Suleja, Niger State, during a joint inspection of the Suleja-Minna Road with the Minister of Works, David Umahi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, were also on the inspection team.

Showunmi, former spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, PDP presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential campaign, said he was satisfied with the administration in the area of road infrastructure.

“All eyes have been on the Minister of Works, due to the importance of roads.

“Although I am in opposition, but what I can say is that Mr president , thank you for this one. We have seen this one, we want to see more, like Oliver Twist,” he said.

Showunmi said he had raised questions about some road projects including the Sokoto-Badagry Expressway, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Suleja-Minna Road project.

He said he has been concerned about the road projects, but he got positive results.

Showunmi urged Nigerians to stop peddling malicious news but confirm things before believing anything.

“We have our nation’s integrity to protect. We have our nation to jointly build and we have our democracy to defend, protect and keep pushing.

“However, by no means does democracy translate in a global war, to constantly shaming your country, never seeing any good about your country, and instigating people only to hate the government and fight themselves,” he said.

Umahi commended Showunmi for asking questions about ongoing road projects to get clarifications rather than embarking on baseless criticism like some people.

“When he asked questions, I said I will not talk, we have to go and inspect. For me, this is constructive opposition.

“This is very important and I can say that it is a new dawn in our politics because opposition is not about destruction of the nation.

“Opposition is about pointing out certain things you think that the government in power are not doing well.

“I am very grateful to Mr President for his support and commitment in the delivery of road infrastructure,” he said.

Umahi stressed that the Tinubu administration is committed to delivering critical infrastructure to Nigerians under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Minister said the administration is delivering road infrastructure with a lifespan of 100 years on concrete pavement.

According to him, the quality of the roads is the same nationwide, including the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry and others.

NAN reports that the minister declared a state of emergency on the construction of the Suleja-Minna Road.

Umahi explained that the road project was awarded initially to Salini Nigeria Limited, but work had either been done badly or abandoned at some point and efforts to get them to repair the road over a year and a half had been unsuccessful.

Umahi, who said the contract has been irrevocably terminated due to the bad work, said Salini has been sanctioned to use the money owed to government on the project to deliver an assigned portion of the road with strict supervision.

He, therefore, said that if Salini failed to comply with the directive, then the ministry would seek the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s intervention to recover government money.

Sen. Nwaebonyi appreciated President Tinubu’s commitment and Umahi’s performance in the handling and delivery of road projects.

“The one that impressed me most is the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“The plan of the president is to open up more roads and by doing so more economic corridors are opened, all geared towards the economic renaissance and prosperity of our country.

“I want to appreciate Mr president and assure him that as parliament we will continue to support all his good programmes and policies all geared towards making Nigerians happy to the glory of God.”

Also speaking, Goronyo, appreciated the president for giving infrastructure its rightful place.

He also commented Showunmi for carrying out opposition’s mandate in the proper way, by investigating what the government of the day was doing.

“This is something that is new in our polity because people in opposition stay in their comfort zones and criticise the government without knowing what is happening.

“You took your time to join us to see for yourself and appreciate what the government of our dear president is doing in this country.

“Let me commend you highly for your patriotism, your vision for this country.

“We pray God Almighty to continue to give us more of your calibre that will come out to speak the truth, no matter who is there because the country is for all of us and we have to appreciate our country.”

He called on Nigerians to shine their eyes and not be misled as the president is committed to economic growth, human capital and infrastructure development, which are key drivers of socio-economic goals and development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi