Obaseki, APC clash over modular refinery project

Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has engaged the Campaign Council of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in a war of words over the ownership of the modular refinery project in Edo State.

This follows comments made by the council through its chairman, Prince John Mayaki who noted that the refinery located in Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state was privately owned and not the Obaseki's project like the governor is making everyone believe.

The governor, reacting through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, however, accused APC members of having sleepless nights over his achievements.

The campaign council said Obaseki attempted to steal credit for the building of the privately-owned refinery because his administration lacked any achievement to show for its four-year term, The Nations reports.

PDP will prioritise power sector, says Obaseki. It condemned the governor’s “irresponsible and mischievous” latching onto the project to enjoy undeserved plaudits, while challenging him to publicize the contribution of his government to the success of the project.

According to Nations, the campaign council noted that the refinery was a Federal Government-backed privately-funded project, undertaken by the AIPCC Energy Ltd, in a joint venture between AFCOM and Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company of China.

It accused the governor of frustrating the development of the refinery project with his disastrous economic policies and disregard for the rule of law, which it noted had driven investors from the state.