I’m not invited; have never been invited by EFCC or any Agency for that matter – Ex-Kwara Commissioner, Iliasu
Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Immediate past Commissioner for Works and Transport in Kwara State, Engr. Rotimi Iliasu has debunked news making rounds that he was invited and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Iliasu who was addressing journalist in Ilorin, the State capital said he was shocked that such damaging and unfounded rumour could be peddled against him quoting an online publication (not the Nigerian Xpress) during the week.
According to him, he had never been invited nor detained either while in office nor now, that he is out of office by the anti-graft agency for any unholy reason. He said rather, he remembered that while in office as Commissioner and an Engineer fir that matter, EFCC requested the assistance of the his ministry to help assess projects it was investgating for proper evaluations.
READ ALSO: http://Kidnappers abduct 25 choir members of Ondo church
Iliasu said interestingly, such projects were never that of the State Government pointing out that instead, they were other peoples projects citing a University of Ilorin job allegedly done by a contractor that was being investigated by the EFCC.
The Commissioner added that in order to give his Ministry the prestige and honour the Anti-Graft agency accorded it, he opted to lead the team of Engineers that carried out the assignment for EFCC and came out highly commended.
Speaking on his stint as Commissioner in office, Engineer Iliasu said as a professional, he collaborated with his principal, Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman to execute capital projects at cheapest rates compared with other states and the immediate past administration in Kwara but even with that, all the projects passed the quality tests.
His words; “I have never been invited or detained by the EFCC. I thank God for the state and governor I served, the governor is very prudent and diligent in awarding contracts.”
He however expressed the views that certain peoole who undoubtedly could be politicians would be behind the sponsored rumour saying; “it’s all political, seems some people feel threatened by my popularity in Moro; my Local Government and the Senatorial District. They coukd be trying to look for a way to tarnish my good image.
READ ALSO: http://(OPINION) Nigeria @ 63: Peoples’ Welfare Required
“But, to me, I feel it should not be all about pulling-him-down stuff. Before now, I’ve resolved within myself that I will not be a disappointment to my people, especially my generation; the youth.
“All I want to do is to help my people in Moro Local Government which will be one of the greatest beneficiaries of this administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in the last four years, I only want to give back to my people what is best for them,” the Ex-Commissioner said.
He spoke on the on going Tanke Flying over bridge that started started while he was in office which was one of the reference subjects by his critics, Enginner Iliasu said “The quality is superb, verified and certified by all the appropriate professional bodies like Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
“The surface in some part of the bridge may look rough, but no sincere person can doubt the quality of the work taking into cognizance, the kind of materials used.
Speaking as an Engineer on the occassional building collapses in the country he advised people intending to buy land to build a houses to always make sure that they buy lands in the upstream areas which according to him would save them possible disasters occassinoned by collapses or thier structures being submerged by water in times of heavy rains.
Meanwhile, even when the new cabinet members had been appointed and assigned portfolios, none is appointed for the Ministry of Works and Transport yet.