In the aftermath of a tripartite meeting held in Abuja on December 20, 2023, involving the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Senator Dave Nweze Umahi, officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, representatives from the Cross River Consultative Forum, and a delegation from Sermatech Nigeria Ltd, tensions have escalated.
The meeting aimed to address complaints lodged against Sermatech Nigeria Ltd concerning alleged subpar work on the contracts for the construction of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot and the rehabilitation of Calabar-Ikom-Ugep highways.
Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, who was present at the meeting, expressed his astonishment and concern over what he termed “the shamelessness of Sermatech” in response to what he perceived as an orchestrated campaign against the leadership of the Cross River South Consultative Forum. This campaign, according to him, involved propaganda, blackmail, calumny, and lies.
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Obono-Obla accused Sermatech of attempting to divert attention from its alleged incompetence and failures in executing contracts in Cross River State. He emphasized that the people of Cross River are well aware of Sermatech’s track record and won’t be swayed by what he described as “paid media blitzkrieg” against courageous leaders who exposed the company’s shortcomings.
He urged Sermatech to acknowledge its failures and address them instead of engaging in tactics that he termed “shameless.” Obono-Obla noted that the patience and civility of the people of Cross River should not be taken for granted.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute between Sermatech and the Cross River South Consultative Forum, raising questions about the company’s public relations strategy and its ability to navigate the growing criticism of its performance.
