Arrest of AG: I Can No Longer Function Properly, Obaseki Laments Financial Handicap as Obasanjo, Patience Jonathan,Tambuwal Laud His Achievements, Reforms at Projects Commissioning

Outgoing governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has expressed frustrations over the financial squeeze being experienced by his government due to the arrest of the accountant general (AG) of the state, Julius Anelu, along with two other signatories to the state’s accounts, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Recall that Anelu was detained by the EFCC after honoring its invitation to answer some questions in respect of some financial transactions and have since remained in its custody in Abuja.

Inside sources, however, hinted the magazine that they were being held to prevent the outgoing government from emptying the Treasury before handing over to the incoming government on November 12.

A reliable source informed the magazine how the government had within one week of receiving ₦24.6 billion as 13% derivation fund depleted it to N13 billion, and the agency had to move fast to prevent it from being completely wiped out before a new administration takes over.

But accusing the anti-graft agency of having “abducted” the key officials at the commissioning on Wednesday of the rebuilt and expanded 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital, off Sapele Road in Benin City, performed by Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, after whose late wife the hospital was named, Governor Obaseki lamented that he had been rendered a lame duck.

He told his guests who also included former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former Sokoto State governor, and two former governors of Edo State, John Odigie-Oyegun and Lucky Igbinedion, that “Today, I am not a happy man because my contractors have slowed down work because Edo has not been able to function properly. The Accountant General and all those signatory to Edo State Account have been abducted by the EFCC and I can’t act even when I am still the governor.”

Other projects inaugurated were a crèche and food court at the state Secretariat Complex, during which the leaders celebrated the governor for his commitment to the welfare of Edo people by prioritising projects that had significantly impacted and improved their lives.

Commissioning the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, the former president who described Governor Obaseki as “a builder” and “a reformer”, commended him for his multi sectoral reforms over the last eight years.

According to him, “I want to thank you for remembering my late wife, Stella Obasanjo. I was here before, and coming here now, what I see is wonderful. You are not only a builder, but you are a reformer who has positively impacted on the lives of his people.

“I commend you for improving on some of the things your predecessor did, like this Stella Obasanjo Hospital.”

Applauding the governor for rebuilding and expanding the hospital, the former President noted, “When this hospital was established 17 years ago, it was to keep the memory of my late wife. By honouring her, you are also honouring me.”

Describing the governor as a pacesetter, Obasanjo advised political leaders on quality and efficient service in whatever responsibility given to them at the national, state, or local government level, with a focus on human capital development.

Also speaking, Mrs. Jonathan, said by the project, Obaseki had restored hope to the people of the state while repositioning Edo as a hub for quality and affordable healthcare services in the country.

The former first lady stated, “The newly rebuilt Stella Obasanjo Hospital is a testament to the power of a visionary leader and a commitment to build a strong healthy state and nation.

“This hospital has become a shining example of what can be accomplished for the well-being of our people. We commend you for this great effort and we can see the realisation of your dreams to deliver quality and accessible healthcare.

“This is a testament of establishing Edo State as a regional hub in terms of quality and affordable healthcare services as it brings hope to Edo people.”

According to Mrs. Jonathan, “This hospital will serve as a reference centre bridging the gap between primary healthcare and specialised healthcare and ensuring that everyone, irrespective of their background, will get the care they need.

“I thank the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and the people of the state for keeping the legacy of our late First Lady through this hospital. The efforts of this hospital will not only improve healthcare but raise the bar for effective service delivery in our nation, Nigeria.”

In his response, Governor Obaseki while reeling the impact of his government’s reforms and projects across various sectors of the state, said his government had delivered all promises made to the people of the state and placed the state on the path of sustainable growth and development.

He said, “This is not just infrastructure but about sharing some human values of compassion, care, and hope; that is what this facility is all about.

“I didn’t know how bad our healthcare system was until COVID-19 hit the world. It was the turning point for us as nobody could move, even the wealthiest amongst us. I said to my God that if he helps us through COVID-19, I will do something remarkable for our healthcare system and our people in Edo State.

“We thought through a health improvement plan for Edo during COVID-19 with a plan to be the healthcare hub. COVID-19 helped us mobilise over 5,000 doctors within our vicinity to help us respond to the pandemic but what was missing was a plan to tie our health facilities together.

“Healthcare is not just about hospitals or just the facilities but also about human capital to help people. It’s expensive, but we must find a way of financing it. We redesigned our healthcare programme through our health improvement scheme.

“The primary healthcare system is the first contact with our citizens, and we set up the primary healthcare agency and today, we have the most viable primary healthcare system in Nigeria. We have refurbished 60 primary healthcare centres and our goal is to ensure each ward in the state has a primary healthcare centre.

“Doctors, nurses and other health professionals are what we focus on. We focused on human capacity. Most of our health institutions lost accreditation. We focused on rebuilding them; we rebuilt our school of nursing and it’s the best in Nigeria today.

“We also rebuilt the school of health technology that produces the bulk of staff for our primary healthcare centres and last week, we matriculated the first set of students. In a few years’ time, we will produce the needed manpower for the health sector in Edo State and Nigeria.”

Governor Obaseki further stated, “We focused on health financing and started the Edo Health Insurance Scheme and today, we have the most viable health insurance scheme in Nigeria. We have over 300,000 citizens under our health insurance programme.

“Chief Igbinedion acquired this property and set up this hospital which was run down when he left power. We used it for COVID-19 as a treatment and isolation and decided to upgrade and rebuild the hospital to provide specialist care as it sits on 20 hectares of land.”

He explained that the upgrade and expansion of the world-class facility was part of efforts by his government to make the state a hub for medical tourism, adding, “We brought down the Central Hospital and moved the core of medical facilities here.”

The outgoing governor however expressed misgivings over what becomes of the facility after him., sitting that “This hospital will be viable, but I wonder if the people coming will build on what we have started”.

To political leaders like him, he had some words of advice: “We would not know the day we will be ill and need facilities like this. For those of our brothers who go to Abuja trying to spoil what we are doing in Edo State, I pray you don’t need the services provided here. As political leaders, we should step back and look at our people, not our narrow political interests.”

Other dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, (UBTH) Prof. Darlington Obaseki; Provost of the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences (ESCNS), Prof. Patricia Ukaigwe; the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; former First Lady of Cross Rivers State, Obioma Imoke; wife the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 governorship election, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo; members of the state’s Executive Council, and traditional rulers, among others.

EDO STATE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL ADVISER, MEDIA
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
Dennis Osadebe Avenue, Government House.
G.R.A Benin City.