Edo: Obasanjo, others celebrate Obaseki’s eight years rule, impact

Prominent political figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, and former Edo State Governors Lucky Igbinedion and Odigie Oyegun, gathered in Benin City to celebrate the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki on the occasion of his eight years in office.

The leaders commended Obaseki for his extensive reforms and development projects across various sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure, which have significantly improved the lives of Edo State residents. Their remarks were made during the commissioning of key projects, including the newly rebuilt and expanded 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital, the Crèche, and the Food Court at the State Secretariat Complex.

Former President Obasanjo lauded Obaseki as both a builder and a reformer, highlighting the governor’s contributions to improving healthcare facilities, particularly the Stella Obasanjo Hospital. He stressed the importance of visionary leadership in enhancing national service delivery.

Similarly, former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan praised the newly upgraded hospital as a symbol of leadership and commitment to quality healthcare. She expressed confidence that the hospital would bridge the gap between primary and specialised healthcare in the region, making Edo a hub for affordable healthcare services.

Governor Obaseki, in his response, outlined his administration’s accomplishments in improving Edo’s healthcare system, noting the importance of human capital development alongside infrastructural growth. He reflected on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and how it prompted his government to reimagine healthcare in the state. Under his leadership, over 5,000 medical professionals were mobilised to address the crisis, and significant strides were made in the primary healthcare system, with the refurbishment of 60 primary health centres.

The governor also discussed the establishment of the Edo Health Insurance Scheme, which has enrolled over 300,000 citizens, and the rebuilding of healthcare institutions such as the state’s School of Nursing and School of Health Technology.

While celebrating the progress made, Obaseki expressed concerns about the delays in ongoing projects due to issues with state finances, particularly the detention of key state officials by the EFCC. He urged political leaders to prioritise the welfare of the people over narrow political interests and emphasised the importance of maintaining and expanding the healthcare services established in Edo.

Others 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; the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Chief of Staff to the Edo State Governor, Osaigbovo Iyoha; former First Lady of Cross Rivers State, Obioma Imoke; wife of the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 governorship election, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo; Provost of the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences (ESCNS), Prof. Patricia Ukaigwe; members of the State’s Executive Council and traditional rulers, among others.