Former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State (1999 – 2007) has declared Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the Political Leader of the oil-bearing state.
He spoke on Thursday at the inauguration of a comprehensive primary healthcare centre built by the PAMO Educational Foundation in Ndoni town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.
At the event, Fubara reiterated his administration’s commitment to provide quality education and healthcare services for the people of the state.
PAMO Educational Foundation is owned and funded by Odili.
Fubara described the inauguration of the centre as historic, saying, ”this is because the project is coming several years after the former governor has left office”
”As a government, we commend you for this kind gesture. It is a show of your love and commitment to the welfare of the people.
”This project is dear to our heart. Our administration places serious importance on quality education and healthcare delivery,” he said.
The governor said that his administration had taken steps to make primary healthcare delivery in the state better than it was a few years ago.
He urged the people of Ndoni and the state Primary Healthcare Management Board to own up the facility and make utmost use of it.
”The state government shall support the facility by providing the needed manpower to make it function optimally,” he said.
In his speech, Odili thanked Fubara for standing up to his oath of office in terms of healthcare, education and empowerment to Rivers people.
The former governor said that he drew the motivation to embark on the project from the destruction of the old community health centre by flooding.
”The entire Ndoni District was without healthcare facility after flood destroyed the old health centre. We thank God that this has become a reality,” he said.
He urged the governor to remain focused in his responsibility to implement programmes that would impact positively on Rivers people
”Politics is over, its now time for governance, we are happy that you have touched very critical sectors in less than one year in the office,” Odili said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, described the facility as a good omen to the people of Ndoni.
Oreh said that the facility had the capacity for up to 60 beds with a functional theatre, delivery room, laboratory and pharmacy.
”There is potable water. Sanitation, hygiene facilities and power generating plant are in place,” she said.
She said that the centre would be manned by skilled manpower transferred from the old facilities and others to be deployed by the state Primary Healthcare Management Board.
