Obaseki Still Actively Campaigning for Office, APC Attacks Edo Gov

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State, Col Dr. David Imuse (rtd) is questioning the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki on his recent disclosure that it will take 20 to 30 years for Edo State to attain the qualitative healthcare system that he has envisaged.

Col Imuse’s reaction is contained in a press statement issued by the APC secretariat earlier today.

“My attention has been drawn to the submission by Our Governor, Mr.  Godwin Obaseki that it will take 20 or 30 years for his fictional healthcare reforms in our state to materialize.

“It is on record that Mr Godwin Obaseki has lost focus, as he frequently engages in campaign-like activities, especially when addressing large crowds.

“However, he seems to overlook the fact that he currently holds the position of governor and, instead of making promises, the audience wants to hear about the actions he has taken to improve the lives of the people in the state.” The statement stated.

The APC Chairman retorted that: “During his speeches, he often discusses a long-term developmental plan spanning 50 to 100 years for a state where he has already been governor for almost seven years and is due to leave office in a few months.

“Additionally, he proudly highlights his fictional reforms in various sectors of the state’s struggling economy.

“Recently, he claimed that his reforms in the healthcare sector will bring the state to where it should be and desires to be in the next 20 to 30 years.”

However, Col Imuse add, that: “…his assertion that the government’s role is solely to regulate the healthcare industry, rather than being the largest provider, contradicts his previous statement about revamping and strengthening the state’s healthcare system through infrastructure development and capacity building.”

The statement added that: “Despite celebrating his supposed achievements, Governor Obaseki admitted his failure when he mentioned that his government cannot resolve all the health issues they inherited in eight years. Instead, they promised to set a new direction and initiate change to restore Edo to its former state regarding health services.

“Furthermore, the governor claimed to have rebuilt health institutions in the state and improved the face of the healthcare system.

“However, he failed to explain why he demolished the century-old Central Hospital in Benin City, the state capital, with plans to replace it with a museum.”

This action he opined, “only serves as an acknowledgement of his failure, as the healthcare system in Edo State has collapsed under his watch.

“Primary and secondary healthcare centers are in deplorable conditions, and healthcare workers operate in unhealthy environments, facing issues such as unpaid hazard allowances, non-payment of minimum wages to doctors, the discontinuation of residency programs, poor working conditions, and a lack of funds to operate the hospitals.”

Governor Obaseki according to Col Imuse “…is aware of the dire state of state-owned hospitals, with nauseating conditions, lack of basic facilities, dilapidated buildings, inadequate furniture and fittings, absence of a reliable power supply, and scarcity of water.

“Instead of continuing his campaign efforts, he should focus on addressing these pressing issues.”

It will be recalled that, Governor Obaseki will addressing… explained that his administration was “…building quality infrastructure, capacity, institutions, others to rejig Edo’s healthcare system” in the state.

Midwest Herald had earlier, reported yesterday that, Obaseki, on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, stated that his government had in the past six years, focused on revamping and strengthening the State’s healthcare system and prioritizing investment in the development of infrastructure as well as capacity building.

Obaseki gave report of his scorecard in the health sector, during a presentation he titled; titled – “Transforming the Healthcare Sector”, at an interactive session between Edo State Government and members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Edo State Chapter, Private Medical Practitioners, and other stakeholders in the health sector, held at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City, Edo State Capital, South-South Nigeria.

READ ALSO: EDO HEALTHCARE WILL GET THERE 20 TO 30 YEARS – GOV OBASEKI