Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that nobody has stated that it was within his right to choose whoever he pleases to undertake the commissioning of projects in the state.
Apart from the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, who inaugurated the Peter Odili Cancer Diagnostic and Cardiovascular Centre in Port Harcourt on Monday, the governor has also invited President Muhammadu Buhari, to commission the Nabo Graham-Douglas Campus of the Nigeria Law School in Port Harcourt on Friday, and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, to commission the Nkpolu- Oroworukwu Flyover Bridge project on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the former Governor of Edo State, Adam Oshiomhole is expected to commission the Rumuepirikom Flyover in Obio-Akpor on Wednesday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 72 beds at Dr Peter Odili Cancer Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Centre in Port Harcourt, performed by His Highness, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Wike asked those who felt slighted for ignoring them, to also execute projects in their various States and invite him to inaugurate them.
The governor said: “Those, who are saying why am I not inviting them to inaugurate projects, you invite me to inaugurate in your own place. I have a choice to invite whoever I want to come and inaugurate projects. On Wednesday, Adams Oshiomhole will come.
“On Thursday, Peter Obi will come and commission, on Friday, President Buhari will commission the Nigerian Law School. On Monday, Kwankwaso will come. If you want to have high blood pressure, it is your business.”
Wike said his administration has seamlessly delivered infrastructure to Rivers people and accused the National Assembly of allocating paltry funds to federal projects earmarked for execution every fiscal year which he said is one of the reasons why these projects take years to accomplish.
The governor stated that such practice has continued to encourage the abandonment of projects and promoted inadequacy in terms of governance, project delivery and public service.
“That is for a project that will cost N26billion, you are putting N500milion in the budget for one year. Then, it will now take you more than 20 years to achieve it. By then, the cost will move up from N26billion to one hundred and something billion Naira.
“That is why you see in this country abandonment of projects. If we are serious in this country to say that we will get the best, I can tell you that it is not impossible,” he stated.
Wike said that the Rivers people deserve the best, which, is why the best quality has been delivered at the centre, similar to the best quality delivered on all other projects.
He mocked those who said they had set out to build the Justice Karibi Whyte Hospital that never came to the limelight despite the huge fund put into the venture.
The governor explained that the facility was named after Dr Peter Odili because he is one Rivers leader who had operated one of the best clinics in the State, served as governor meritoriously and now contributing to medical education in the State.
Performing the inauguration of the project, His Highness, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero said it is pertinent to commend the foresight of Governor Wike for initiating and actualising such a novel project.
“The dreaded disease of cancer and its devastating effect on its victim cannot be overemphasized. It does not only destroy its victims and their families emotionally, but renders them financially incapacitated.
“Consequently, cancer diagnosis and treatment can be said to be beyond the reach and affordability of the common man.
“So, with the commissioning of this centre, those afflicted with this disease and other oncological ailments can at least breathe a sigh of relief, here is a succour at their doorsteps,” the Emir said.
He said that in the spirit of good neighbourliness and being brother’s keepers, patients from neighbouring states and even States as far as Kano will not be turned away from the God-sent cancer relief centre.
According to him, there is no gainsaying that infrastructure of this magnitude is very difficult to maintain and appealed for a positive paradigm shift in attitude towards maintenance culture.
He said, “We call upon the incoming administration and the people of Rivers State to own this improved infrastructure by ensuring that this very vital centre is well equipped and maintained at all times.
“The facilities should regularly be upgraded to meet global standards. The staff should be trained, retrained and updated on latest medical technology and innovation.”
In his goodwill message, former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili said he and his family are delighted for the honour done to them with such a centre named after him while he is alive.
Odili said the governor should have been a medical doctor because of the medical infrastructure he had provided in the State which are second to none in the history of Nigeria.
“Look at this edifice. The honourable commissioner for health has lectured us about the uniqueness of this centre. Everything he said about the centre are true, and I fully support and endorse.
“The president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has also spoken on it and I said that there is no medical facility in this country, built by a state government that has everything you have here. None can see your break light in your healthcare programme.
“The cancer centre that you have also introduced here, has only three functions in the federal republic of Nigeria. This is one of the three. No other one belongs to the State government, the other two belong to the federal government,” he stated.
