By Patrick Ahanor
Benin City
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commissioned the reconstructed 200-bed Central hospital in Benin City, the Edo state capital, and lauded Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the feat.
The exercise was part of activities to mark the eight years administration of the governor which would come to an end this Saturday.
Buhari, who noted that the Governor had made personal sacrifice for the people, said: “This is the best thing to do; rather than building a new Government House.
“I am very impressed with this work. I could not recognise the building when we were driving in… I asked the governor which edifice is this? He said it’s the hospital we are coming to commission.
“I think it takes a lot of courage to do what he (Oshiomhole) did because may be the elite around him like some more comfortable environment and far away hospital.
“All I can say is to thank the governor for really making his presence in Edo state and writing his name in gold.”
Other projects commissioned by the president who also visited Oba of Benin, Ewuare II included Second East Circular Road and Samuel Ogbemudia college.
On his part, Governor Oshiomhole said the decision to reconstruct the hospital stemmed from the commitment of his administration to invest in the medical care of the people of the state as well as to reduce medical tourism.
“If a poor man was to come to this hospital unconscious… if he wakes up, he will think he’s in heaven,” he said.
He advocated that doctors who would work in the facilities should be paid according to their productivity “so that they will choose the time of strike or spend time attending to their parents.”
