Kogi: Follow footsteps of your predecessor in leaving lasting legacies- NGE tells Gov. Ododo
The Nigeria Guild of Editors, (NGE) has advised the Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to follow the footsteps of his predicessor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.
The President of NGE Mr Eze Anaba gave the advice on Saturday while briefing journalists shortly after the media tour of reference hospital Okene.
Anaba who noted that, the immediate past administration has left a legacy worthy of emulation said the good work of former Governor Bello should be sustained by the present administration.
While noting that Kogi State is working, the NGE President disclosed that, the current administration under Alhaji Ododo is doing well to sustain the legacies of his former boss.
“Continuing, Anaba said “Democracy is about the people and the facilities we have seen, the road construction we saw and the traffic time they have saved people of Kogi State and Nigeria in general that alone will help the Country, boost our economy and help the Citizens. People waste and loose life on traffic. If the road network is strong like we saw, I am sure Nigeria will be better for it. Am highly commending the State Government for what me and my team have seen so far.
“Government is a continuum. I will advise the current Government to follow the foot step of his predicessor. It is only in that way the Citizens will benefit and Kogi State will become the best place in the Country. People will know that democracy has taken root in Kogi State and the people are benefitting.
“At the end of the day, Governance is about the people. From what I have seen, from what my colleagues saw, Kogi is working in terms of, education infrastructure and medical care”.
On the media tour to reference hospital Okene, Anaba advised Nigerians to patronize the health institution to save the Country money in a bid to boost the nation’s economy.
“From a lay Man perspective, I am not a Doctor. From what the Doctors have told me and my team and what we saw with our eyes, it is hugely impressive. The MRI machine and other laboratory equipment are very impressive. I have to commend the Kogi State Government for making this available.
” I would advise the people to put this to test and if this work they will save Nigeria huge some of money. Recently, the CBN Governor told the whole world that medical tourism alone is causing this Country a fortune. So, if Nigerians patronize this hospital, it will save this Country alot of money and put our economy in good step. What we have seen here, Nigeria should be happy for it.
Earlier, while taking the practicing journalists round the hospital, the Chief Medical Director of reference hospital Okene Prof Solomon Avidime posited that, the hospital has State of the heart equipment to attend to the medical needs of Nigerians.
“As you can see we have beautiful outside and beautiful inside. Where we are is the ground floor that houses the out patient department. On one hand and the other side we have about 11 consulting rooms. Each consulting room has a computer.
” The entire system is electronic base which is electronic record system. We have on the other side the trainer center which has the dialisis unit. The dialysis unit has about six machines. That means about six persons can be dialized at a goal.
“At the tale end is the diagnostic unit that houses about four labouratory department. We have the unit that does digital radiology, x-ray and the manogram as well as the scan. They are the latest of the equipment you can find. Many of them are debuting in Nigeria for the very first time. We have two emergency room including two theater.
“You can’t find many equipment we are having here in other parts of the Country. Outside this place, we have a center that has a city scan and MRI. They are all latest equipment. We have oxygen plant where we produced medical oxygen meant to serve not just Kogi but the entire North Central as well as Nigeria.
He noted that the hospital has an updated highly equip radiology department. “The MRI we have here is the latest with artificial intelligence that has a processing time of about 30 minutes with our patients” the CMD added.
The Kogi State Commissioner for health Dr Abdlulazeez Adam Adeiza on his part noted that, the edifice is not just out to serve the people of Kogi State but the entire Nigeria.
“This edifice standing behind us today is not the only edifice for health in Kogi State. The Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello embarked on six of this project even though this is the largest.
” Two stands in each of the Senatorial districts. We have one ultra modern hospital in Gege Beki, Isanlu, which serves the west and in the Eastern flanks which we have the newly structured Prince Abubakar Audu University Hospital and the well equip Idah Zonal hospital also serving the Eastern flanks. We also have that in Lokoja the State capital. All of them are well equip to serve the country entire” he added.