Headline

No Nigerian Who Can’t Afford Medical Treatment Overseas Deserves to Die – Wike

Published

4 years ago

October 4, 2021

Eric

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the country must as a priority strengthen public health institutions because Nigerians who cannot afford medical treatment overseas don’t deserve to die.

The governor maintained that it is the primary responsibility of any government to ensure equitable access to basic healthcare for the citizens, especially the poor and most vulnerable in society.

Governor Wike made the assertion after inspecting on going construction work at the multibillion Naira, Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre; the Basic Clinical Sciences and Clinical Sciences, the Renal and Pathology Departments for the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The governor said the State government huge investment in the tertiary hospital and public health infrastructure is aimed at making the State the hub for medical tourism in the country.

Governor Wike remarked that any government that recognises the centrality of public health and its critical role in nation building, will as a priority strengthen public health institutions so that those who cannot afford to seek medical treatment overseas don’t die.

“How many people can afford traveling overseas. We have all it takes to improve on our health sector, to provide the necessary facilities. We have our doctors, all we need to do is training and retraining them. Look at Government House Hospital (Port Harcourt), look at how people troop in there, because the basic facilities are there and the doctors are willing, committed to work because of the environment they have found themselves.

“If you give our people the required environment and give them the facilities, the tools to work, there is no need for us travelling to overseas. When people come to Government House Clinic, they look at the facilities and say is it not what we see overseas. So we can replicate it here in Nigeria.”

The governor declared that government must make it a priority to provide incentives and creation of an enabling environment that can help ensure that doctors and other medical experts do their job well.

“So my own motivation is that if I have opportunity to travel overseas, what about others who does not have the opportunity to travel overseas. Must they die simply because they don’t have opportunity. It is the obligation of government to make sure that our citizens are given the best in terms of protecting their lives. It is the responsibility of government to protect lives.

“So for me, it is our responsibility and so we must do everything we can to see that we save the lives of our people by making sure that our healthcare delivery system is working and the doctors are also given the best for them to work.”

Governor Wike described the quality of work at the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, as very satisfactory. He disclosed that the contractor, Julius Berger, is working assiduously to meet the deadline for the completion the project.

He explained that the on going construction work at the Basic Clinical Sciences and Clinical Sciences; Renal and Pathology Departments buildings are required to make the Rivers State University a full fledged Teaching Hospital.

He further said the State government is not owing the contractors handling the Renal Centre, Pathology Department, Basic Clinical Sciences or the Clinical Sciences buildings of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. He charged the institution to ensure that all the contractors work towards the completion of the project by May 2022.

“We have spent so much money in the health sector and we believe that our people at the end of the day will appreciate what we have been able to commit to health. For us, giving Rivers people the best has always been our priority. All I pray is that the contractors should meet up the time.”

Headline

Tinubu Gives Akpabio Lifeline, Appoints Senate President As Head of Delegation to Pope Francis’ Funeral

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2025

Eric

Amid internal crises rocking the Nigerian Senate, and the Senate President, President Bola Tinubu has appointed Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to lead Nigerian delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City.

Akpabio leads Nigerian delegation that comprises Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese to the funeral amid his ongoing struggle with sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by a fellow senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

As part of Tinubu’s delegation, Akpabio is expected to formally deliver a letter to the acting head of the Vatican, conveying the president’s condolences.

Pope Francis passed away on Monday, April 21, aged 88. He will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 26.

In a statement released on Friday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced that the Senate President would lead a five-member delegation to the funeral.

Since February, Akpabio has been in the spotlight over sexual harassment allegation against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The female lawmaker submitted a petition before the Senate against Akpabio in March.

Before the allegation, Akpoti-Uduaghan had had a face-off with Akpabio over seating arrangement in the Senate.

The altercation led to the Senate President ordering the sergeant-at-arm to walk the female lawmaker out of the Senate Chamber.

She was subsequently suspended for six months.

The decision sparked public outrage as many Nigerians have since been demanding for a thorough investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against Senate President.

Meanwhile, the Senate President has repeatedly denied the allegation, and the matter is currently in court.

Headline

Your Presidential Ambition Dead on Arrival, Presidency Knocks Atiku As PDP Stalwarts Defect to APC

Published

2 days ago

April 25, 2025

Eric

The Presidency has delivered a jab at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, declaring his 2027 presidential ambition and coalition-building efforts “dead on arrival” following the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other top PDP figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In separate posts on X, Presidential aides Bayo Onanuga and Tunde Rahman mocked Atiku’s attempts to rally opposition forces, saying recent developments show his coalition is crumbling before it even takes off.

Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, wrote: “Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El-Rufai, Babachir, and new member Baba-Ahmed are cobbling together has disintegrated. Potential allies, including former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and defunct CPC members, are giving his leprous group a wide berth. Atiku is a loser again.”

Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, posted earlier in the day: “Things are really getting perilous and the future looks so bleak for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s coalition. After the PDP governors washed their hands clean of any such coalition plan, the defunct CPC wing he is also counting on has proffered support for President Tinubu.

Today (Wednesday), he got his biggest shocker ever. His 2023 election running mate, former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and Okowa’s successor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, dumped the sinking PDP ship and hopped aboard the APC plane, and by inference, crossed over to the PBAT side.

Indeed, the counting of PDP governors crossing over to APC has begun. Isn’t Atiku’s coalition dead on arrival?”

The coordinated remarks followed a major political realignment in Delta State, where the governor, his predecessor, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire PDP state structure defected to the APC – an event seen as a significant blow to Atiku, who has been working to form a broad opposition alliance against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

Okowa was Atiku’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atiku has yet to respond to the defection or the presidential aides’ comments, though acting national chairman Iliya Damagum earlier described the Delta exit as “unfortunate,” while insisting that the party remains focused and resilient.

Headline

Former Delta Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa, Defects to APC

Published

4 days ago

April 23, 2025

Eric

Former Governor of Delta State, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate in the 2023 election, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okowa confirmed the news of his defection to ARISE NEWS on Wednesday following the announcement of the current governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, who also defected from the PDP to the APC on Wednesday.

The development was disclosed by Senator James Manager after a six-hour meeting at Government House, Asaba.

“All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to the APC,” Manager stated. “We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat.”

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniagwu Charles, officially confirmed the sweeping political shift, attributing the decision to the need for renewed direction and enhanced governance in the state.

“There is a need for us to adjust our drinking patterns. And in adjusting that drinking pattern, we needed to make a decision that would further help to cement the development in our state,” he said.

Aniagwu added that the move aimed to sustain progress in law, security, and welfare, likening the PDP to a “palm wine whose taste has changed,” necessitating a change in “drinking party”.

He further indicated that the defection was unanimously agreed upon by key PDP leaders and stakeholders in the state, with a formal public declaration expected on Monday.

“By the grace of God, on Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement confirming that we are moving into the APC,” he said.

The mass defection represents a dramatic realignment in Delta State’s political landscape and could significantly alter party dynamics in the broader South-South region, historically a PDP stronghold.

Okowa will be received on Monday by Vice President Kashim Shettima alongside Governor Oborevwori.

AriseNews