Wike Faults FG on Stimulation of Nation’s Economy Sacks health commissioner

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has faulted the federal government policy on stimulation of nation’s economy.

The governor said federal government is not interested in revitalising the nation’s economy, noting that the programmes on stimulation of the economy have failed on all fronts.

The governor made the assertion yesterday, at the inauguration of the Ezimgbu Road, in Port Harcourt. This is just as the governor also sacked the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike.

Governor Wike stated that if the development of infrastructure is one way to stimulate the economy, then the federal government’s approach to the development of such critical infrastructure should be apolitical.

He pointed to the deplorable condition of the Lagos- Ibadan road, said that the road is so important to the nation’s economy and growth of interstate and regional business activities.

“Let me say something very clearly. When government say they want to stimulate economy and you wonder how are they going to stimulate and make the economy to grow. This morning, something came to my mind, and I said what a country is this? “Look at a road like Lagos -Ibadan road, which is an important road in this country, cannot be completed by the federal government. They bring politics and ethnicity in everything we are doing.

“So, how do you stimulate the economy when a road like that cannot be completed until now. Look at the road leading to the (Port Harcourt) refinery, the seaport, up until now, the federal government cannot complete it. How do you stimulate the economy?,” he said.

Governor Wike also noted that the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the federal government, which gives money to farmers, has not been implemented to yield desired impact.

The governor said it is not enough to go on media to announce how much has been expended in prosecuting those initiative if there cannot commensurate evidence.

“And then you hear trillions of Naira being budgeted for, you see people talk about giving N200billion to Anchor borrowers, Anchor leaders, to anchor this and that. We have no problem about giving money to agriculture. What we are saying, having given out this money, what is the impact?”You are saying that we don’t want more importation, we have no problems. We are

in support of it. But having stopped importation, what is the fate of the ordinary Nigerians. Is the food there? If the foodis there, is it cheap?

“So, the availability is not there, the cost is high, so what is the whole meaning of encouraging our farmers to produce. The whole money you have given what is the impact it has created?

“So, we should not be deceiving people. We should tell people we are able to do this and we did it. This (federal) administration is doing nothing to improve the life of the citizens.”

Performing the inauguration, the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, noted that he had always known Governor Wike as a man who has instituted a culture of commissioning projects in Rivers State for the use of the people.

Accorded to him, it is from Rivers State, under Governor Wike, that they have all learnt that one can deliver on multiple projects and dedicate a whole month to commissioning them.

“As recent as April this year, so many projects were commissioned in the State and today, instead of receiving birthday gifts from the Rivers people, he has decided to celebrate his birthday in a grand style by giving Rivers people a carnival of commissioning,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wike said the commissioner was sacked because Prof. Chike did not seek the

State government’s approval to host the preliminary session of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria( MDCN), in Port Harcourt. The governor described the decision of the commissioner to host the MDNC without the consent of the Rivers State government as most embarrassing.

The governor explained that the Rivers State government never requested to host the preliminary session of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in Port Harcourt.

He stressed that the Commissioner of Health erred to have unilaterally scheduled to host the MDCN event at the same time when the State government is commissioning and flag off of projects.

“Frankly speaking, I have never seen an embarrassment like this in my life. Everybody knows that it is not my nature to bring people and you cannot attend to them or host. So, whoever has done will suffer for it.”

Governor Wike said the request by the MDCN that State governors should establish one tertiary hospital in each of their senatorial districts will not be realisable due to paucity of funds.

“You have talked about siting tertiary hospital in each of the senatorial district, you know it is not possible. That is why in Nigeria we have a problem. When you go for your budget, you put all kinds of projects. You know it cannot work. Where will you get the money to site these in each of the senatorial district,” he said.

The governor explained that in a bid to improve citizens access to quality healthcare service delivery, his administration has embarked on construction of some zonal hospitals in Bori, Degema, Etche, Ahoada and Omoku.

He further stated that his administration has also invested huge amount of resources in the promoting medical education in the State, particularly, with the establishment of the Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences and the annual award of scholarship to 130 indigenes of the State studying medicine at PAMO University of Medical Sciences.

“You will agree that I have provided the necessary funds for all whatever you requested to give a standard medical college. Our partnership with PAMO is very interesting. In fact, every year Rivers State government offers scholarship to indigenes. This year we have approved 130.”

Governor Wike used the occasion to canvass for the reduction of the money the Federal government gets from federation account to enable the States have more resources to drive their development.

The governor said states should be allowed to fix the amount they can afford to pay their workers, including medical personnel. He contended that one of the bane of the country federal system is the attempt to foist a uniform salary structure on the entire country.

“I don’t want to talk about the salary thing. It is part of the problem we have . If you want to work in Rivers State, Rivers state government should negotiate with you on what you should earn. Why should the man who is in Kogi earn the same thing with the man working in Rivers State? what is the house rent in Kogi? What is the house rent in Port Harcourt?

“If we don’t want to run true federalism, we should leave it. I can’t sit here as governor of a state, you go to the federal government to negotiate you come and give me to sign, I will not sign.”

Chairman, MDCN, Professor Abba Wasiri Hassan, explained that they were in Rivers State for the ninth preliminary session of the council.

He commended Governor Wike for his positive attitude towards healthcare and medical delivery services in Rivers state, particularly, the huge investment in Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences, award of scholarship to indigenes of the state studying medicine and the construction of world class Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre in Port Harcourt.

The MDCN chairman urged governors to consider investing in tertiary hospitals in each of the senatorial district in the country in order to increase the number of hospitals available for the training of house officers and to check medical tourism.