President Buhari visits Edo State to commission projects; Calls on new Oba of Benin; Says ‘Oshiomhole has more to do for the nation’

AGENE AKHERE, Benin
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Benin commended outgoing Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State for a job-well done, assuring him that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) will find an important national assignment for him when he leaves office.
Speaking at the Palace of the new Oba of Benin, His Royal Highness Omo N’Oba N’Edo Nku Akpolokpolo Ewuare 11, shortly before he embarked on the commissioning of several projects in the State, President Buhari said that the country would be the loser if the APC fails to utilize the people’s governor’s wisdom, skill and energy.
A statement by Garba Shehu, SSA to the President, Media & Publicity quotes President Buhari as saying that “It will be a pity to waste his energy by him retiring. I hope there will be a higher assignment for him to do more for the nation.
“I congratulate the Governor for his hard work; Oshiomhole is a hard working Governor. We will need his services in Abuja.
“Thank you for inviting me, most especially during this time in the country.
“You have served two terms and you are about to leave. You deserve a place in history. I hope the APC will look for a place for you because your service for the country is far from over,” the President said.
President Buhari also congratulated the Oba for successfully ascending the throne of his ancestors and extended the support of the Federal Government to his Royal Highness in his bid to improve the lives of Edo people.
The Oba in his speech expressed delighted on the President’s visit, noting that it was the first since his recent coronation.
“We believe this is a sign of better things to come. I appreciate your contribution to my coronation,” Oba Ewuare II said.
The royal father who commended the President for appointing Edo indigenes into positions in government appealed for the establishment of an export and import processing zone for agro-allied industries in the state.
He said the venture would stimulate the nation’s economy and create jobs.
After paying homage to the Oba, President Buhari who is on 2-day working visit to Edo commissioned the renovated Central Hospital in Benin.
The medical facility which was established in 1902 was rebuilt by the state government under Oshiomhole.
At the event, President Buhari praised the state-of-the art facility rebuilt by the Governor, noting that he had the choice of using the available money for his comfort by building a new government house but he opted for a hospital to help the people.
President Buhari also commissioned the Upper Siluko Road in Benin City, which he described as “no ordinary type of road.”
The President inspected the Queen Ede Gulley erosion site and commissioned the Samuel Ogbemudia College rebuilt to ‘world class standard.’
President Buhari commended the quality of infrastructure built by the outgoing Governor, noting that the history of EDOMARUSE state will not be complete without his name.

While inaugurating the remodeled 200-bed capacity ultra modern central hospital building, President Buhari noted that the edifice was “the best way to do things and the best thing to do for the people” by any government.
Buhari, while commending the state governor’s efforts at uplifting the lives of the people, said “I respect his sacrificing his personal comfort to construct the edifice”.
He said that he was in the state for the third time to inaugurate projects executed by the governor.
Earlier, Oshiomhole said that since the hospital was established in 1902, successive governments had tried to renovate the hospital.
He, however, said he was embarrassed by the state of the medical facility during his first visit and decided that rather than continue with the “piece-meal renovation work; we decided to demolish and rebuild the hospital.”
Oshiomhole stressed that this was with the conviction that public health facility should not be inferior to private ones.
The governor said that one way to show equality was for government to provide good health facilities and stop lamenting about foreign medical tourism.
In her opening remarks at the event, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aihanuwa Erigie, said that the hospital was established in 1902 with initial bed capacity of 10.
She disclosed that each section was now equipped with state of the art facilities.