27th October, 2021
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Government has debunked allegation by the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it was on the verge of demolishing the Central Hospital, in Benin City.
The government in a statement by the Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Andrew Adaze Emwanta, said the government is relocating the Hospital to Stella Obasanjo Hospital, and not demolishing it.
The State chapter of the APC had in a statement by its Assistant State Publicity Secretary, Victor Osehobo, alleged that Government’s “plot is to convert this over 100-year old legacy asset of all Edo people into a motor park. Whereas the government thinks it has this evil plot under wraps, the disgusting plan is already in the court of public opinion.”
APC’s statement further noted that “no right thinking government will prefer to replace a viable health facility, which it should equip and staff, to better cater for the well-being of the people, with a motor park.”
But, Emwanta in his statement, described APC’s allegation as false and malicious.
According to him, “The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to a malicious and false statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, alleging that the government plans to demolish the Central Hospital in Benin City.
“The government is not demolishing, but relocating the Hospital. Besides, we have the ultra-modern Edo Specialist Hospital within the same premises. The Central Hospital has been in existence for over 100 years and most of the facilities there are now very old and do not support modern-day healthcare service delivery.
“The Hospital is now being relocated to the Stella Obasanjo Hospital which is being expanded and improved to deliver quality health services to Edo people, while the old Central Hospital will be transformed.”
Emwanta further noted that “Edo people, on September 19, 2020, gave Governor Godwin Obaseki a mandate under the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Manifesto to develop Edo State.
“The ongoing infrastructural development and institutional reforms are the second and third thematic pillars, respectively, of the MEGA Manifesto of the present administration. So, there is no retreat or surrender on the developmental mandate freely given by Edo people to our beloved Governor.
“The general public is hereby urged to disregard the propaganda by the opposition in the state that is rudderless and aimed at creating an issue, where none exists.”