ABIA: Restore Free Education, Revamp ABSUTH, 15 General Hospitals Built By Orji Kalu — Cleric Tells Otti

Wisdom Nwedene

March 7

A cleric has advised the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti to do all that he can to revamp the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) and the 15 general hospitals built across the state by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu for easy access to quality healthcare services.

The cleric, Rev Chika Ubani's advice is contained in a statement signed by him on Thursday, urging the governor to fix the health and education sectors which were allowed to rot for 16 years.

Rev Ubani also urged the governor to revert back to the free education system initiated by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu from 1999-2007, saying: "What is happening now is largely a repeat of the things we have seen in the past. Governors coming to fight their predecessors by wasting money belonging to the people in unnecessary media wars.

"I am yet to see any major difference. He has refused to make budget of his projects open for scrutiny. The only one we saw—which is the Aba-Portharcourt road looks expensive at N32billion for a 6km road. We do not know what is happening in our council areas, even though he promised to run a very transparent government.

"I am appealing to him to immediately revamp ABSUTH and those general hospitals built by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu for easy access to medical care especially in our rural areas. Good health is practically nonexistent in Abia—including my local government area—which is an oil producing area. I remember using the facilities in ABSUTH when it was commissioned by then Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, it was one of the best in the country then. ABSUTH facilities were of great standard that even Governor Kalu was using it for his own treatment. I recall entering there and saw Dr. Nwagboso attending to him to my own surprise. It is important we revert back to that era," he said.