Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has hailed the huge investments by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson at ensuring quality healthcare delivery, saying the state will soon turn into a medical tourism hub.
Obasanjo, who spoke when a command performance was held in his honour at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, said he would henceforth visit the state regularly to have his medical check-ups.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Francis Ottah Agbo, said the former president during his three-day visit to Bayelsa State, commissioned several legacy projects, including the World-Class Diagnostic Centre, Bayelsa State Specialist Hospital, the Bayelsa State Drug Distribution Centre in Yenagoa and the Aquaculture Village in Igbogene.
He also interacted with students of the flagship free Model Boarding School, Ijaw National Academy, Kaima as well as enrolling in the state Health Insurance Scheme, thereby becoming honorary enrollee of the scheme.
The former President, noted with satisfaction, the level of development that has transformed the state, especially in the area of education, health, infrastructure, tourism among others, stressing that he would testify what he has seen to the world.
According to him, Dicksonโs placement of education at the top of his administrationโs agenda was a means to eradicate poverty, curb insecurity and create jobs for the youths.
He called on investors within and outside the country to take advantage of the prevailing security, peace and stability in the state.
Obasanjo lauded Dickson for recognising and honouring past and serving leaders of the state for their immense contributions to the stateโs growth.
The former President described Dickson as an emerging statesman and a transformational leader, stressing that anybody who wanted to see transformation should come to Dicksonโs Bayelsa.
Also yesterday, Obasanjo warned that peace would continue to elude Nigeria, if the people failed to preach, teach and practise genuine reconciliation.
He noted that the peace arising from reconciliation would ensure economic growth and bring an end to poverty.
Obasanjo spoke at the St. Stephen Anglican Church, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, where he worshipped with former President Goodluck Jonathan and his family.
The former President was accompanied to the church in Jonathanโs hometown by Dickson and his entourage.
Jonathanโs wife Patience; his mother Eunice; the King of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diette-Spiff; the President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani; traditional rulers and other dignitaries also attended the service.
Dressed in black Ijaw attire with silver studs, Obasanjo was entertained by church children, who performed a dance drama to highlight the importance of the countryโs unity in diversity.
Also, the Bishop of the Otuoke Diocese, Rt. Rev. James Oruwari, in his homily, which centered on reconciliation, said reconciliation would save the country from political tribulation and bring about peace and harmony.
Reacting to the sermon and the childrenโs performance, Obasanjo said: โWhat touched me most in this short gathering is the children coming forward and singing the welcome song and dressing in the attire of different cultures, different tribes and different linguistic groups in Nigeria. For me, that underlines the homily you gave to us on reconciliation.
โCountry like Nigeria, unless we preach, teach and practise reconciliation, then we will not have peace. And unless we have peace, we will not have development. And unless we have development, we will not have growth and if we do not have growth, we will not come out of poverty.
Obasanjo kicked against the popular saying that โhistory repeats itselfโ.
โHistory doesnโt repeat itself. We human beings do not learn from history. When we do not learn from history, we say history repeats itself and when you continue to make the same mistake and saying history repeats itself, you are the one making mistakes,โ he said.
The former president, who sang his favourite hymn with the choir, urged the people not to toy with their freedom, adding that only persons who failed to appreciate the value of freedom would play with it.
Jonathan said the performance by the children had sent a message that the country is one.
He, however, lamented that media messages, especially the social media contents, portrayed the country as sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
He described Obasanjoโs visit to his hometown as unique and thanked Dickson for ensuring that the former President was in Otuoke twice to see him during his (Obasanjoโs) three-day working visit.
Dickson thanked Obasanjo for being generous with his time, adding that the former President meant a lot to them.
