…Plans hunger strike to press for their demands
… Says there is no way Obaseki can distance himself from the 5-Star Central Hospital
…the Benin water storm project
…the failed water fountain at Museum Ground in King Square
BY ALLTIMEPOST.COM
Nigerian Rights Group, the Talakawa’s Parliament has given Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, a seven-day ultimatum to open the controversial 5-Star Central Hospital in Benin City or explain why “it will be under lock and key,” otherwise its members would move into the facility on a hunger strike.
The decision was contained in a statement, signed by Marxist Kola Edokpayi, Wilson Imasuen and Emmanuel Aigbogun, Speaker, Secretary and Publicity Secretary respectively of the organization and circulated to media representatives at a press conference in Benin City, Edo State of Nigeria on Thursday.
The controversial 5-Star Central Hospital, a multi-billion naira project undertaken by the administration of ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole was commissioned under pomp and pageantry by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 7, 2016.
The hospital was locked up after commissioning, raising suspicion of fraud against the people of Edo State. The ultra-modern hospital, tagged ‘5-star’ is located on a part of the same vast land where the old hospital built by the colonial masters is located.
The Talakawa’s Parliament said it wanted to know why the Hospital will be under lock and key “even though the Chief Medical Director of the main colonially built Central Hospital has said that because of lack of bed spaces, patients now sleep on the floor and even provide lights for themselves in case of power outage.”
This latest ultimatum from the organization is coming in less than two days after the Nigerian Students and Youth Association (NISAYA) gave Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki 72 hours to publicly address the state students’ concerns about the sorry state of all tertiary institutions in the state.
The students said that if Governor Obaseki failed to heed their ultimatum, they would “mobilize the over 1.4million teeming Nigerian students across the state to join in condemnation of the poor state of Edo tertiary institutions and student welfare.”
The Talakawa’s Parliament in its ultimatum on Thursday made reference to the one issued by the student body with a show of solidarity.
In its grievance against the state government, the organization gave the history of the hospital project’s fiscal appropriation, noting specifically that: in 2014, Edo State Government appropriated the sum of 1.6 billion naira for the project; in 2015, another 3.5 billion was appropriated, while in 2016, another 5.1 billion naira was budgeted.
“When Governor Godwin Obaseki took over from Comrade Adam Oshiomhole, five days after the hospital was commissioned, he appropriated another 500 million naira in the 2017 budget for the same hospital that he has refused to open despite the fact that Government is a continuous process.
“we expect Godwin Obaseki to consolidate the projects executed by his predecessor putting into
perspective that he was the Head of Economic and Strategic Team during the tenure of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.”
The organization condemned the state government’s education policy which it noted was counter-productive saying: “We pass a vote of no confidence on the Governor of Edo State on the ground that College of Education, Ekiadolor, College Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, School of Nursing, Benin and other state owned tertiary institutions are shut down without any just reason hereby exacerbating the development of the underdevelopment of Educational Sector in the state.”
It lampooned the government for what it called failure to meet its 200,000 job creation target in three years running.
The Talakawa’s Parliament also condemned Edo State lawmakers under the leadership of Alhaji Kabiru Ajoto for the recent bill passed, criminalizing electricity theft “without considering the extortion and exploitation of Edo people” by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
It accused the House of Assembly members of working with Funke Osibundu, Executive Director of BEDC “to send Edo people to prison, hence we hereby present an empty calabash with parrot eggs to the legislooters for pitching their tent with the agents of darkness.”
Below is full text of the press statement, as made available to Alltimepost.com:
Gentlemen of the Press,
Compatriots, Companeras and Companeros,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My brethren in the struggle for the emancipation of the flotsam and jetsam.I greet you in the name of Democracy, Uhuru, Justice, and the rule of law.
On behalf of the Talakawa’s Parliament, I welcome you to the sanctuary of freedom. As you are fully aware that the Talakawa’s Parliament has been on the Vanguard of protesting and remonstrating to ensure that the five Star Central Hospital turned Selfie Centre commissioned by the President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Buhari is opened for the
public.
The controversial 5 Star Central Hospital as you know was commissioned by the President in November 7th, 2016, any project that is commissioned is ready to be used. In 2014, Edo State Government appropriated the sum of 1.6 billion naira for the project, in 2015 another 3.5 billion was also
appropriated, in 2016. Gentlemen of the press another 5.1 billion naira was also appropriated.
When Governor Godwin Obaseki took over from Comrade Adam Oshiomhole, five days after the hospital was commissioned, he appropriated another 500 million naira in the 2017 budget for the same hospital that he has refused to open despite the fact that Government is a continuous process, we expect Godwin Obaseki to consolidate the projects executed by his predecessor putting into
perspective that he was the Head of Economic and Strategic Team during
the tenure of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
There is no way Governor Godwin Obaseki can distant himself from the 5 Star Central Hospital,
the Benin Water Storm Project, the Failed Water Fountain at Museum Ground in King Square because tax payers monies were used for the projects and even the Governor campaigned with the projects he is trying to demonize today.
We wrote a formal letter to the House of Assembly in November, 2018 and a Committee headed by Hon. Damian Lawani was set up by the Speaker of the House to look into the reasons why the Hospital is still not opened with two weeks mandate given to submit the report, seven months after, the good people of Edo State are still waiting for the report.
Comrades and Gentlemen of the Press, on the area of Education, we pass a vote of no confidence on the Governor of Edo State on the ground that College of Education, Ekiadolor, College Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, School of Nursing, Benin and other state owned tertiary institutions are shut down without any just reason hereby exacerbating the development of the underdevelopment of Educational Sector in the state. No state can succeed without giving priority to Educational Sector. Education is a veritable weapon for the emancipation of man from mental and physical slavery.
You are also aware that the Governor of Edo State while campaigning prior to the 2016 election promised to create 200,000 jobs before the end of four years. In November, 2019, the Governor will be spending 3 years in office, the 200,000 jobs are still existing in the imaginations of the people of Edo State.
Just this week, the House of Assembly turned House of darkness and gloom under the leadership of Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto passed into law the bill to criminalized electricity theft without considering the
extortion and exploitation of Edo people by BEDC that cometh to steal, kill and destroy the people. It is now very obvious that the House of Assembly members are working with Funke Osibundu to send Edo people to prison, hence We hereby present an empty calabash with parrot eggs to the legislooters for pitching their tent with the agents of darkness.
Consequent upon the above, we hereby demand as follows:
1. That the Governor of Edo State should within 7 days open the 5 StarCentral Hospital or tell us why the Hospital will be under lock and key even though the CMD, of the colonially built Central Hospital has
said that because of lack of bed spaces, patients now sleep on the floor and even provide lights for themselves in case of power outage. Failure to that, we shall relocate our houses to the Ultra-Modern
Hospital and embarked upon an hunger strike until the Governor do theneedful.
2. That we joined the Nigerian Students and Youth Organization to callon the Governor of Edo State to open the State owned tertiary institutions that are shut down without much ado. It is said that an idle mind is the devil workshop.
3. That the State Government should fulfill his election promise of the provision of 200,000 jobs for Edo people to nip in the bud the mass exodus of Edo youth to Libya to die enroute Italy as any
responsible Government provide employments for the teeming youths to alleviate poverty. With the oil wells in Edo State, our youths are not supposed to be living in penury.
4. That Governor of Edo State should as the matter of public interest withhold his assent to the draconian, monstrous, satanic, obnoxious, fiendish bill recently passed into law by the member of Edo State House of Assembly now presiding over darkness in Edo State.
5. That the governor of Edo State should ensure that he use the billions of naira he gets as security votes for the provision of security for the masses including the farmers that are victims of the
horrendous and ferocious acts of Fulani Herdsmen. As the constitutional responsibility of government is the provision of welfare and security for the people. A stitch in time saves nine.
God Bless Talakawas Parliament
God Bless Edo State
God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
God Bless Africa.
SIGNED:
Marxist Kola Edokpayi
Speaker
Wilson Imasuen
Secretary General
Emmanuel Agbogun
Publicity Secretary
