News

Obasanjo takes CNM mobilization to Jonathan in Bayelsa

Published

8 years ago

February 19, 2018

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has taken the mobilization for membership of the emergent Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) to former President Goodluck Jonathan. During Obasanjo’s visit to Jonathan’s country home in Bayelsa State at the week end; they were said to have deliberated on the new agenda of the way forward for Nigeria and the role of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement in championing a new course of change in the country.

Governor Seriake Dickson, in company of select top government officials, welcomed Obasanjo on arrival in Bayelsa State; before he proceeded to see Jonathan.

It was gathered that Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, welcomed the former President into their home, thereafter, he had a private dinner.

The former president, during the visit, inaugurated a government specialist hospital and unveiled the Bayelsa Heliport which was renamed after the first military administrator of the defunct Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff.

Obasanjo at the inauguration of the newly built Bayelsa Diagnostic Centre, commended Gov. Seriake Dickson for embarking on projects that would improve the overall development of the state and the people.

He remarked that the centre was built according to international standard and would assist in improving health care delivery to the people.

Obasanjo stated: “20 years ago when I came to Bayelsa for campaign, there was no space to gather people, but today, there is great difference.

“Yes, for full development to take place in Bayelsa, there must be accessibility in terms of transportation, communication and health care delivery.

“I must tell you, for six hours I am here, I have seen something to convince me that Bayelsa is already in transformation stage.

“The health facility here is second to none.”

At an interactive session with the students in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Obasanjo advised students of Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, Bayelsa, to take advantage of education, and make themselves leaders of tomorrow.

He remarked that a leader without vision would not go anywhere, because that is vision that drives a good leader.

“The foundation of any human mind is education. A leader who does not give his people quality education, will perish with his people.

“The root cause of militancy is lack of education, if you don’t build schools, that means you have to prepare for unstable society.

“The only investment that lasts and that does not need repair is education.

“My childhood was very rough, I never had the opportunity most of you have now, as students of Ijaw National Academy,’’ Obasanjo declared.

Gov. Dickson explained that the diagnostic centre was part of his promises to the people of Bayelsa.

Dickson reiterated his administration’s readiness to continue to work to uplift the healthcare delivery in the state.

He said the uncompleted 500-bed hospital initiated by previous administration would be given a face lift in the next fiscal year.

“We will complete the project before the end of my tenure,’’ he assured.

While Obasanjo was in Bayelsa State robbing minds with Jonathan and Dickson, President Muhammadu Buhari was in Katsina holding talks with his kinsmen on 2019 general elections.