The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has praised the Kogi State government for what it called an impressive performance in infrastructure, education and health.
The guild gave the commendation while touring some projects initiated and completed by former Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.
NGE President Eze Anaba, who addressed reporters at the end of the tour, recalled that from what he and other editors had seen, first-hand, the former governor left a legacy worthy of emulation in critical sectors.
The NGE president said incumbent Governor Usman Ododo was also doing well to consolidate on the good work of his predecessor.
Officials of the guild, comprising about 40 editors from the print, electronic and online media houses, were in Lokoja, the state capital, for a standing committee meeting.
The editors inspected some projects executed by the past administration in the state.
Anaba noted that the Reference Hospital at Okene could help the country to reduce medical tourism.
He said: “The immediate past administration has left a legacy worthy of emulation. I am appealing to the current administration to consolidate on the good work of the immediate past governor of the state because he has done a lot in education, health, and infrastructure development. Such achievements should be sustained by the present administration.
“Other members of the NGE and I have gone round the projects executed by former Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration and I am saying this without mincing words that Kogi State is working and the current administration under Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is doing well to sustain the legacies of his former boss.
“Democracy is about the people. From the facilities we have seen, including the network of roads, if the road network is strong, like we saw, I am sure Nigeria will be better for it. I am highly commending the state government for what my team and I have seen so far.
“Government is a continuum. I would advise the current governor to follow the footstep of his predecessors. It is only in that way the citizens will benefit and Kogi State will become the best place in the country. People will know that democracy has taken root in Kogi State and the people are benefitting. At the end of the day, governance is about the people…”
“From what I have seen, from what my colleagues saw, Kogi is working, in terms of education infrastructure and medical care.”
The NGE president praised former Governor Bello for putting the state on a solid ground of development.
Anaba said: “From a lay man’s perspective, I am not a doctor. From what the doctors have told me and my team and what we saw with our eyes, it is hugely impressive. The MRI machine and other laboratory equipment are very impressive. I have to commend the Kogi State government for making this available.
“I would advise the people to put this to test and, if this works, they will save Nigeria huge sums of money. Recently, the CBN governor told the whole world that medical tourism alone is costing this country a fortune.
“So, if Nigerians patronise this hospital, it will save the country a lot of money and put our economy in a good shape. With what we have seen here, Nigeria should be happy for it.”
Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo and his Health counterpart, Dr. Adams Abdulazeez, thanked the editors for finding time to inspect the projects.
They urged the NGE officials to tell Nigerians exactly what they saw.
“If we are to go round all the projects initiated and completed under the immediate past administration in Kogi State, you will be here for more than one week. There was massive projects execution,” Fanwo said.
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