Gov. Oborevwori backs LG’s financial autonomy

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has expressed support for financial autonomy for local governments in the country.

Oborevwori made the expression on Wednesday during the inauguration of an Ultra-Modern Cottage Hospital built by the Warri South Local Government Council.

The governor said that financial autonomy for local governments was vital to the growth of the nation’s democracy because of its closeness to the grassroot.

“Warri South Local Government is an example because local government administration is needed. I am in support of financial autonomy for the local governments because it is important for our democracy.

“As the third tier of government and closest to the grassroot, the peoples’ conditions of living improved when it lived up to expectations.

“I am glad that Warri South Local Government under the Chairmanship of Dr Michael Tidi has done very well with the arrays of projects executed by the Council,” he said.

Oborevwori commended Tidi for the cottage hospital noting that it would help address the healthcare needs of the people

“With this hospital our people, women and children will have access to quality and affordable health care services. This is what cottage hospitals are known for.

“Tidi has done very well and I expect that this momentum should be sustained by the next administration,” the governor said.

Oborevwori observed that there was no pride in governance, noting that a lot still needed to be done in the aspect of environmental sanitation to keep the metropolis clean always.

“We need to keep Warri clean because it is the pride of Delta. We should not rely on infrastructure alone without getting the environment clean,” he advised.

In his remark, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Delta governor congratulated the Warri South Council Chairman, for turning the former playground to a cottage hospital.

“Congratulations, your Excellency, for been here today to personally commission this project. It is a dream come true. It’s a dream come true. There is still a lot to be done in Warri,” Uduaghan said.

On his part, Dr Tidi, appealed to governor Oborevwori to assist the council with qualified medical personnel that could help put the facility to its maximum use.

He said the Cottage Hospital was built for the purpose of efficient healthcare service delivery to the people of Warri South Council Area.

Tidi, who will be leaving office March this year, said that his administration has made tremendous progress in the primary healthcare sector.

According to him, the council has consistently and effectively carried out Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA).

Some of the activities according to Tidi include; National Immunization Plus Days, Integrated Measles Campaigns (IMC), and Yellow Fever Campaigns Outbreak Responds.

“Warri South Local Government Area have always had a coverage of above 100%, it ranges from 100% to 111% and since 2020 till date the coverage has improved tremendously.

“Permit me, not to bore Your Excellency with statistics, however, it must be noted that the successes my administration has recorded in primary health care is a testimony of our determination in prioritizing the health and well-being of our people. This has made us to support our primary health care programmes,” Tidi said.

The Warri South council chairman highlight some of the project he had executed since he assumed office.

Tidi said that within the tenure of his political mandate, the council’s commitment to service delivery and infrastructure development had been unparalleled.

He thanked the state governor for his encouragement and support to the Local Government and also the people of Warri South and the political leaders for stabilizing the political system that paved way for their success as a local government.

“Our results were a testimony of our superlative and unequalled management of materials and human resources within our disposal. Our massive infrastructural development and unequalled articulation of developmental modules is geared towards rebuilding Warri South.

“Few months back, we were gathered to commission the state-of-the-art Warri South Local Government Lodge. An edifice that was second to none in the 25 local government areas.

“To the glory of God Almighty, today we are gathered once again to witness the inauguration of yet another gigantic infrastructure, a landmark project, the Ultra-Modern Cottage Hospital. This project is so dear to me because it is bringing health care service delivery closer to my people. And it came at no better time than when my political mandate is winding up.

“Besides the massive structure, the equipment are unprecedented, as my good people deserve nothing but the best. May I once again remind Your Excellency, that my administration came on board when the Local Government was in need of a credible and purposeful leadership.

“Leadership that would have the political will of providing the desired road map to lead our people from a condition of despair to hope and prosperity. Sir that we have delivered.

“As we all know, the main essence of Local Government is for the development of an efficient democratic system of governance at the grassroot level. This implies a system of government that should be close to the people, a system that is capable of managing local resources/services in a way that will help to raise the living standard of the citizens,” Tidi said.

The Cottage Hospital, comprises Admin room, Card room, Nurse station, Male and female Wards, Private Ward, Pediatric Ward (for children) Chief Matron room, Labour Ward, Milking Station (for breastfeeding mothers) Recovery rooms, Main theatre, Scan rooms, Scrub and storage room (for staff) Theatre room, Treatment room, Lab, Chief Medical Consultancy and Conveniences.

In attendance were: the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Morris Ogheneochuko Eyekpimi, the Regent of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, the Vice Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Chief (Mrs.) Divine Ann Iniovosa.

The member representing Warri South Constituency I in the Delta State House of Assembly, Dr. Augustine Uroye, representative of the member representing Warri South constituency II in Delta State House of Assembly and among others