My Greatest Regret As The Governor Of Anambra State -----Governor Peter Obi

Bishop Ezeokafor being handed over N130 Million Cheque by Gov Peter Obi

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state for the first time in 8 years since he assumed governnance of the state opened up on the regrets he has in offfice as Governor, saying regretted not entering into immediate collaboration with the Church when he became the Governor.

Obi spoke  during the presentation of the cheque of N100m Naira and N30m to the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor  for the on going projects by the State Government at St. Joseph Hospital, Adazi-Nnukwu and N30m  to the Anglican Bishop of Ihiala, Most Rev. Raphael Okafor  at St. Luke Diocesan Hospital,  Isseke for the state-sponsored Maternity complex in the town.

Obi said that the partnership with the Church, informed by the need to support the Church and other institutions that work fir the good and progress of the people of the State had worked very well.

"All the projects we do through the Church can be done by us in the usual manner Government does  business, but I can tell you that with the Church we achieve more because they are honest and understand more revealingly, the meaning of service to the people. A house erected through the Church at N50m, will cost the Government over  N100m. So, you can see the wisdom of working through them. They do not speak about variation and are unlikely to settle those who see government as a bazaar", Obi said.

Obi, who reinstated  the determination of his administration to upgrade Saint Joseph Hospital Adazi-Nnukwu to international Standard,   the fund would ensure that the projects would be completed as quickly as possible to futher promote efficient healthcare delivery and training of the necessary manpower.

Responding, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor said the Governor had changed the face of the entire State while the hospital was one of the major beneficiaries of his good governance. He  observed that the Governor was setting pace for others to follow and extolled him for sustaining high tempo of work even at the tail end of his tenure.

Shortly after the cheque presentation for the maternity at Isseke,  the Governor said the on-going ten ultra-modern maternity and Child Health Centres spread across the State would  further promote the health of mothers and children when completed. 

He explained that the  project was in collaboration with Bill and Millinda Gate Foundation while the entire fund had been set aside in a bank account.

On his routine to hospitals and schools, he said it  enabled him to identify their problems with a view of solving them, assuring that the State Government would continue to provide support to turn around the facility.

Responding, the Anglican Bishop of Ihiala Diocese, Right Reverend Raphael Okafor while thanking the Governor for the project, described it as an important facility for service of humanity that would drastically reduce infant and maternal mortality.

He noted that God was using the Governor to change the course of governance in the country and recalled that his landmark achievements had earned recognitions, awards and appointments.