By Abdallah el-Kurebe
In the present circumstance of the abundant human and material resources endowments in the country, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto state has observed that Nigerians should have nothing to do with being poor.
The governor spoke at the third Progressive Lecture Series organized by the Progressives Governors Forum in Sokoto on Tuesday.
With a theme, “Dealing with the Challenge of Building a Physically Healthy Nation Through Preventive, Protective and Innovative Medicare,” Wamakko stated that Nigerians could take Nigeria to greater heights with increased patriotism and the fear of God.
“Nigeria has been blessed with abundant human and material resources, which need to be fully harnessed to take the nation out of the woods,” he stated.
He called on the people to work towards harnessing the resources. “Nigerians must collectively work to harness these abundant human and material resources to make Nigeria better,” Wamakko urged.
Noting that Nigerians in Diaspora were helping other nations to develop, the governor posited that Nigerians in Diaspora and at home must rise up to make the country compete favourably with other nations of the world in all spheres of human lives.
“The forum will brainstorm on how best to achieve the best results and make Nigeria to be in tune with global best practices in all spheres of life,” he added.
Represented by his Health Commissioner, Dr. Edward Ihejirika, Imo state Governor who is chairman of the Forum, Rochas Okorocha called for harnessing of efforts for Nigerians to get qualitative and affordable healthcare.
“The forum will enable APC-controlled states to have harmonised policies and programmes in tune with global best practises. This can be replicated across Nigeria and tackle all problems like Ebola was successfully tackled,” he stated.
Ahmed Aliyu, Sokoto state Health Commissioner said that the Wamakko-led administration has accorded top priority to the health sector since 2007.
He stated that 20 new general hospitals and 240 primary health centres had been constructed and provided with ambulances.
The Forum’s Director General, Salisu Lukman stated that the Forum would draw technical inputs from Nigerians who were knowledgeable.
“This is with a view of working out policy recommendations on the issues of health, transmit same to the APC governors for them to be imputed into the party’s manifesto,” he explained.
