Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State at the weekend traded words over President Bola Tinubu’s government decision to include Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre in Ilorin among the health facilities slated for upgrading across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
The Advanced Diagnostic Centre (HADC) in Ilorin was among the legacy projects of the PDP government in the state during the administration of Governor Bukola Saraki.
A statement issued in Ilorin and signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party stated that: “The decision of the present federal government to upgrade the Advanced Diagnostic Centre, Ilorin, has vindicated that the PDP’s regime believe in the socio wellbeing of the populace.
“Despite Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s persistent attempts to undermine all projects initiated by the Saraki/PDP administration, including his relentless efforts to kill Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre and other important state projects, this action by the federal government further vindicates the PDP’s regime.
“It underscores our commitment to establishing institutions for the progress of Kwara State before Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration sets the state on a backward trajectory since his inception in 2019.
“This move by the federal government serves as a resounding disapproval of the governor’s disruptive governance in Kwara State borne out of political envy, inferiority complex of the governor occasioned by his unnecessary competition with Saraki’s political leadership and established that government must be seen as a continuous process by all political players who are interested in state building.
“It is our hope that the governor utilises the remaining part of his tenure to retrace his steps by taking moves at rectifying the wrongs and prevent Kwara from further deterioration under his administration’s watch.”
But the APC in a statement stated that history would remember Governor AbdulRazaq as a patriot as the gederal Government announced last Friday the inclusion of Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre, Ilorin, among the health facilities to be upgraded across the country.
A statement issued by the party and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Folaranmi Aro, said it was the uniqueness of the governor, who is also the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), to push for the upgrade of the health facility despite it being one of the projects initiated by the former administration in the state thereby saving it from extinction.
The statement added that: “The facility had been set up to fail like many of their other legacy projects, including cargo terminals, Shonga Farm Holdings, and phantom water reticulation due to pervasive corruption and greed by former leaders who had merely used the projects to milk the treasury without proper funding.
He also noted that the health facility never declared profit and did not remit a single kobo to the coffers of the state since it commenced operation in 2013.
Aro said: “The inclusion of HADC for upgrading is a plus to the administration. It further give good credential to Governor AbdulRazaq as a patriot who puts humanity over politics.
“The governor would never let any project to rot because he values public funds and prioritises the welfare of the people.
“This distinct selflessness was one of the reasons the people trust and respect him as their leader. It is also a reminder of why the PDP has now been rejected in two election cycles and they can’t be trusted with power ever again. They are unrepentant abusers of privilege.”
