The protesters in front of the hospital

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The civil society under the aegis of Edo State Civil Society Organizations (EDOSCOs), have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to compel the State Government to put into use, the abandoned multi-billion Naira hospital he (Buhari) commissioned about two years ago in the State.

This is even as they urged the federal government to revoke the operating licence of the Benin Electricity Division Company (BEDC), due to poor service delivery and exploitation of consumers through estimated billings and other sundry illegal activities.

The activists marched across major streets in Benin-City, to commemorate June 12, 1993 presidential election by the military administration of Ibrahim Babaginda.

They said that if President Muhammadu Buhari wants to pursue the tenets of democracy, he must pursue it in totality.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had October 26, 2016, commissioned the multi-billion hospital constructed by the Adams Oshiomhole-led government.

The Coordinator and spokesperson of the group, Comrade Agho Omobude, said: “As we were coming from Sapele road, we saw our five-star hospital that was built with over N15 billion of Edo state tax-payers’ money. But almost two years after it was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is still under lock and keys.

“A single soul has not been treated in the hospital and also no medical equipment. We want to use this opportunity to appeal to president Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Edo State government to immediately put machineries in place towards the commencement of medical activities in the hospital.

“We love the State Governor. We want him to do the needful and we want the hospital to become functional, because the investment is not adding any value to the state healthcare system and gross domestic products.”

Omobude, also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honoring some of the actors of the annuled election, most especially, the acclaimed winner of the election, late Moshood Abiola, adding that electricity must also be given to Nigerians as dividend of democracy.

While calling on the management of BEDC to leave the state and other states in its jurisdiction, noting that the people can no longer bear the financial exploitation and burden of the electricity distribution company.

“Electricity consumers in Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo states need electricity distribution company that impact positively on the life of the people and not one that is anti-people and exploitative.

“We want the federal government to revoke the license of BEDC as well as stop estimated billings system across the country. We also call on Benin Electricity Distribution Company to live up to expectation as most parts of the state observed the day without electricity”, he stated.