ALIYU TO CRITICS: GO TO EFCC
Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has berated critics of his government, saying he was ready to face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) or any other anti-graft agency.
He, therefore, challenged those criticising his government's spendings to forward their complaints to the anti corruption agencies in the country.
Aliyu, who was speaking at the inauguration of the Niger State government-owned Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Memorial Hospital at Sabon Wuse in Tafa local government area of the state, said his administration had been very judicious and painstaking in the utilisation of public funds while also following due process in the award of contracts.
The governor said the 110-bed hospital with potential for expansion to 300 beds was built at a cost of N991 million, including its furnishing with ëstate of the art equipmentÃ.
He disclosed that his government decided to name the hospital after the late President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua because of the exemplary and selfless leadership he gave to the country, pointing out that the deceased was Ãthe cleanest and most decent†Africanà and ëa man of dignity, humanity, who gave excellent leadershipÃ
Aliyu said the late president rejected the primitive accumulation of wealth and also described him as a true comrade who was concerned about the people and sacrificed his life for Nigeria .
He lamented the dearth of standard health facilities in the country and suggested that the federal government should construct †modern specialist hospitals in each of the six senatorial zones of the country.
He said it was totally unacceptable that well to do Nigerians had to travel outside the country for medical check ups when the country had the resources to put up these institutions and the personnel to manage them.
On the 2011 general elections the governor told President Goodluck Jonathan to give Nigeria a credible election stressing that Nigerians must say yes to credible election, defend their votes and ensure their votes count.
Katsina state Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, who commissioned the project, said health care delivery services needed the attention of all governments in the country and the private sector, adding that the sector required continuous financial support and attention.
He challenged all Nigerians to come together to unify the county so that the nation could reach the promised land.
Minister of state for Health, Allhaji Mohammed Bello, commended the Niger state government for embarking on the project which he said had complemented the efforts of the federal government in the health sector.