[dropcap]L[/dropcap]et us thank Professor Chukwuma Soludo CFR for donating N10million to Anambra …even though that Soludo failed to build Standard Hospital at Isuofia with about N2billion raised for the purpose by public-spirited individuals and well-wishers in 2008 and given to him.
…But imagine if Soludo had used about N2billion raised and given to him the purpose of building a global Standard Hospital in his village, Isuofia in 2008 to build the hospital?
In 2008, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the then governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, assembled high profile individuals and Corporate Organizations for the purpose of celebrating his late mother, Mgbafor Soludo who died in 1968 and also raising fund to build International rated Hospital in the memory of the late mother, Mgbafor Soludo.
During the fundraising, banks donated about N100 million each, governors and so many high profile individuals also donated.
Soludo’s then CBN governorship status also made most of them to redeem their donations within one week.
Soludo raked in about N2 billion for a Mother and Child Hospital which was to be built at Isuofia.
On Friday, December 26, 2008, Soludo again moved high profile individuals to his village for a memorial church service and foundation laying ceremony for the Hospital, officiated by my Bishop, Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Bishop Rt Rev, Paulinus Ezeokafor at St Theresa Catholic Church, Isuofia.
Bishop Ezeokafor praised the CBN governor for supporting the government of the state’s efforts to make health facilities available to the people.
On that day, Soludo said, “the hospital was a way of paying back his mother and in fulfillment of her wish for improved healthcare services, which she never had the privilege to enjoy … the hospital was also meant to support the Governor Obi’s efforts in that sector.”
Some of the dignitaries at Isuofia on the day of the foundation laying ceremony by Soludo for the Hospital that the public Contributed about N2billion for were; Gov Peter Obi( The then Governor of Anambra State), Chief Victor Umeh( the then APGA National Chairman), Chief TA Orji( then Abia State Governor), Dora Akunyili ( then Minister of Information), Senator Joy Emordi ( then Senator representing Anambra North) and others.
Question For Soludo
12 years after raising this fund for the international Standard Hospital in Isuofia, Soludo could not produce this hospital. Audio Hospital!
Imagine a world-class hospital built with about N2billion in 2009 and the impact it will have today as we get battle-ready to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, our dear Soludo has donated N10million for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Anambra State and also promised to mobilize friends to also donate.
I thank Soludo for doing that just like I also celebrate everyone that has been contributing to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and Anambra State in particular.
But the question remains: Are we building a society where there are no consequences for bad behaviour/fraud and I believe that we should stand up and question actions/inactions of public office holders if we must build a society that can take care of itself.
So what will happen if we ask Soludo where the hospital that about N2 billion was raised for him to build in Isuofia is?
where is the Hospital that my own Bishop laid the foundation stone on 26th December 2008 in Isuofia?
People who want to create a great society must pay attention to the type of leadership they consider!
Ndi Anambra, #StaySafe #COVID-19
Ikechukwu Onyia is a public relations practitioner, researcher, and a political satirist based on Abuja. He published this commentary on Facebook. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
