By Ike Abonyi
On January 12, 2023, ahead of the February 25th election, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi visited the University town of Nsukka, in Enugu state for a Town Hall meeting. Obi had finished and was to sneak into a waiting helicopter to fly him to Enugu, the state capital for the day’s campaign. But to Obi’s shock, thousands of youths laid ambush waiting to see and touch him. Security operatives had a hectic challenge rescuing the Presidential candidate from the crowd of admirers. Even the helicopter pilot had to help in yanking him to safety.
After the incident, there was a conversation about the dramatic incident wondering why Obi was so loved by the people of Nsukka. Could it be because he was a student of the University in the town, University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN in the 80s when most of his current admirers were not even born or what?
But on investigation, it was discovered that Obi’s long-time charity work in Nsukka was the undercurrent to the people’s emotional attachment.
Just as UNN is the biggest educational institution in Nsukka, Bishop Shanahan Hospital is the biggest health institution in the town. While UNN is owned by the government to keep getting steady funding, Bishop Shanahan Hospital is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka and has been struggling financially. The School of Nursing of the Hospital even lost accreditation and the hospital was deteriorating because of the dearth of equipment and the needed infrastructure.
In 2013 Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah took over as Bishop of Nsukka Diocese and began the process of rehabilitating the historic health institution. The Bishop found a helper in the former Governor of Anambra state, Obi, who after listening to the pitiable story of the Bishop about the institution visited the school in 2021 and decided to help. Obi, determined to return the School of Nursing to the lost glory, promised to donate N100m to the Institution. He gave out N50m at a start.
Last week Obi was in Nsukka to bring a balance of N50m and promised to add another N50 bringing the sum to N150m
This assistance, as noted by the Institution’s Provost, Rev. Fr. Kevin Ndu, played a pivotal role in the institution’s improvements and in securing multiple accreditations from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
On presenting the additional cheque of 50 Million Naira, Obi emphasized the paramount significance of the healthcare sector in any country. He clarified that Bishop Shanahan Specialist Hospital holds a central role as the primary healthcare facility in the Enugu North Senatorial District. He affirmed that bolstering this healthcare institution will contribute to enhanced healthcare services for the community.
Obi expressed his gratitude towards the Hospital’s Proprietor, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, as well as the dedicated nanagement of the institution. He commended their outstanding efforts in ensuring the hospital’s ongoing mission of training competent healthcare professionals and providing excellent healthcare services to the community. He highlighted the significant role that the Church plays in societal development, emphasising its contributions in various parts of the nation.
Obi reiterated the importance of government support for the church’s developmental initiatives, particularly in the fields of healthcare and education. Unfortunately, he noted that due to leadership failures in the country, the situation often reverses, with the government imposing taxes on some of these projects. During his tenure as the Governor of Anambra State, he took measures to ensure that no school or hospital affiliated with the church faced taxation. He aimed to provide encouragement and recognition for their significant contributions to societal development.
Obi expressed his gratitude to both past and present administrations of Enugu State for their substantial support in this project. He also extended his appreciation to the dedicated nurses and other healthcare providers, urging them to maintain their unwavering commitment to serving humanity. He emphasised the crucial role they play in the healthcare sector.
He said further: “Again, I pledge to continue to contribute to the human development in Nigeria through investment in health and education sectors. This is borne out of my strong desire to contribute to societal development. I am eager to see a better Nigeria and I am ready to build a New Nigeria that will be beneficial to all. By supporting healthcare facilities and investing aggressively in the health sector, we will give better lives to our people and develop into a better nation. This is our dream for the New Nigeria and we know it is possible.”
Expressing their gratitude for Obi’s financial and moral backing, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah, the Hospital’s Proprietor and Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, hailed Obi as a steadfast contributor to national development through investments in societal advancement.
“No matter the circumstances, Nigerians recognize your exceptional contributions. We deeply appreciate your visit and your unwavering support. Your generosity is not new to us; two years ago, you visited us and donated N100 million, and we knew it wasn’t your first time. You’ve consistently visited Nsukka, quietly extending your help to remote schools and hospitals without seeking praise. Your actions are driven by a genuine commitment to improving our society, and for that, we are truly grateful,” Onah remarked.
▪︎ Abonyi, a newspaper columnist,lives in Abuja.
