Why residency training is priority in Ondo, by Mimiko

Says PDP regaining strength

Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said that the residency training programme being priotized by his administration was aimed at producing specialist doctors that will perform within the socio-cultural and economic context of Nigeria and Ondo State in particular.

Dr. Mimiko made the submission in his office in Akure while receiving the accreditation team from the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) to the Trauma and Surgical Centre Ondo,  led by the president of the college, Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun.

Mimiko identified brain drain of health workers as a major health challenge in the country in-spite of government’s efforts towards improved health care delivery system.

He noted that his administration has established the first -of- its- kind Trauma and Surgical Centre in Ondo to handle critical trauma and burns cases with over 700 major surgeries including brain and spinal surgical operations conducted.

He explained that the establishment of the  State University of Medical Sciences was to build on the established enviable healthcare platforms with a view to sustaining quality healthcare system development and halting brain drain being experienced in the sector. 

Mimiko, who regretted that Ondo State remains the only State in the southwest region without a Teaching Hospital, however reiterated his administration’s readiness to partner the college and other international agencies and development partners. 

He said “The issuance of the certificate of accreditation by the president and registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria on 19th December 2014 was the green light to commence the planned residency training programme at our Truma and Surgical Centre”.  

Earlier in his speech, the president of the West African College of Surgeons, Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun, said that the college recognized the huge impact of the Dr Olusegun Mimiko administration on healthcare delivery, particularly his Abiye safemotherhood  and the Agbebiye initiatives.

The WACS president, who lauded the state government for the appreciable increase in the number of consultants  in its health facilities, promised partnership with Ondo State government to build manpower development in the health sector.  

Meanwhile, Mimiko who is the new Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has said that the party has commenced the process of regaining power at the centre in 2019.

He spoke recently during a mini-reception organised in his honour on his election as Chairman of the PDPGF.

Mimiko submitted that the forum is determined to give the PDP a new face as the opposition party, stressing that the party’s engagement would be robust  and would also  offer alternative policy platform and programmes for the country. 

The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman maintained that the governors have resolved collectively work assiduously and  excel in governance with a view to re-branding the party and selling it to all Nigerians.

He appreciated his fellow governors for the confidence reposed in him, saying that the recognition is humbly and very challenging at the  crucial time when the party has transited from being a ruling party after 16 years to mindset of opposition party. 

He mentioned  that the PDP in Ondo State has reached an appreciable level of repositioning, adding that the party  is overwhelmingly in charge in the State.

He said “We must sustain enthusiasm in our party and as governors who have pivotal roles to play in re-branding our party, we must show in governance term the difference between us and the APC and these are the challenges ahead of us”.

“As opposition party, our engagement will be robust, we must offer alternative policy platform and programmes  when we criticize one. We must show Nigerians that we are a different party. We will not be abusive in opposing the government and we will praise where is worthy of praise and criticize in a very robust manner” Said Mimiko.

Speakers at the short ceremony included the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Jumoke Akindele, commissioner for environment, Chief Sola Ebiseni and the State chairman of the PDP, Chief Clement Faboyede.

They noted that the  emergence  of Mimiko as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum was  well deserved and commendable.

Also, the chairmen of state chapters of PDP have congratulated Mimiko of Ondo State on his emergence as chairman of the Forum.

Mimiko, former deputy chairman of the forum was elected at a meeting of the PDP governors in Abuja to replace Chief Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past helmsman of Akwa Ibom State who is now a Senator.

Speaking in an interview, the chairman of the Conference of PDP Chairmen, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, stated that the election of Mimiko to steer the ship of the PDPGF was a welcome development.

According to Agbo, who is the Benue State PDP chairman, Mimiko’s emergence was a manifestation of the explicit confidence his fellow PDP governors have in him.

He assured the new PDPGF helmsman of the total support of the Conference of PDP chairmen, noting that they will work closely with
him and other stakeholders of the PDP to reposition the party and launched it back to power at the centre in 2019.

His words: “I want to congratulate His Excellency Governor Olusegun Mimiko for emerging as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF). This is a clear testimony of the tremendous confidence his colleagues have in his person particularly in this time in the life of our great party. It is a call to national leadership and i want to assure him of the support of the Conference of PDP state chairmen. He is equally assured of my total support as we collectively navigate out of the morbid waters of defeat to the smooth sail of victory which is eminent. I pray God to guide him as he add this onerous responsibility to the already enormous responsibility of governance in his state.”

Dr. Agbo further stated that he has no doubt that Mimiko would live up to expectation in the new assignment as a mature politician and purposeful leader fully committed to the advancement of PDP and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.