LAGOS – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has eulogised his late wife, Stella Obasanjo, who he said left no stone unturned to secure his release from prison.

According to Obasanjo, no amount of honour given to his wife whether dead or alive would be too much.

Obasanjo who spoke during the inauguration of 250 bed space, Stella Obasanjo Hospital on Wednesday in Benin, Edo State, also praised Governor Godwin Obaseki for placing premium on the health needs of Edo people.

He said, “My late wife went everywhere to ensure that I came out of prison alive. She was in Vatican City, France and other parts of the world. I had it all coming out of prison. I have worked in the past with the likes of John Oyegun. He was a fantastic permanent secretary. I reminded him recently of some of the things that he practiced on me and the ones I practiced on him.

“We were planning for my wife’s 68th birthday anniversary. We never had that birthday anniversary before she died. It was very painful for me in particular and for all of us in my family.

“So you can appreciate how thankful I am to you for doing this in her honour. I thank the head of government. I thank the members of your government. I thank all the people of Edo State. I had a woman who made tremendous contributions to my achievements in public life,” he added.

Speaking further, Obasanjo praised Obaseki, saying that he started well and he is finishing well.

“With this hospital you’re assured of first class treatment for any ailment. More grace to the elbows of the governor. With this kind of edifice, I can say that the governor started well and is finishing well.”

In his remarks Obaseki took time to speak about the various achievements of his administration, especially in the area of health and infrastructure development, why it became necessary for his government to put up a hospital of that nature.

He also lamented about the witch hunt that his government has been experiencing of late from the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government, even when he is still a sitting governor.

He noted that work has slowed down in the state because of the activities of distractors, noting that the signatories to the state account have been abducted and taken to Abuja.

Obaseki said, “Like Chief Obasanjo said you don’t know the day you’ll be ill and you’ll need a facility like this. For those of our brothers who go to Abuja to try and frustrate what we’re doing in Edo State, I pray for you and hope that one day, you and your family members won’t need the kind of services that we’re providing here. If you do understand I want to advise that as political leaders we should step back and look more towards our people than our small narrow political interest.

"As I look at this hospital I feel that we demand gratitude on the journey we have travelled together. I want to thank my civil servants particularly those m the ministry of health and our consultants. This wouldn’t have been possible if we did it by ourselves.”

“We tried it before and we knew what happened. This time around we are smarter and we hired the services of those who know how to design hospitals. Hospitals are designed in a special way, not like hotels. It’s not just having a hospital that you don’t know how the cases would come, how the cases would be treated. You can’t walk into Stella Obasanjo hospital if you haven’t been referred from another facility. It means you’re not likely to be treated here if you don’t have health insurance. I believe it’s going to be a viable hospital which will provide the kind of quality care we aspire to have, because I have quality people who worked with me in areas of design and execution.

“I want to say that things may look hazy at this moment but we shouldn’t lose hope. We can’t afford to lose hope. Nobody is going to fix Nigeria for us. Nobody is going to fix our healthcare system for us. We have to do it ourselves and this hospital which has been named in memory of Stella Obasanjo will be a reference point in that journey.” Obaseki said.

dertty04:
Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's former military and democratic leader, told his story on Wednesday about how his late wife, Stella Obasanjo, contacted various global leaders in an effort to win his release from prison.

On March 17, 1995, the military administration commanded by General Sani Abacha imprisoned Obasanjo and convicted him guilty of plotting to overthrow the military government.

According to Naija News, despite this, Obasanjo was elected as civilian president in 1999.


The former President reflected on his political path today while delivering a speech in Benin City at the inauguration of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, which has been extended and rebuilt by the Edo State administration.


Governor Godwin Obaseki's government named the facility after Stella Obasanjo.

In his remarks as a special guest, Obasanjo praised his wife's tireless efforts to obtain his freedom.

Obasanjo regarded his late spouse as a mighty woman whose efforts were critical to his administration's success.


He declared that Stella was entitled to every possible recognition, whether during her lifetime or after her death.

Continuing, the ex-president advised individuals in positions of power to focus on growing their people's talents and capacities, emphasising that a government's success is intimately related to the growth of its human capital.

He stated that providing food and nutrition security is essential for human capital development.

He emphasised that without appropriate nourishment, people would be unable to benefit from the improvement of their infrastructure fully.

Former President Obasanjo praised Governor Obaseki's efforts to rebuild and improve the hospital, which began as a mother-and-child hospital and has since been transformed into a specialist centre with cutting-edge equipment.


In her speech before the hospital's inauguration, former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan thanked Governor Obaseki and his administration for maintaining Stella Obasanjo's legacy via the hospital's rebuilding and modernisation.

She emphasised that the hospital's growth would help not only Edo State residents but the entire nation.

Governor Obaseki stated that the decision to enhance the hospital to world-class status was prompted by the COVID-19 epidemic, during which it acted as a patient isolation centre.

He stated that the hospital has evolved into a critical 300-bed isolation institution with an extra 20-bed emergency isolation unit.

He further added that the hospital is now equipped with cutting-edge modern medical facilities capable of handling a broad spectrum of health conditions.

Read More- https://femotech.com.ng/how-my-late-wife-stella-contacted-global-leaders-to-get-me-out-of-prison-obasanjo-narrates/

LadyExcellency:
Is she dead?

Efuaye:
According to those in the know, Stella was everywhere trying to make sure that Obasonjo was not only freed but also kept safe while serving his sentence without getting hurt. Unfortunately, nobody stood up for the late Yar'Adua, which is why he mysteriously died in prison.

LadyExcellency:
Is she dead?

Pious101:
are u literally saying Yaradua died in the four walls of a prison or cabals held him captive?

floss:
Hmmm the most beautiful First Lady Nigeria had back then, and also the most eloquent and intelligent, I haven’t found her type again, her death pained Obasanjo to the marrow