Residents lament one-year darkness
Residents of Otuoke, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, are angry.
Their anger is not over the electoral defeat suffered by their ambassador. It is because Dr. Jonathan finished his presidency without solving the electricity crisis in the community.
The former President returned to his country home on May 29 after handing over the reins of government to Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated him in the March 28 presidential election.
Yesterday, when The Nation visited the community, the hype and the euphoria that heralded the home-coming of Dr. Jonathan as a worthy ambassador, were ebbing.
Traces and evidence of the reception the people accorded their worthy son, stared visitors in the face. The stacks of plastic chairs used for the thanksgiving church service on Sunday were seen in the premises of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church.
An imposing statue of the former President with an inscription: “We honour you the hero of democracy” stood at the entrance of Jonathan’s palatial home.
Visitors were still milling around the gate to the expensive courtyard to have a glimpse of where the former President will live a quiet life after a five-year sojourn as a tenant in the Presidential Villa. Most of them were stranded as security operatives denied them access into the inner court.
Those struggling to enter the compound included a group of youths from Nasarawa State.
The youths, who came under the aegis of Nasarawa State PDP Youths, said they came to pay a courtesy visit to the former President, but lamented that they had been trying in vain for two days to see him.
Led by Atia A. Atia, the youths were seen sitting on a concrete pavement close to the building.
“We came to pay him a courtesy visit. We campaigned for him vigorously. Though he lost, we thought it wise to come and greet him. But for two days now, we have been unable to see him,” Atia said.
Some Ijaw leaders and freelance journalists appeared stranded at the gate as they tried to convince security operatives to allow them in.
Security around the building was still tight, though the personnel were not as stern-looking as they used to be when Dr. Jonathan was in office.
Mobile policemen in three trucks were still keeping vigil around the building. They hung their clothes and personal effects on a truck.
The patrol vans of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield and other security vehicles, including an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) belonging to the military, were stationed near the building.
Workers were putting finishing touches to some of the structures within the sprawling compound.
The fence was being redesigned and remodelled by a firm, Kakatar Ce.
But, Otuoke was gradually shedding off the euphoria associated with Jonathan’s return.
A 6pm yesterday, the policemen hopped into the trucks and left, saying they had completed their assignment.
The primary concern of villagers was the darkness that pervaded their community.
A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “The situation has been worse since the President returned. On Friday when he came back, there was light but it only lasted for few hours.
“After the light went off since Saturday morning, we have not seen it again. We have been in darkness since this year. Before now, they only brought light each time the President visited and took it whenever he left.
“But since he came back finally, we have not had light. It is unfortunate because we expected our kinsman to address this problem before returning home. How does he feel knowing that we are in darkness while he is enjoying light in his compound?”
Otuoke: Not all about darkness
The town sure has some reasons to thank Jonathan. The Federal University, Otuoke is one of such. The university has swollen the town’s population and has provided employment for many of its indigenes, so much so that the population of staff is more than those of students.
As a result of the university, more modern buildings have been built. Hotels and guest houses have also sprung up. The federal road, linking the town from Yenegoa is also being built. Known as Kolo-Otuoke-Bayelsa Palm Road, the single-lane 20-kilometre road is already being dualised.
Otuoke, a mere 15 – 20 minutes drive from Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has really changed into a satellite town. Driving through the narrow and bustling road of Azikoro village, one meanders the bends that lead to the community through Otu-Ogidi.
From the bridge, Otuoke comes alive. Shanties of a few years ago have given way to modern buildings. All the buildings on the road have either been reconstructed or renovated. Mud houses, which used to dot the community, are gone. There is a general belief that Jonathan has empowered his kinsmen with contracts to enable them build good houses.
The hitherto narrow road has been expanded. Solar-powered streetlights are on both sides of the road; at night they cast golden glows on the neatly swept street.
Directly opposite the former President’s house are twin duplexes erected by Jonathan for his mother and his late father. Though not gaudy, their simple splendour distinguishes them from other structures around them.
Located nearby is the new ultra-modern St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, a controversial building donated to Jonathan by Gitto Construction Ltd, an Italian contractor working for the Federal Government.
There is also a Skill Acquisition Centre. In addition, there is a mini “Eagle Square” built by former Governor Timipre Sylva and named after Mrs. Jonathan. The Dame Patience Jonathan Square registers its significance with two torn National Flags hoisted.
To ensure that members of the National Youth Service Corps serving (NYSC) in Otuoke enjoy the benefit of serving their country in the community, the old “Corpers Lodge” have been repainted. An air-conditioned 40-bedroom apartments with a kitchen and restrooms for each apartment are being built by the state government.
All over the city, the state government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other federal agencies strive to outdo one another in the race to develop Otuoke.
The main catalyst for the massive development in the hitherto rustic and out-of-the-way community is the Federal University of Technology, Otuoke (FUTO).
The establishment of the higher institution has unleashed a flurry of socio-economic activities. It is a major federal presence that has redefined the community. Independent observers believe the establishment of a tertiary institution of that magnitude in his small community was a masterstroke by Jonathan.
Directly opposite the university is Margel Resort, a hotel owned by the former President’s wife, Dame Patience. Boutiques, cosmetic shops, restaurants among others are springing up.
The wonder cottage hospital
Another wonder Jonathan attracted to the community is the Otuoke Cottage Hospital (OCH). Indeed, the hospital is in a class of its own. It is a world-class cottage hospital constructed with global standard and best practice. The environment alone gives a visitor a breath of fresh air. The surroundings are clearly mapped out with landscaped lawns which are constantly mowed by the hospital management. It is further beautified with a network of roads linking the various departments and blocks to allow easy movement of persons, vehicles and equipment.
The blocks, though simple, are solid. From the reception, a visitor begins to see the difference between a kite and a hawk. The reception located within the Outpatient Department reassures any patient of the hospital’s capability.
The seats are comfortable enough for patients to relax and get documented before proceeding to the waiting room, which separated from the reception with a capacity to accommodate many patients. The Consulting Rooms and Medical Records are also designed to allow for quick response to the medical needs of the patients.
Within the Outpatient Departments are modern Pharmacy Department, Counseling Room, Compounding Rooms and Drug Store, which are located close to a five-bedded department. Each of the beds is unique. It has an oxygen pipe to enable any patient on emergency have free access to oxygen.
From the Outpatient Department, a roofed walkway opens to the wards. On the walkway is a sculptural depiction of a caring mother and her child. The wards – male, female, children and maternity – are constructed close to one another. In fact, the wards boast of sophisticated equipment and many live supports tailored to the needs of each category of patients. Unique and perhaps, the first of its kind in the country, are automated beds in the wards. Each of the wards has 10 beds. They are electronically controlled and fitted with speakers, audio system and other adjustable buttons.
An oxygen pipe is fitted on the wall close to each of the bed. So, it is each patient to an oxygen pipe. The entire wards are piped with oxygen. The hospital has an Oxygen Plant which generates oxygen and distributes to all the wards.
Almost everything that makes a standard hospital is in OCH. The Laboratory Department is designed with state-of-the-art equipment. It is further divided into haematological and pathological laboratories.
With experienced manpower, OCH can perform all surgeries in its Theatre and anybody wheeled into the facility has a high percentage of coming out alive. The theatre is made up of two suites, one monitor and an aesthetic machine.
The hospital depends mainly on two 350KVA generators for its electricity supplies, using three drums of diesel a day.
Within the compound are two aesthetically designed buildings constructed to accommodate members of staff of the hospital. What is this hospital lacking? It has functional water works, laundry and an equipped kitchen. But the hospital has its fair share of the 2012 flood that devastated the state. Two 4D ultra-sound scan machines worth millions of dollars and two digital x-ray machines were damaged by the floods. Also, one of the two ambulances with live support facilities was destroyed by the floods.
The foundation was laid by Jonathan in 2006 during his brief tenure in the state as the governor.
The work could not go on because of logistic problems until the office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted and completed it when Jonathan was president.
NATION
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