A former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), has described a former female minister of petroleum as an expert who excelled in corruption.
Danjuma made the remark on Tuesday in Umuchigbo, Iji Nike, Enugu, while unveiling the Goodwill Medical Centre (GMC) built and equipped by the TY Danjuma Foundation.
He said he almost lost faith in seeing women as the most trusted people to prudently manage public funds after the said minister set a record that is yet to be beaten by anybody in terms of corruption.
He said: “I used to say that if you want anything properly done and delivered on time without any excuses give the job to a woman, until we had a female minister of petroleum.
“That woman excelled in corruption. She set a record that is yet to be beaten by anybody.
“So, I was in the process of reviewing my statement when I met one lady, Prof. Uche Amazigo. Uche and I have come a very long way. My first encounter with Uche was around mid-October 2010 when she was accompanied by Mrs. Franca Ilamiji, another Igbo woman.”
He said Prof Amazigo made him believe again that women remain the most trusted people to prudently manage public funds.
Danjuma said: “Uche and I have been colleagues for many years. After working for the TY Danjuma Foundation, I thought I had seen the end of Uche. I was mistaken.
“In early March 2022, Prof Uche, accompanied by two other female professors, presented to me a request to provide financial support for building and equipping a low-cost efficient medical centre to provide excellent medical services by predominantly female medical doctors, nurses and midwives who chose to dedicate their time to humanity.
“I listened to her carefully and asked a few questions. I wanted to know if they have cash and the name of the organization. And how she thinks an all-female-staff medical centre will function. She was ready for my questions.
“The result of all these questions is what you see here today. This magnificent edifice can only be built by women at the price they accounted to me. Men will take your money and you won’t see any building or money.”
While applauding and congratulating Prof Uche and her team for a job well done, Danjuma expressed hope that they would surpass the goals they set for themselves.
Enugu State governor Peter Mbah, who was represented by his deputy Ifeanyi Ossai, hailed the elder statesman for epitomizing leadership both in public service and private life.
He also lauded Prof Amazigo for initiating the project which is primarily going to be of immense benefit to the people of Enugu State.
He vowed to do all within the government’s power to protect the investment by giving them maximum support.
The CEO of Goodwill Medical Centre, Prof Amazigo, said the objective of establishing the hospital was to provide quality healthcare for all.
She said: “This Centre with the assistance of seven consultant specialists and professors, will provide low-cost treatment for indigent patients and charge others (the rich) the standard medical fees”.
She disclosed that the center had perfected plans for the enrollment of 1,000 or more indigent people randomly selected from communities, into the National Health Insurance Authority/ Group, Individual, Family Social Health Insurance Programme (NHIA GIFSHIP).
“This will cost about N15 million at the rate of N15,000 per enrollee. This programme will provide comprehensive and robust health care services to the poor.”