Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration for deeming it fit to domesticate the National Health Insurance Scheme in the state, saying his administration in 2004 set up the National Health Insurance Scheme to carter for health needs of Nigerians.

Speaking in Owa-Alero in Ika North East LGA, of Delta State, shortly after the commissioning of 5.6 km Owa-Alero-Agbor road, Obasanjo said government at all levels must pay attention to health facilities so as to address the health needs of Nigerians.

“When I was told Governor Okowa is a road master, I didn’t know what they were talking about but today the governor has proved to me that he is a road master, and for you to be a road master you must be a bulldozer. He is interested not only on road infrastructures but he is also interested in education, now he has added health. Any stage in our lives we will require medical care and that is why we brought national health insurance scheme to enable Nigerians take care of themselves. We must have good medical services so as to stop medical tourism,” he said.

“When you provide health, education and road you must provide jobs for the youths otherwise governance will be meaningless,” he added.

He thanked Governor Okowa for paying all the arrears of local government staff and that of teachers in the state, describing Okowa as a good leader who deserves reelection in 2019.

“Okowa need second term to consolidate because he is a good product. You don’t throw away good product when you don’t know what the new one will bring,” he added.

Meanwhile, the chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Obi Emmanuel Efeizomo, the Obi of Owa in Ika North East LGA, pleaded with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to join hands in the reelection bid of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. He explained that for equity sake, Okowa should be reelected to complete his second term like the former governors of the state.

“We are privileged to have you in Owa. Obasanjo is a man who knows Nigeria in and out. Governors that served the state did second term each and Okowa’s own should not be an exception, his second term bid is challenging to us, please join us to lead the campaign for his reelection.

We are pleading for you to give him round two,” the Obi pleaded.

On his part, Governor Okowa described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the father of our modern day democracy, adding that God has endowed him with good health at old age as what the former president can do young people cannot.

He said the commissioning of 5.6 km Owa-Alero – Agbor road was long overdue even as he thanked the people of Owa where he hailed from for providing the enabling environment for government to provide the much needed development to the area.