By Ifeizu Joe
There was drama at Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ihiala, Anambra State on Thursday as the management of the college hinted it’s decision to name its new administrative building after former governor of the state and presidential hopeful, Mr Peter Obi.
The administrator of the College, Rev Fr Chidiebere Ughaerumba was speaking during a visit to the college by Obi to donate funds for the college’s growth when he stated that with the level of support he had given to it from his day as governor, the management plans to name the new administrative building after him.
Ughaerumba said: “Considering your continued support to us, when the school’s administrative building (a five floor edifice) will be completed, we will name it after you. We thank you for always coming and always donating. You are always interested in helping to build humanity.”
When Peter Obi protested the decision, Ughaerumba insisted that: “Then we may have to consider naming it after your wife, but we need to appreciate what you have been doing here.”
Obi who again protested the decision snatched the microphone to publicly reject the offer, saying it wasn’t right to name a building after him or his family, when he was only working to help humanity within his own conviction.
He said: “I’m against such plans. When I was governor, every community wanted me to give me a chieftaincy title, but I rejected. Even the school where I passed through wanted to honour me with a honourary doctorate title. I was also given a national award and I said that would be after being governor. Even local government chairmen wanted to name a street against my name, but I said no.
“Any day I want to be addressed as doctor, I will go and read for a PhD. Whatever I need, God has always given me, so if there is anything one want to give me as favour, I suggest you look for anyone who wants it and give it to them.
“This week alone I have been to five schools, and I have donated between N5million and N15million each. I can use the money I am giving to buy a new car for myself or throw a party, but I think it is better to use it to support you. It is an unpurposeful life for me if I use this money to throw a party, while a school in the somewhere needs just N10million to buy a generating set.”
Obi later presented a cheque of N15million to the college, insisting he will keep helping health colleges as his contribution to humanity.
He said: “I came to see what the bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Most Rev Dr Jonas-Benson Okoye is doing in the new cathedral in Nnewi, and after that I decided to come here to see the growth in your school and also support you.
“Money is meant to be used to take care of what can make society better. The two most important things in life is health and education and that is what this school is providing. I’m here today for my annual routine visite where I present cheques to school,” Obi said.
