The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called on political leaders and people with means in the society to always do their best to respond to the needs of the ordinary people around them.
Gbajabiamila made the call when he presented cheques to selected patients for payment of their medical bills at some hospitals in Lagos.
The payment of the medical bills by the Chief of Staff was to commemorate his 63rd birth anniversary.
Some of the beneficiaries were selected from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba; Femi Gbajabiamila General Hospital, Surulere; Randle General Hospital Surulere; Gbaja Maternal and Child Care Hospital Surulere and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja.
Presenting a cheque to a patient, the Chief of Staff, represented by Hon Fuad Laguda (Surulere 1 Federal Constituency), said leadership is all about service ,impact and compassion for the people.
He said he decided to celebrate his birthday with patients in order to stretch his hand to those in serious need by settling their medical bils.
“What the Chief of Staff is doing today is extending his love to the people and beyond ,especially those in need.
“To day is his 63rd birth day is his birthday and he has decided to celebrate with patients with various health challenges across different hospitals in Surulere and beyond.
“We have been to LUTH, Randle General Hospital, Femi Gbajabiamila General Hospital and others and bills of some patients with serious needs were settled.
“The Chief of Staff is a lover of humanity and he has asked us to appeal to leaders and people with means to always respond to the needs of the people around them,” Laguda said.
He added that 40 patients benefitted from the gesture and that over N50 million was spent on the medical expenses of the patients.
On how the beneficiaries were selected , Laguda said hospitals were requested to provide lists of people with serious ailments who could not afford their bills.
The lawmaker said the intervention was based on the list provided and beneficiaries were not selected based on tribe,religion or political affiliation.
He said apart from interventions in health ,the Chief of Staff had impacted lives in other areas such as education ,youth development,empowerment among others.
He described the Chief of Staff as an impactful leader,who had created a pathway for other political leaders to follow.
Speaking ,Mr Agboola Dabiri, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, commended Gbajabiamila for the gesture.
Dabiri, who was part of the Chief of Staff’s delegation, said Gbajabiamila had demonstrated his love for humanity with the gesture.
“This man is extra-ordinary.He is a lover of the common man and the less-privileged.Instead of throwing a big party on his birthday, he decided to touch lives by settling bills of patients.
“My birthday is coming soon,but I am celebrating.I am doing something small for the needy around me because this man inspires us.
“He is a leader with a large heart.He has touched lives in many ways .Everyone is proud of him in Surulere and beyond”,he said.
Speaking while receiving a cheque on behalf of a seriously ill patient at Randle General Hospital,Mr Mojeed Lateef ,Head of Medical Services at the hospital,thanked Gbajabiamila for the support ,saying it would go a long way to help patient in their time of need.
“This is highly commendable. This is worthy of emulation and it would go a long way in helping the patients.
“We were asked to bring a list of patients and we provide a list of patients with the most urgent need.
“Look at this patient here.He attacked in his house by some cultists who inflicted deep machete cuts all over his body including his head.
“You can see all the deep cuts .He was brought here unconscious by the police .He could not talk and his family can’t be traced.
“So,have been treating him not knowing how huge bills would be paid..We thank God for this intervention and we pray God will reward the Chief of Staff,he said.
Receiving a cheque of N million at the LUTH, Mr Samson Dawudu ,thanked Gbajabiamila for the donation ,saying he was pleasantly surprised by the donation.
“I did not see this coming ,I was still about how help could come before this intervention came.
“This intervention will go a long way in helping me.God will reward the Chief of Staff.He has done very well”,he said.
Other beneficiaries thanked the Chief of Staff and offered prayers for a successful time at the presidency.
The money paid for medical bill ranged between N200,000 and N2 million.
