Former Governor, Mr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Tuesday visited Minna General Hospital and the Neonatal wing of the hospital to extend succour to in -patients on admission at the two health facilities.

Aliyu said the visit was to mark his 64th birthday and to give hope to the sick and show them love and empathy in their moments of pains.

Aliyu along with his wife, Jummai, and some of his associates and aides went from ward to ward where he gave cash gifts to all patients in the wards.

Aliyu’s visit took management of the hospital by surprise even as outpatients went into hysteria on sighting him.

Devoid of security paraphernalia, the former governor, moved around the wards, exchanged greetings and pleasantries from hospital staffers, outpatients, patients and visitors at the hospital, many of whom sang his praises and commended his humility, generosity and love for the common man and the suffering poor.

Speaking in an interview, the former governor said his decision to visit the sick at the hospital on his birthday was to empathise with them and touch them in as little way he could.

The former governor said those in power should go round to hospitals to see the number of persons on admission in hospitals to give them insights of what the population was going through.

He said it was proper and imperative for the healthy, fit as the fiddle to visit the sick and the vulnerable so as to impact on their lives and give them sense of oneness.

In each of the wards, the former governor commiserated with the sick on their sick beds, one bed after another, and prayed for their speedy recovery.

At the Accident Ward, Maternity Ward, Children’s Ward, SCU Ward and at the Neonatal wing of the hospital, the former governor and his entourage, showed sympathy and gave those on admission envelopes of undisclosed of cash.

Aliyu said visiting the sick on admission on his birthday and on Eid el Maulud was to give succour to those disadvantaged by misfortune.

A large crowd of outpatients followed the governor and his entourage round the wards during his visit.

The former governor mandated some of his aides to go round the remaining wards at the hospital to give the patients on admission his  gifts.

Men, women and children on admission expressed joy and gratitude to the former governor for reaching out to them in their moments of needs just as some hospital staffers applauded the former governor for touching the lives of those on admission at the hospital.

New Nigerian