Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, at the weekend in Benin City, Edo State capital, shot down reports in a section of the media that he was planning to contest the Ebonyi State governorship elections come 2015.
Chukwu, who was in the state capital on a condolence visit to the family of the National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who lost his father, highlighted the numerous benefits of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“It has become imperative that health insurance be made mandatory for all labour employers”, he said.
On his perceived governorship ambition, Chukwu, who was accompanied on the visit by the Chief Medical Director, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Mike Ibadin and other senior officials from the Federal Health Ministry, said: “Though Ebonyi State may have suffered neglect in the past, since the advent of civilian rule, so much development has come to the state, especially as noticed in the health sector. I do not have such ambition to run for the governorship in Ebonyi”.
