BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI- Imo State government has appealed to former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, to champion the last honour to his departed colleague, Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.

The state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, made the plea when he played host to the leader of Yakubu Gowon Centre, General Yakubu Gowon and his team, including officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, at Government House, Owerri.

Okorocha equally used the opportunity to restate the commitment of his administration to partner with the Yakubu Gowon Centre on the control and eradication of malaria in the state.

“My administration is determined to partner with trusted groups and individuals in disease control and in the improvement of the living standards of the people”, Okorocha said.

According to the governor, “the best governance is one that takes perfect care of the people’s needs and life.” He appealed to the Centre to equally channel their resources to the detection and control of cancer, which he described as “the fastest killer in society”.

Speaking earlier, Gowon explained that his team was on an advocacy visit to Imo State to raise awareness to the serious threats of malaria and other diseases.

He recalled that the Gowon and Carter Centres worked together to eliminate the guinea worm scourge from the country, adding that they are continuing their partnership in the fight against filariasis and elephantiasis.

He called on government to sponsor the distribution of the insecticide treated mosquito nets already acquired by the Centre, to people living in the rural communities.