The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda has explained why he chose to mark his birthday with a  medical intervention in Taraba State, saying his decision was informed by his personal experience of life in rural communities and his understanding of the difficulties faced by vulnerable Nigerians.

Yilwatda said, “As someone from a rural community, I know the challenges facing people in rural communities and decided to bring my medical outreach to Taraba to treat vulnerable people and give them hope.”

According to him, rather than celebrate his birthday with the usual fanfare, Yilwatda explained that he preferred to  use the occasion to flag off the second phase of his medical outreach, an intervention that has so far recorded more than 300 surgeries and 572 dental procedures, with beneficiaries requiring specialised treatment also receiving attention.

Arewa PUNCH reports that for the APC National Chairman, the numbers tell only part of the story as Saturday, for hundreds of vulnerable residents of Taraba State was not just another day at a medical centre. It was a day when illness met treatment and financial hardship gave way, at least temporarily, to relief.

Children who had endured pain, parents who struggled to afford medical bills and patients in need of surgery and dental treatment gathered in Jalingo as Yilwatda marked his 58th birthday by bringing free medical care to the people.

Speaking further, Yilwatda said what stayed with him most was the sight of children who, despite their health challenges and pain, still found the strength to smile and welcome visitors to the exercise.

“I was deeply moved by the warmth of the people, especially the children who, despite their pain, smiled and hailed us. It was a powerful reminder that leadership is ultimately about people,” he said.

The APC chairman said every surgery and dental procedure represented an individual whose life had been given another opportunity, insisting that the beneficiaries should not be reduced to figures in a report.

“These are not mere statistics. They are fathers, mothers, children, brothers and sisters whose stories have been given a new chapter. One surgery can change a life,” he noted.

Our correspondent reports that the intervention came at a time when many low-income families across the country continue to struggle with the cost of healthcare, making access to free treatment particularly significant for residents who might otherwise postpone treatment because of financial constraints.

The APC lead chieftain also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for providing resources for the intervention and commended the medical personnel who converted the resources into actual treatment and improved outcomes for beneficiaries.

“I stand today with a profound sense of gratitude to God and appreciation for two important leaderships. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a giver of new hope to Nigerians,” he said.

“The President provided the resources; our health workers took those resources and multiplied them into lives saved and hope restored.”

Yilwada said the exercise represented the kind of politics and leadership he believed should define the APC, arguing that political leadership must ultimately be about improving the quality of life of ordinary people.

“This is the APC I believe in, an APC that gives life, promotes justice and creates opportunities for people to live with dignity,” he stressed.

For the APC chairman, the birthday intervention also offered an opportunity for personal reflection. At 58, he said his greatest request was not for material gifts but for the wisdom and opportunity to continue serving humanity.

“At 58, I ask God for only greater wisdom to serve and more opportunities to make a difference. Many of my age mates are no longer here, so every additional day is a gift I must use in the service of humanity,” Yilwatda maintained.

He urged vulnerable Nigerians to see the outreach as a reminder that their struggles had not been forgotten.

“Let this outreach send one clear message to the vulnerable: you are not forgotten. I will continue to serve Nigeria with all my strength for as long as God gives me breath,” he said.

Why poverty goes beyond money — Yilwada

Yilwada, who later spoke during a media chat in Jalingo, linked the experience of the beneficiaries to what he described as Nigeria’s broader multidimensional poverty challenge.

According to him, poverty is not only about how much money a person has but also about whether the person can access healthcare, roads, education, infrastructure and other basic services.

“The main problem why Nigeria is among countries with high multidimensional poverty is lack of access, and President Tinubu is providing that access through roads, healthcare, infrastructure and other amenities,” he said.

He argued that improved infrastructure, particularly roads, would help connect rural communities to markets, hospitals, schools and economic opportunities.

Yilwada cited the Federal Government’s ongoing road projects, including the coastal road and major highways linking different parts of the country, as part of efforts to open up communities and improve movement.

He listed the proposed road network linking Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Kwara, Kebbi and Sokoto, as well as the Port Harcourt-Abuja-Jos-Biu-Maiduguri super highway, among the projects he said would transform connectivity.

“When these roads are completed, you can travel round Nigeria in four days,” he said.

He also said the administration’s infrastructure plans extended to regional economic integration, including the development of deep-sea ports and a proposed port in Maradi, Niger Republic, which he said could serve landlocked countries in the region.

Yilwada listed Niger Republic, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad and Burkina Faso among countries that could benefit from improved regional connectivity, saying such infrastructure could help Nigeria generate more revenue and move towards a $1tn economy.