The African Action Congress (AAC), Gombe State Chapter, has strongly condemned the dilapidated state of the General Hospital in Billiri, describing it as “an architecture of neglect” and “a betrayal of humanity.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party’s state chairman, Bobo Benson Bagwiba, criticized the Gombe State Government for what he termed the deliberate abandonment of the hospital and other health facilities across the state.
Bagwiba said the condition of the Billiri General Hospital reflects not only institutional failure but also systemic oppression, particularly targeting the people of Gombe South.
“It is with a heavy heart and righteous anger that I speak about the horrific and unacceptable condition of General Hospital Billiri,” Bagwiba stated. “What we are witnessing is not just the collapse of a hospital—it is the collapse of conscience, of leadership, and of humanity.”
He accused the government of weaponizing healthcare to keep certain regions underdeveloped, alleging that the neglect of the hospital is part of a broader strategy to marginalize Gombe South.
“The Billiri General Hospital has become a symbol of deliberate neglect and a tool of political oppression,” he said. “Decay is being used to control and silence our people.”
Bagwiba cited a recent Easter truck accident in which victims had to be transferred to Gombe metropolis due to the hospital’s inability to provide emergency care. He described the hospital as a “death trap,” lacking in personnel, equipment, and even basic medical support.
“It is better to be buried alive than taken to Billiri General Hospital for treatment,” he said bluntly. “That facility no longer functions as a hospital. It is a monument to abandonment and a symbol of how far governance in Gombe State has fallen.”
He emphasized that the hospital’s condition is not due to oversight or poor management but a calculated act of sabotage.
“While a few privileged elites enjoy medical tourism and private clinics funded with public money, the masses are left to die in facilities that can’t even provide clean water,” Bagwiba said.
The AAC chairman demanded the immediate reconstruction of the hospital, deployment of qualified medical personnel, provision of essential equipment and drugs, and a people-focused health policy.
He urged residents of Gombe South to resist what he described as “oppression disguised as governance,” and called for a collective push for justice, accountability, and improved public services.
“We must break the chains of silence. Political loyalty should not come at the cost of our lives,” Bagwiba said, pledging that the AAC will continue its advocacy until public infrastructure in Gombe South meets acceptable standards.
