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…gives FG two weeks ultimatum to appoint new CMD
Nigeria Youth Congress (NYC), Kogi Professional Group, and Coalition of Non–Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Kogi State, have given the Federal Government two weeks ultimatum to appoint a substantive Chief Medical Director for the vacant position of Chief Medical Director (CMD), of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja.
The groups also called on Dr. Olatunde Oladeji Alabi, who has been acting as Medical Director since November, 2015 to step down, stressing that he has overstayed his welcome.
In separate letters to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Alfa Imam Ahmed, which was handover to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Simon Achuba, the group noted that the post of MD has been vacant since 9thNovember, 2015, when the two-term tenure of the substantive Medical Director, Dr. Dada Gbadebo Eleshin expired.
Most worrisome, according to the groups was the fact that interview to fill the post was conducted on 4th May, 2016, the result of which was yet to be released, after a year of such exercise.
The letter to the presidency, signed by Comrade Bayode Makakese, Comrade Ebune Alfa and Comrade Danladi Abu, kicked against the appointment of Dr. Olatunde Oladeji Alabi, who has been serving in acting capacity since November, 2015, even when an interview to fill the vacant post was held over a year ago.
“It is the belief of Kogi people that Dr. Alabi, who is from Kwara State, was deliberately planted by the former MD, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, in order to cover his dirty track,” the groups alleged.
The groups specifically requested that the next CMD of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, should be an indigene of Kogi State, in line with the practice, all over the country.
The protesters with different placards; “FMC Lokoja for sale”, “Support FMC Lokoja Survival now”, “Appoint CMD for FMC Lokoja”, “Stand against corruption in FMC Lokoja”, “Save FMC Lokoja now and appoint CMD”, “ Release result and appoint new CMD now ” and “Kogi arise for FMC Lokoja”, also drew attention to what they called, marginalization of the indigenes of the State, in the management of the Federal Medical Centre, stressing that it was against the Federal Character policy of the Federal Government and a slap on the face of the people of Kogi State.
They condemned in its entirety, what they described as negligence and unethical behaviour of the workers of the hospital, which they said have led to untimely death of patients, in recent times.
The groups further requested, for “full-scale investigation into alleged financial recklessness, maladministration and disrespect for laid down rules and regulations by the management of the FMC Lokoja.”
“In view of the degree of impunity exhibited by the former CMD, Dr. Dada Gbadebo Eleshin throughout his tenure, it is suspected that he committed all the infringements in active connivance with the Federal Ministry of Heath. We, therefore, request for investigation into the culpability or otherwise of the supervising ministry,” the groups stated.
While receiving the protest letters in his office, the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Simon Achuba, commended the groups for not resulting to violence in there protest to bring sanity to the hospital, stating that the state government would investigate into the issues and the allegations to ensure that the right things are done in the hospital.
He assured the groups that the letters to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, the State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the Speaker Kogi State House Assembly, would be delivered to them respectively, urging the groups to maintain the exiting peace in the State.
The Deputy Governor who said that one of the focused area of the present administration of the State led by Governor Yahaya Bello was health, assured that the leadership of the State would ensured that the necessary step are taken to correct the anomalies in the Health system in the State.
He urged the protesting groups to remain calmed as he said that the present leadership of the country would do justice to the matter presented to it.
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