Let it be on record that Alhaji Yahaya Bello-led government never planned or wished to see the only medical school accredited. He has successfully spent three and half years without making Kogi State University Teaching Hospital (KSUTH) accreditation a reality. What a government staged on deceit and ineptitude.
So far in his administration, he has demonstrated weakness and lack of proper structure in management of funds.
He has been going about shamelessly singing a song of moving the pioneer students to other accredited medical schools, a move you were not ashamed of, after collecting bailout fund and Paris refund thrice (if I am not mistaken), which would have been judiciously used to get KSUTH accreditation.
The medical sector, held everywhere in high esteem, is nothing to write home about. If we claim the medical sector is waxing strong, then what is wrong with Kogi having an accredited medical school? What a lie in the face of deterioration.
If a spade must be called a spade, then the truth must be told. This great citadel of learning was established out of a strong will by the late Prince Audu Abubkar, who cherished the place of education in the life of his people and he ensured it was achieved before leaving the Lugard House. The people embraced this move and the school is now attended by so many Kogites and students from other states.
Captain Wada too, out of his own expression for the need of quality education and acquisition of medical knowledge, saw the need for establishment of a medical school, which he started and could not complete it before he left the Lugard House. These former governors meant well for Kogi State University and her students except this liar who calls himself a governor.
Just imagine, there is no tangible infrastructure in the health sector in the last three and half years. The CAMDIC you claimed to have completed was a vision started by Wada. your government has no vision and a relief structure to ease the life of Kogites.
To further strengthen my write up, it is worthy of note to recall this government attitude towards the medical school:
This began in 2017 when a 16 man committee was setup by the governor to inspect and prepare a report. The committee was chaired by the Chief of staff. The report that was supposed to have taken 3 months to prepare before presenting it to the governor took the span of a year and some months. Along the line, a bond proposal was submitted by the commissioner for health, Dr. Saka Haruna which was signed by the governor.
When the report was finally presented, the governor took to the media to announce the approval of a whooping sum of 1.5 billion naira for the accreditation of the medical school. The students were happy to hear that good news, but unknown to them, it was just a political talk. After a long wait as a result of stagnation, having two sets in 200level and a 300level set, the students took to the streets of the university to express their anger over stagnation. The state government quickly waded in and the whole situation was calm.
We then used the avenue to express our intention that as long as there is stagnation, the accreditation of KSUTH was not going to be a better option again rather we want the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja since the institution has all it takes to equip a medical student. The government embraced this and told us to wait a little while so that a proper dialogue could be made and for a memo to be sent to the President for signing.
Bello took to the media again to announce the approval of FMC to train the medical students. This broadcast brought joy to our cracking bones, but later in the course of the year saw that it was just a political deception.
During the Kogi Health Week, the Commissioner of health also lied to the students in a gathering that the memo was 99% completed, insisting that it only remain the President’s signature to kick off the use FMC Lokoja for the training of the medical students.
But surprisingly after the meeting, one of the speakers in the gathering urged one of the medical students to leave Kogi medical school, that the commissioner was only lying. He said and I quote “nothing has transpired between the board of FMC and the government.”
This same commissioner also urged the students to design a banner which was taken to Lokoja during Buhari’s campaign visit. The banner caption was our total assurance to support his Next Level ambition if only he can sign the memo to permit the use of FMC to train Kogi medical students. We never knew it was just a political assurance.
During these periods, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon Edward Onoja lied that the said fund was also released to actualize the accreditation of the medical school in one of his statement on media.
Engr. Abubakar Ohere also lied that the money was also released in one of his interview with his people.
Now, the problem has been so heightened that it no longer favour the medical students to continue their career and dream again, rather, they have resorted to studying other courses in other department. As I am speaking right now, there is an exodus of students out of the medical school compared with the number we had at the inception of this college. Some of the medical students are now engaging themselves in other things like selling, baking, farming, travelling, etc. instead of facing their studies squarely.
The bond that was earlier signed, according to the Commissioner, has not been paid to the students since it was assented to by the governor.
I hereby challenge the government of Yahaya Bello to reel out the achievements so far in the Kogi State medical school which has thus so far brought an end to the existing stagnation currently in the medical school.
– Victor Abalaka
victorabalaka12@gmail.com
