Barring any last minutes change, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA, Kogi State chapter will hold an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) to resolve the ongoing impasse in the organization.
The meeting which is expected to hold on Saturday 13th July 2024 at the NUT House Lokoja is expected to look at some burning issues that have stagnated the development of the association under the 2022-2024 excos.
The organizers of the meeting who have made provisions for adequate security for members to participate actively on Saturday said issues affecting NMA will be the agenda of the meeting.
It was reliably gathered that, a total of 76 members of the Nigerian Medical Association, Kogi State Branch, across Four(4) Affiliates supported the Emergency General Meeting.
A letter dated 12th July 2024 to all members of NMA concerning the meeting reads as follows:
“All Members of Congress, Nigeria Medical Association Kogi State Branch, (NMA), Dear Sir, NOTICE OF INVITATION TO A PHYSICAL EMERGENCY GENERAL MEETING (EGM) OF NMA KOGI STATE BRANCH HOLDING AT THE NUT HOUSE, LOKOJA BY 10:00AM ON SATURDAY 13TH JULY, 2024.
“We, the undersigned members of the Nigerian Medical Association, Kogi State Branch, hereby formally issue a notice for and invite you to a physical Emergency General Meeting (EGM) in accordance with Section 3(A) (III) and (IV) and Section 3(B)(2). This notice of meeting and invitation is made to address urgent matters
affecting our branch that require immediate attention by Congress.
“Recall that a requisition for a physical Emergency General Meeting (EGM) to address same issues was honorably and respectfully addressed to the Chairman of MA Kogi State Branch and the SOC.
” Recall also that the Chairman and the remaining SOC have refused to oblige the constitutional request for the convening of the Congress Meeting. There has been no courtesy to accord the requisition the respect of an appropriate official response either.
“The Agenda for the Emergency General Meeting (EGM) includes the following items;
- Refusal by the Chairman and the SOC to oblige/reply to the requisition for Emergency General Meeting (EGM)
- MDCN Verification/Financial Qualification of Members to vote and be voted for in the 2024-2026 EXCO Year/Resignations of SOC members
- Discussion and Resolution relating to Abuse of Office and Constitutional violations
4.Allegation of Forgery
- Discussion and Resolution relating to existing petitions from Affiliates and individual members that have not been attended to
- Discussion and Resolution relating to Abuja NMA NEC directive on NMA Kogi State Branch which have not been implemented.
- Review of the Bye-Laws 2020 (As Amended)
This notice of meeting is supported by Seventy-Six (76) of the members of the Nigerian Medical Association, Kogi State Branch, across Four(4) Affiliates, as evidenced by their names and signatures attached in compliance with the clear provisions of the Bye-Law 2020 (As Amended)
The physical Emergency General Meeting (EGM) is scheduled as follows: Date: Saturday, 13th July, 2024. Venue: NUT Hall, adjacent Specialist Hospital, Opposite Radio Kogi, Lokoja Time: 10:00am
Registration starts at 9:00am prompt.
CC
- Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, Lokoja.
- State Director, Department of State Services, Kogi State Command, Lokoj
It could be recalled that about 80 medical doctors have signed a letter to force the Kogi State Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA) Dr Olusola Baoku to call an emergency general meeting.
Some aggrieved doctors who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity accused Dr Baoku Olusola of alleged abuse of office, constitutional infractions, financial recklessness amongst others.
The doctors noted that under Dr Baoku Olusola’s leadership, NMA Kogi State branch has been divided and dragged to the mud for selfish gains. They said that Dr Baoku Olusola has been acting as if he is an emperor of the Kogi State NMA who is beyond the constitution of the Association. They said that Dr Baoku Olusola is afraid of a physical meeting and has been used to zoom meetings which is not constitutional.
According to the aggrieved Doctors, the embattled Kogi NMA Chairman, Dr Baoku Olusola has continued to cause crisis among medical practitioners stressing that, he has failed to give account of his financial spending of the association.
They explained further that barring any last minutes change, doctors have made up there mind to force Dr Baoku Olusola to a meeting to answer some questions, as they have lost confidence in his leadership, following the disgrace the association has gotten since he was elected as NMA Chairman in Kogi State.
“Doctors in Kogi State are fed up of the dangerous life style of Dr Baoku Olusola. Since he came on board as NMA Chairman, he has destroyed all the legacies of past leadership, divide members, drag senior authorities to security agencies without commiting any offence. Also, the same Dr Baoku Olusola who thinks he is untouchable has not been able to give account of his spendings concerning the finances of NMA.
“Moreso, members of his excos have lost confidence in him because he doesn’t carry them along. Only four EXCO members out of eleven are remaining as seven have resigned. Those who have resigned include the Auditor and the two Vice Chairmen of the Association and Secretary and the Assistant Secretary. The PRO is the last to have resigned To buttress our point, most of his excos members are resigning because of his oppressive style of leadership. It will go down in history that Dr Baoku Olusola will be the worst Kogi State NMA Chairman to have led the most prestigious body in the medical profession. He acts like an Emperor in a professional association.
“We don’t know why Dr Baoku Olusola is scared of calling a physical meeting. If he knows there is no skeleton in his cupboard, he should convey a physical meeting for doctors to discuss the State of NMA in Kogi State. As medical practitioners, we can’t sit and allow one man completely destroy what has been laboured for years. God forbid. There are issues to discuss.
“Since he has refused to convene a physical meeting and the association has run into a constitutional crisis members must meet to chart a way forward. Let Nigerians know today that we have lost confidence in the leadership of NMA in Kogi State. Dr Olusola Baoku has failed us and it is time for us to ask him questions. Over 90 percent of NMA members in Kogi State have passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of Dr Baoku Olusola” the doctors fumed.
The aggrieved doctors admonished members of the public to remain calm as efforts are in place to restore sanity to the already brutalized NMA in Kogi under Dr Baoku Olusola.
The crisis rocking the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in Kogi State has taken a new twist following the resignation of the
Prior to this emergency meeting slated for Saturday 13th July 2024, the Vice Chairman, Dr Mohammed Umoru and the Assistant Secretary, Dr Ugoh Stanley Nkemakolam tendered their resignation letters as members of the 2022-2023 exco under the leadership of Dr Olusola Baoku.
Their resignation letters are contained in a letter dated 8th July, 2024, which was addressed to the Chairman of Kogi NMA, Dr Olusola Baoku.
Umoru, who is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, in his letter argued that his decision to tender his resignation as NMA Vice Chairman 1 was due to the unresolved crisis which has engulfed the current exco for the year 2022-2024.
His letter reads in part, “this is one decision I have tried to avoid throughout my one year in the State Officer Committee, (SOC), but it is now inevitable as a result of the irredeemable perpetual autocratic methods of the Chairman in running the Association, and his numerous actions and inactions that many times run contrary to the provisions of the NMA Constitution, and by extension, the Kogi State NMA bye-law.
“This unfortunate situation has made it utterly impossible for some of us in the State Officer Committee to work with him. It has led to the collapse of the SEC that has always provided oversight function on the State Officer Committee, and has greatly divided the Association along many fault lines that have become largely irreconcilable”.
Also, the Assistant Secretary, Nkemakolam, who tendered his resignation letter with immediate effect, expressed his displeasure over the alleged poor leadership of the association in Kogi State under its Chairman Dr Olusola Baoku.
“My decision became very inevitable due to your flagrant disrespect and disregard for the bye laws of NMA Kogi State and the inalienable rights of her members which has eventually spiral-downed to the now-lingering crisis in NMA, Kogi State and for which you have shown lack of seriousness and commitment towards its amicable resolution despite all the support you have gotten from me and other State Officers Committee members.
Also, the Public Relations Officer of NMA Kogi State has also tendered his resignation letter in the last fourty eight hours.
The Kogi State Police Command has taken notice of the emergency general meeting and shall be providing security to ensure hoodlums are not sent to disrupt the meeting.
