The Chairman, Committee of Past Chairmen (CPC), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State chapter, Dr David Aimila has accused the current leadership of the union under Dr Olusola Baoku of alleged financial recklessness.
Dr Aimila, disclosed this in his address dated June 10th, 2024
at a fact finding meeting towards resolving the crisis allegedly created by the embattled Chairman of Kogi NMA using the name of the union to petition the management of Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja without consultation.
A copy of the document which was leaked to our Correspondent on Thursday in Lokoja, noted that Dr Aimila called for the setting up of a probe panel into the finances of the current NMA leadership in Kogi State.
“We have heard from reliable but unconfirmed source that financial recklessness and infractions committed by the present NMA leadership is of a monstrous dimension in comparison with that of an impeached former chairman.
“The offence of the impeached former chairman is said to be a child’s play in comparison. So why allow double standards. Why did we swiftly condemn the former and appear to condone a greater evil?
“Why do you punish for the little crime and look the other way for a weightier crime? Without further delay, let us institute a probe panel into the finances of the current NMA leadership. I suggest that membership of the probe panel be drawn from the affiliate bodies and chaired by a medical elder or a past chairman,” he said.
On the crisis between the leadership of NMA and the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, Dr Aimila explained that “From evidences gathered meticulously from both sides of the conflict, there is ample indication that the chairman of NMA, Dr Olusola Baoku is using the sacred office of NMA chairman to vehemently fight his personal battles, thereby dragging that office into disrepute.
“That must stop forth with. That strategy won’t work; we will not allow it. Let me state loud, clear, and unequivocally that there is no room for ‘One-man’ show, autocracy, or dictatorship in NMA.
“The highest ethical standards and the noble tradition of the Medical Profession must be upheld by all, particularly the leadership of our association at all times. The violation of same by the current leadership of NMA is unacceptable and must not be allowed to stand.
“I vehemently condemn in the strongest terms possible every act of lawlessness in all its forms and ramifications. The spirit of lawlessness and moral decay won’t help NMA rather it will damage it. Light must prevail over darkness and deception; righteousness must prevail over unrighteousness.
“The time-honoured values of integrity, character, self-sacrifice, selfless service, and transparency cannot be sacrificed on the altar of charisma, expertise, cheap blackmail, and criminal tendencies. NMA cannot be seen to condone lawlessness.
“The current leadership of NMA stands indicted in these conflicts, and he needs to demonstrate remorse and repentance; he went too far overboard. The NMA leadership cannot and must never be allowed to bully its members or anybody for that matter. Chairmanship of NMA is a high calling unto responsible leadership, it must not be abused or cheapened.
He appealed to both aggrieved parties to sheathe their sword forthwith and de-escalate tension, and allow for due diligence in resolving the crises.
“Dr Olusola Baoku must withdraw all correspondences that are flying in all directions. He must tender unreserved public apology in writing to the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr Ebune Ojochide Sunday and the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL) for criminalising them, both of whom are bonafide members of NMA.
“They deserve better treatment and respect from the leadership of an association they belong to. I plead that the disciplinary measure by the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL) authority for infractions committed by the NMA chairman be softened and forgiven in the spirit of brotherhood,” he added.
Our Correspondent learnt that the meeting had in attendance members of Committee of Past Chairmen (CPC) with NMA- State Officer Council (SOC) and leaders of affiliate bodies.
It was further learnt on Thursday morning that all is not well with NMA Kogi State branch as medical doctors have started to gather signatures across affiliates in the association to force a physical general meeting that has eluded the association for some time.
A source who never wanted his name to be mentioned over fear of being victimized told our Correspondent that the medical doctors are agitated with the manner the association has been managed by the State Branch Chairman, Dr Olusola Baoku.
According to the source, “The medical doctors want a physical meeting to be able to ask pertinent questions about the ways and manner the association has been used to fight members of the association, criminalizing them with allegations of forgery amongst others”.
All effort to speak with the Kogi State NMA Chairman Dr Olusola Baoku to get his reaction proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
