By  SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN—STAFF of the Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Edo State , Thursday protested what they described as alleged attempt to impose an “outsider” as the new Chief Medical Director of the hospital.

The placard-carrying workers who commenced the protest at about 7.30am, grounded activities at the hospital, as they accused “Abuja Politicians” of attempt to plant somebody outside the establishment as CMD.

Chairman of the hospital’s Senior Staff Association, Uyi Orhiaki, said they had reliable information that some people, who he described as Abuja politicians, were collaborating with some persons to execute the plot.

He said: “We have our people in Abuja who have disclosed to us that a highly placed person is in league with some individuals who are politicians from this state and some elements within, to by-pass the normal process.
“These people we are talking about are not even workers here.”

How much do they know about the plight of workers here or about the politics of the environment? Civil service is not militarised and so, people on ground have a right of say in what is happening here. A senator or a member of the House of Representatives cannot from Abuja lord it over people here based on campaign promises.”

“An interview was conducted but this they want to jettison. They now want to pick a Benin man to supplant Dr Ikeji. I am a Benin man, but we don’t have to scuttle due process based on ethnicity, especially when no one has complained that Dr Ikeji is not doing well. That will destabilize the system” he stated.

One Mr. Efe Stewart, who identified himself as the hospitals Public Relations Officer, however decried the development and stressed the need to mainatain peace in the hospital.

He narrated that “It was when Dr George Eze left that Dr Ikeji became Acting MD. It is left with the authorities… If eventually Dr Ikeji becomes substantive MD, it is good. Right now he is the man on ground. He is a man that is well loved, but people around him should not paint him black; for example. I am the PRO here, but someone else is laying claim. I was appointed by the last board as PRO… I don’t know where all the cry is coming from. They are mischief makers”.