BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

The 21-day ultimatum by Edo State chapter of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, to the state government over alleged decay in infrastructure in health institutions in the state, has been described as misplaced, and an attempt to blackmail the former labour leader, Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

A chieftain of the Edo State All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Cephas Onaivi, argued that “Edo NMA is a microcosm of the population of the entire Edo people, who do not have the capacity to represent the people or dictate what they need at any particular time. They also do not love the state more than others.

“Edo State doctors cannot now insist that their wishes and fancies must be elevated to the status of laws and schemes of service in the health sector. We must all rise to stop this budding impunity that Edo NMA, in collaboration with the opposition party, are attempting to force down on our throats. As things stand, we will lose confidence in a respected profession such as NMA, Edo State chapter, because they can no longer claim they are serving public interest, if at all, not by blackmail.”

It will be recalled that Edo NMA had, last week, issued the state government a 21-day ultimatum and threatened to go on strike if, on the expiration of the ultimatum, the government failed to address the alleged decay in infrastructure in hospitals and qualitative health care delivery system in the state.

Onaivi added: “The issues raised by Edo NMA are even beyond their scope to so determine. You do not expect Oshiomhole to, at a swoop, after assuming office, address the over 12 years decayed infrastructure in all sectors occasioned by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led government. In which case, during this period, there was no record of strike by NMA against these successive governments.

“I call on NMA to retrace it’s steps, address the challenge of quackery in the profession and proffer solutions to the challenges of governance, instead of this misplaced, ill-motivated and calculated attempt to blackmail a former labour leader.”