A group, Edo Professionals Home and Diaspora has called on those jostling to be Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo State, to desist from cheap political blackmail.
The General Secretary of the body, Dr Joseph Omoruyi, in a statement, said that its intervention is important because it feels strongly that Nigerians deserve the best form of healthcare services.
“While the Federal Government under the new Minister of Health, Dr Ali Pate, has promised to devote more resources to the health sector, it is unpatriotic to undermine government’s good intentions under any guise, and more so for selfish nd unpatriotic reasons.
“This is exactly what a faceless group of individuals are doing by seeking to interfere and or influence, the outcome of the selection of a new CMD for the all-important Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), an institution that has accredited itself quite creditable in the last five years!
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare are still in the process of selecting a new CMD for the hospital.’’
Any form of clandestine or subterranean moves, including seeking endorsement or testimonials from traditional rulers can only be an exercise in futility. Only the best brain and possession of requisite managerial skills are good enough for ISTH.
“We, therefore, view with concern the spurious claims of a shadowy group called APC Advocacy and Appeasement Group led by one Dr Gambo Halidu in its attempt to discredit a selection process adjudged to be one of the most transparent in the history of such exercise at the Federal Ministry of Health.”
The group maintained that the acting CMD at ISTH, Prof Reuben Eifedeyi is a core professional specialist doctor working solely to advance the cause of the medical profession in Nigeria and across the world.
“We say with emphasis that it is mischievous to describe him as a member of any political party. He is an appointee of government assigned to oversee the affairs of one of Nigeria’s medical institutions for the advancement of medicine. We have reasons to suspect they are hired by some pay masters to discredit the hard-earned reputation of Eifedeyiin a desperate bid to take over the leadership of the ISTH.
“The management of the hospital has also debunked the unfounded allegation that Eifedeyi granted an interview to a social media platform on the selection process for the appointment of a substantive CMD for ISTH, Irrua. Nothing can be more ridiculous because the acting CMD has a deep knowledge of civil service rules and regulations!
“We wish to state categorically that the acting CMD did not and could not have granted an interview to any news media whether print, electronic or social media platform on the subject matter. In fact, the outcome of the selection interview has not been communicated and is the exclusive preserve of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to announce after obtaining the approval of the president.
“It is important to note that this is mere manipulation by detractors who are out to tarnish the image and person of the acting CMD and also discredit him to the outside world as there is no iota of truth in the purported claim.”
The body, therefore, urged the general public and especially the supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to disregard and discountenance the false story about Eifedeyi.
