The State Executive Council (SEC) of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State branch, has reaffirmed the suspension of its former embattled chairman, Dr Olusola Baoku.
In a protest letter addressed to the President of NMA, dated August 2, 2024, and signed by the Committee of Past Chairmen—namely Dr Aimila David, Dr. Zubair Kabiru, Dr Gabriel Musa, Dr. Joseph Arome Iduh, Dr Ahmed Attah Jacob, Dr. Austin Ojotule, Dr Tijani Godwin Atayi, Dr. Omakoji Oyiguh, and Dr Abubakar Alhassan—the group passed a vote of no confidence in Dr Ushakuma Anenger and Celestine Ugwoke, members of the Fact-Finding Committee, claiming they failed to resolve the lingering crisis in the State allegedly caused by the suspended Chairman, Dr Olusola Baoku.
The letter, titled “Re: Resolutions on the Crisis in NMA Kogi Branch,” stated: “Although the Interim Caretaker Committee (CTC) has withdrawn all petitions without requisite approvals submitted by the suspended Chairman, the NOC has failed to address members’ grievances and has overlooked various abuses and violations committed by Dr Baoku, some of which warrant NMA disciplinary proceedings.
“These issues include violations of members’ personal liberties and alleged criminal acts currently under investigation by security agencies. A mere directive to withdraw such cases will not resolve these matters.
“The suspension of Dr Olusola Baoku and the remaining State Officers Committee (SOC) members remains effective as mandated by a duly convened Congress.
“The branch expresses concern regarding Dr Ushakuma Anenger and Celestine Ugwoke, who appeared partisan in their Fact-Finding Committee assignment and does not have faith in their ability to act or speak fairly on the issues at hand. NMA Kogi State branch still retains its autonomy, and the bye-laws do not provide for an electronic voting system.”
The group admonished the National Officers Committee of NMA to exercise restraint in its attempts to infringe on their autonomy in Kogi State.
They, however, condemned the decision of the National Officers Committee to institute disciplinary action against Dr Zubair Kabiru, a former Chairman of NMA in Kogi State.
“Referring him to the National Disciplinary Committee for investigation is an ill-informed decision when the resolutions in your correspondence seek to shield and validate Dr. Olusola Baoku, who has violated various constitutional provisions leading to his suspension by the Congress.
“This is an indication that Dr Zubair Kabiru or the NMA Kogi branch will not receive a fair hearing from either the current National Disciplinary Committee or the NOC. We view the NOC’s interventions thus far in NMA Kogi State branch affairs as meddlesome, unjust, biased, and incapable of achieving peace. Instead, they appear to be veiled attempts to impose Dr Olusola Baoku on NMA Kogi State branch, with potentially severe consequences for the association.”
“The NMA Kogi State branch does not have confidence in the members of the Fact-Finding Committee, who have failed to produce a report based on facts but have only shown their bias and inclination to align with criminality and illegality, while keeping mute over acts of constitutional violations by the suspended chairman,” the letter added.
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