Leadership crisis: My purported suspension an illegality – NMA Chairman
Prof. Emem Abraham has responded to her suspension as the Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State Chapter, saying the action is an illegality.
In a message dropped in the general Whatsapp platform of the association, Prof. Abraham warned that she will not hesitate to take action against those behind the act.
“This is to remind members that no illegality shall be condoned in this group.
Pls be warned that I will not hesitate to take action against any violator”, reads the message.
Her reaction is coming on the heels of a statement issued by Dr. Usenobong Morgan who signed off as acting chairman of the association.
The statement was issued after a general meeting of the association which took place on Sunday evening. Dr. Morgan listed a number of gross misconducts against the embattled NMA chairman.
“Running NMA Akwa Ibom State for 5 months without a budget while expending millions of naira. Presenting to SEC a Financial statement for free medical outreach accounting for only N6m out of N34m. Refusing to abide to constitutional processes and provisions as provided in the NMA National Constitution and NMA AKS Bye-laws. Illegal suspension of ARD President, NAGGMDP Chairman and NMA Secretary. High-handedness and institution of draconian rule in the affairs of NMA. Impersonation of the Secretary in official communication. Presentation of a Financial statement for NMA Creche showing only expenditure of over #6M without showing any income from enrolment and school fees among others”, were listed as the sins of Dr. Abraham which prompted her removal from office.
The statement by Dr. Usenobong Morgan further states that “after a secondment of the motion, the NMA Chairman and Vice Chairman was impeached through a vote of 71 to 4. Consequently the NMA Secretary, Dr Usenobong Morgan by a motion duly seconded was nominated and accepted by Congress as the Acting Chairman of the NMA. This decision was ratified by a vote of 61 in favour and 13”.
But, the Public Relations Officer of the association, Dr. Unyime Ndoh countered the statement issued by Dr. Morgan, urging all members to disregard it.
“This is to inform all members of NMA AKS that the Ordinary General Meeting, which was held today, went into a recess and will be reconvene soonest. Please disregard any contrary information”, Dr. Ndoh said in the message sent to members of the body.
TheMail Newspaper can report that problem started during the kidnap episode of their colleague, Dr. John Robbin Esu who was abducted at his work place in Oron LGA on 30th April, 2024.
After Dr. Esu spent 15 days in the kidnappers’ den, the Chairman, Prof. Emem Abraham, in a bid to get the government and police to expedite his release then moved for a warning strike by the NMA. After the expiration of the 3-day warning strike without the release of their colleague, she issued another release announcing an indefinite strike.
This didn’t augur well with some doctors within the NMA who felt she was trying to embarrass the government of Akwa Ibom State.
According to our findings, those sympathetic to the government mobilized members to flout their chairman’s directive.
First, the revolting doctors led by Dr. Aniekpeno Eyo better known as ‘Caster’ who is the President of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) and Dr. Idara Usen, Chairman, National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) – Akwa Ibom State directed their members not to partake in the strike action.
Dr. Eyo and Dr. Usen were immediately suspended by the Prof Emem Abraham-led leadership of the NMA.
The Anti-Abraham elements in the NMA who are said to have the backing of government later re-strategized and mobilized to actualize Prof. Abraham’s ouster which played out during Sunday’s general meeting.