Teaching hospital workers lock Fayose out
The protest rocking the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti,
heightened on Wednesday as protesting workers locked Governor Ayodele
Fayose out.
Some staff had staged violent protests following the death of two
doctors from the hospital that were among the six doctors and a driver
that died along Abuja-Kaduna road on April 24.
The deceased and six others were on their way to the Nigerian Medical Association’s Annual General Meeting.
The protesters had called for the immediate removal of the Chief
Medical Director, Dr Majekodunmi Ayodele, accusing him of being
responsible for the cause of the accident.
Two of the doctors, Dr. Tunde Aladesanmi and Dr. Alex Akinyele, were staff of the hospital.
Fayose had met stakeholders consisting of all medical and
non-medical workers, traditional rulers and Ayodele at the Government
House, Ado Ekiti, where he pleaded with parties to sheathe their swords
and allow peace to reign.
But the situation in the hospital got worse on Wednesday as the
protesters barricaded the highways and carried three mock coffins of
Ayodele with the inscription “R.I.P. Dr Majekodunmi Ayodele”, with the
photograph of the CMD affixed.
The governor, who rushed to the hospital on hearing about the
protest, was barred from entering the premises by the protesters.
They blocked the main gate with a hummer bus belonging to the hospital.
The presence of some traditional rulers did not help as
the monarchs left in a disappointed, having been held in the sun for
over an hour.
The governor, after about an hour of waiting at the gate,
eventually succumbed to the will of the staff and addressed them outside
the hospital premises.
Fayose said, “I’m not here for Ayodele. I’m here for you. This is a
federal hospital. As much as you don’t want him again. I support you. I
want to thank you for your patience, but we have to remember that we
have no other place than Ekiti State and we should ensure that hooligans
don’t hijack this protest from us. What you are doing today goes to
show that the people’s power is greater than those in power.
“The death of our six doctors is still fresh in our memories, so
we cannot afford to lose other lives. It is so unfortunate that
the actions and inactions of Dr Ayodele has led us to this level
and deprive many Ekiti indigenes the needed medical services.
“If it is in advanced clime or advanced democracy or if I were
Dr. Ayodele, I will resign. I held a meeting with the management
on Tuesday, May 10, where I told the CMD that he has not done well
for this state and the hospital in the way he manages the affairs of
this institution. Nobody can give kudos to him with the way he has run
this place.
“Dr Ayodele cannot be bigger than this institution. There was
a rumour that I brought him here to resume office, this is not true.
I cannot identify with him under this circumstance. I want to tell
you staff that you have a good case. One man cannot be greater than
you, but you need to be careful.
“I will write my own report before the end of today(Wednesday)
and send to Abuja on the need for the federal government through
the Ministry of Health to make a change in this hospital by
withdrawing the appointment of Dr Ayodele with immediate effect. I will
tell them, that the CMD can no longer enjoy your confidence.
“Federal Government must not treat my request as opposition voice.
Let me put on record that the FG will be held responsible if anything
happens.
“But as you stage this protest, I want to plead that you
allow patients who need medical care to be treated here in the interest
of our well being.”
Fayose called on the Police and the Department of State Services to
work hand-in-hand and prevent the protest from being hijacked or
escalate before controllable state.
In a related development, the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde
Ilori-Faboro in a meeting with the governor at his palace said that the
hospital crisis had engulfed the community.
He appealed to the Federal Government to set up a panel of enquiry
into the crisis, adding that even if the CMD would go as demanded by the
staff, a cabal of the staff workers allegedly insitgating the crisis
against the management of the hospital must also be shown the way out.
He also said that he was leading a high-powered delegation to brief
the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, on the recommendation of the
governor.
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