30th July, 2012
GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Chapter, southwest Nigeria has been factionalised following the emergence of a splinter group after the election of the association conducted during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the weekend.
While the election produced a new NMA executive led by Professor Adefolarin Malomo, the aggrieved doctors who walked out during the exercise held a separate election which produced another faction led by Dr. M. O. Olatunji.
The Olatunji-led exco rushed to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State and paid for public announcement to declare its faction as the authentic leaders of the union.
The announcement however has it that the position of Secretary General and other sensitive positions are still vacant.
But, at the press conference held at the NMA House, Total Garden, Ibadan on Monday afternoon, Professor Malomo leading other members of the executive assured that the issue was a storm in a tea cup, noting that it would soon fizzle out.
Malomo, who was duly elected Chairman of the association explained that the argument of the splinter group could not stand the test of time because of its lack of basis in both the constitution and the bye-laws of the association.
It was gathered that the other group had kicked against the election of Malomo, a professor at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan on the ground that the immediate past Chairman of the association, Professor Milicent Obajimi was also from the tertiary hospital, a situation said to be against the gentleman agreement between other members of the association and UCH doctors.
Report of the election however showed that only two of the offices, Chairman and Secretary were contested for while other officers were returned unopposed and the candidates now making reference to the supposed ‘gentleman agreement’ actually participated and lost in the election.
Disclosing his readiness to however mend the crack, Malomo said, “naturally, in a big family like the NMA Oyo State, the process of election and inauguration of new executive may have left some pains and reservations, but the electoral process was conducted in line with the provisions of the bye-laws of our association.
“The new State Executive Council will do everything within her power to reconcile aggrieved parties and harness the numerous talents that abound in our association in moving the health of the citizens and residents of Oyo State forward. We can always find a common ground in our oath which clearly stipulates the essence of our brotherhood.”
The NMA boss also assured of repositioning the association to attend to the various health challenges confronting Oyo State, saying, “the new NMA Executive Council will embark on a constructive engagement that will actualise our status as the pacesetter state in health care delivery, training and research.
“We shall improve the standard of professionalism and our impact in the society to achieving laudable objective in the health sector. The welfare of the practitioners must be paramount on the agenda. Only an appropriately motivated workforce can be expected to give their very best in their field.”