IGGV seeks Eno intervention over alleged doctors’ victimisation

Ini Billie, Uyo

A socio-political group, Ibom Good Governance Vanguard (IGGV), has sought the intervention of Governor Umo Eno over the alleged victimisation of some doctors by the Special Assistant (SA) to the Governor on Health Matters, Dr Ekem John.

National Coordinator of IGGV, Comrade Nsima Akwaowo, alleged that Dr John, who is also the personal physician of Gov. Eno, has abused his office by using the position to plot the recall of his colleague through the Civil Service Commission (CSC) from professional in-service training.

Akwaowo accused the SA of encouraging brain drain in the health sector by threatening his colleagues and advising them to leave the country to escape his wrath, or remain, and face the consequences.

In an interview on Tuesday in Uyo, Akwaowo, alleged that the governor’s aide has habitually exposed the official secrets of the government, adding that such misdemeanour and wanton display of disrespect to people was an abuse of office.

“Such behaviour is not befitting of a medical doctor, whose profession demands a high sense of ethical compliance and respect to constituted authorities and the public he is serving.

“The governor should call him to order because it appears he has no respect for the office that he’s occupying. He talks and treats people with disrespect and sometimes reveals secret meetings and government information and documents.

“We also understand that he is in the habit of putting up such behaviour with his colleagues in the medical profession, where he was said to have proudly told his colleagues that as long as he remains the SSA/Personal Physician to the governor, he is more powerful than the Commissioner for Health and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the State.

“It is unethical for him as a medical doctor to engage in trivial political activities, but Dr John has turned his office in Government House, into an extended office for political meetings, thereby flouting the ethical order as a medical doctor and personal physician to the governor. It is on record that he is the first Personal Physician to the governor of AKS with such a level of arrogance and audacity to influence the State Civil Service Commission.

“In all of these ugly dispositions, Dr John appears to have succeeded in giving a false impression that his actions and inactions are being supported by the governor, whom we know as a father that would not tolerate such inappropriate, unethical and debased attitude, utterances and conduct from any of his appointees.

“By these displays of unprofessional conduct in public office, he has made a mess and mockery of the exalted office and position of personal physician to the governor,” he stated.

Efforts to get Dr Ekem John to respond were not successful as it was learnt that he was in the hospital recuperating from injuries sustained in a recent attack by hoodlums in Cross River State.

But one of his colleagues in the State Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), who remained unnamed, denied the allegations, saying “Dr. Ekem that I know cannot be involved in these sorts of allegations.