Locating this institution in Bida was by chance. Two people played a crucial role in the choice of Bida, HRH Dr Halru N. Yahaya former Chairman, Primary Healthcare Development Agency and present Emir of Tsonga; and Dr. Shehu Sule, then permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health. Though both are not indigenes of Niger […]
Avoiding succession acrimony at FMC, Bida
Locating this institution in Bida was by chance. Two people played a crucial role in the choice of Bida, HRH Dr Halru N. Yahaya former Chairman, Primary Healthcare Development Agency and present Emir of Tsonga; and Dr. Shehu Sule, then permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health. Though both are not indigenes of Niger State, they were schoolmates from primary cchool Nguru, Yobe State, up to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. When a delegation, that also included both men, arrived at Minna, as part of preparation for the FMC, the Niger State Government rejected suggested that the General Hospital in Minna should be converted.
Among the delegation was a member from Kontagora area, who had wanted to cash on that advantage and tried to convince the delegates that they should choose Kontagora, but the team leader inquired from the rest whether between Bida and Kontagora which was closer. All agreed that it was Bida. This is how Bida FMC came into existence. Then the question of who would head the new centre cropped up Dr Sule suggested Prof. Paul Nmadu, a renowned paediatric surgeon. Nmadu, a son of the soil became the pioneer CMD of FMC, Bida.
Prof. Nmadu was at FMC, Bida from 1997 to 2005, and Dr Alaba George Okuku succeeded him. Okuku’s tenure ends this Sunday, June 16, 2013.
And that is where the problem lies, because there is considerable agitation among indigenes who allege Okuku angling to have a non-indigene installed as his successor.
To be fair to Okuku, he is reported to have nominated two persons, but both are from his geopolitical region; the indigenes are pushing back, putting forward their own nominations, all of Niger State origin.
The atmosphere at the FMC is worryingly charged and polarized. The federal authorities need to wade in to prevent a simmering situation from escalating into a full conflict
