By DADA AYOKHAI
There is an ensuing and intense proxy war raging between two accomplished medical academicians at the yet-to-fully-, take-off National Orthopedic Hospital in Benin.
Unless a quick solution is found to the crisis, the intense power play may spill over to the rank and file and also halt service delivery
The battle for control of the hospital’s management has pitched Dr. Philip Ibukun Ugbodaga against Prof. Alfred Oghogho Ogbemudia.
In the real sense, these two men can be said to be fighting a proxy war on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr.Osagie Ehanire, and junior minister of state for Health, Hon. Ekumanama Joseph.
The outgone Buhari administration approved the establishment of the National Orthopedic Hospital in Benin .
the Minister of Health, Dr. Ehanire, a Bini man, is said to have lobbied for the set-up of the specialist hospital in his domain to ensure its specialized services are brought closer to the doorstep of his people.
There are a few such specialist hospitals in the country, including Lagos, Kano, and Enugu.
Trouble, however, began with the appointment of an acting Chief Medical Director for the hospital.
The Minister of State for Health, Hon. Ekumanama reportedly announced Dr. Ugbodaga as the acting CMD probably without recourse to his boss, Dr. Ehanire.
The letter conveying Dr. Ugbodaga’s appointment said he is to hold the position pending the appointment of either a substantive CMD or his confirmation by President Buhari, adding “the appointment is with immediate effect”.
Probably Stunned by the action of his minister of state, Dr. Ehanire proceeded to appoint Prof. Ogbemudia as the acting CMD of the hospital, at an official function in the conference room of the ministry.
That was, indeed, one of the very last official function he performed before the Buhari administration handed over power.
Perhaps, the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by the time it settles down, will look into the controversy surrounding the appointment of two persons for the same position.
