The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has elected Dr Abubakar Alhassan as its new chairman in Kogi State.
Dr Alhassan takes over from Dr Olusola Baoku, who was impeached alongside three other former exco members at the association’s 2024 Annual General Meeting, AGM, held in Lokoja on Saturday.
Other new exco members elected in Kogi NMA are Dr Mohammed Umoru Farouq (Assistant Secretary), Dr Haruna Omeiza (Treasurer), Dr Samuel Ahi (Public Relations Officer), Dr Adewale Abolore (Auditor), Dr Nathaniel Peter (Director of Welfare), Dr Adaranijo Kola (Secretary), Dr Okungbowa Osaretin (Vice Chairman 1), and Dr Ochala Damusa (Vice Chairman 2).
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman promised to unite aggrieved members of the association.
He berated the immediate past chairman, Dr Olusola Baoku, for allegedly causing a crisis in NMA, adding that his administration will constitute a reconciliation committee to bring back aggrieved members.
“This exco will, in the next two years, be saddled with the responsibility of rebuilding and revamping the association using dialogue and strategic engagement.
“To this end, I call on those who have been negatively impacted by the whirlwind of our recovery efforts to retrace their steps and come back to the mainstream for total recovery of the association. Let’s all sheathe our swords for I have come in peace.
“Financial transactions on our accounts have been shrouded in secrecy in the past two years. This Exco will deploy all options within the ambit of the law to do a forensic audit of our account.
“A committee to this effect will be constituted soon. I find it pretty amazing, the suggestion of the National Officers Committee, NOC, that our account should be audited by the national. Even a fool already knows what the outcome of that exercise will be,” he stated.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Committee of Past Chairmen, CPC, of NMA in Kogi, Dr David Aimila, disclosed that the association was compelled to call for an emergency congress because of the lingering crisis in the state.
According to him: “Since the inauguration of NMA Kogi State branch 32 years ago, this is the first time Congress was compelled to drag the CPC at the 11th hour to rescue the association and profession from the hands of misguided elements to midwife the transition to a new State Officers Committee, SOC.”