By Abasi Ita
An All Progressives Congress chieftain and Chairman of the Cross River State Business Men’s Forum, Chief Onwe, has described the House of Representatives’ call for the suspension of the Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Dr Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, as hasty, lopsided and unrealistic.
Chief Onwe spoke on Monday in Calabar while reacting to the motion by the House of Representatives urging the Federal Government to suspend the UCTH Chief Medical Director over issues surrounding the disengagement of some medical interns at the hospital.
He cautioned that the decision of the House to adopt the motion without first conducting a thorough investigation could undermine due process and set a dangerous precedent.
According to him, the motion, moved by the member representing Afikpo South Afikpo North Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, Mr Iduma Igariwey, was adopted without giving all parties involved the opportunity to present their positions.
“The call by the House of Representatives on the Federal Government to suspend the Chief Medical Director of UCTH based solely on a motion of urgent public importance is hasty, harsh and unrealistic,” Chief Onwe said.
He noted that recent public debates over internship placements at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital had raised serious allegations, including claims of ethnic bias against the Chief Medical Director, but warned that acting on such claims without careful verification would be counterproductive.
“As a concerned citizen of Cross River State who has followed this issue closely, I believe allegations of this nature require careful and unbiased investigation before conclusions are drawn or actions taken,” he said.
Chief Onwe stressed that issues involving institutions of national importance such as teaching hospitals demand painstaking inquiry to ensure fairness, equity and justice.
“For a matter before a body as important as the National Assembly, there is a compelling need for a thorough investigation where all parties are allowed to fully express themselves before any decision is reached,” he added.
He further stated that information available did not indicate that the affected house officers had any direct interaction with the Chief Medical Director regarding their internship placements.
“The claim that they met with the Chief Medical Director is being contested, which raises questions about who they were actually dealing with,” he said.
Chief Onwe also said there was no evidence that Dr Ikpeme made any formal or informal statement suggesting that any intern was rejected on ethnic or other discriminatory grounds.
“It is therefore disturbing that allegations of ethnic bias are being acted upon at the House of Representatives without clear proof or firsthand engagement with the Chief Medical Director,” he said.
He emphasised that Dr Ikpeme is the only official authorised to speak on behalf of UCTH, noting that the House of Representatives did not seek his explanation before adopting the motion.
Chief Onwe called for dialogue and strict adherence to due process, urging relevant authorities to allow investigations to take their full course in order to avoid actions capable of deepening divisions and eroding public confidence in national institutions.