The Medical Director (MD) of the Federal medical Centre (FMC), Bida, Niger State, Dr Aminu Usman Toma, who was appointed on August 12, 2011, will exit office by August 12, this year.
Dr Usman, being a son of the soil, with the revered title of Lafiyan Nupe, has tried tremendously in seeing the FMC reached its peak in terms of capacity building. Also, very significantly, he single-handedly kick started the foundation of a permanent site.
Dr Usman will surely be remembered by his people as a hero who championed their cause. History will also recognise him as one of the best MDs since the establishment of the FMC in April, 1997.
As the search for a suitable candidate to replace Dr Usman gains momentum, the staff of the FMC and the host community are anxious about who emerges at the end of the day.
By and large, if continuity is anything to go by, the mantle of leadership should fall on one of the four senior people at the centre who worked closely with the outgoing MD to raise its status.
This will guarantee continuity and consolidation of so many good projects he put in place. We believe that if the community’s interest is ignored, hardly will the institution record any meaningful success, as the people may easily undermine any good effort towards progress of the FMC.
We may be accused of being sectional, biased and whipping up primordial sentiments, but I do not think it so. If an indigene is found to be the most qualified or competent, why must he be stopped from showing interest and even appointed to the highest position?
Our candid submission is buttressed on the fact that all FMCs across the country have indigenes as their MDs, except in a few cases because of lack of qualified candidates. With this we rest our case.
Comrade Hon Mohammed Dokodza, Chairman Nupe Community Association
