A Human Right Group, Ebonyi Initiative For Good Governance, Integrity and Transparency, has expressed sadness over the alleged bloodshed threat by the Traditional Ruler of Umunaga community Uburu, in Ohaozara local government area of the State, Eze Laz Umahi against the Management and Staff of the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital DUFUTH Uburu during a peaceful and solidarity march at the institution premises.
The group described the threat as unfortunate, regrettable and embarrassing to the State and called for an investigation into the alleged threat by the traditional ruler.
The Spokespersons of the group, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nworie in a statement signed by him and made available to journalists in Abakaliki expressed the regret that a first class traditional ruler would threaten union leaders and other workers of the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital DUFUTH with bloodletting and violence.
He maintained that such act it’s highly condemnable adding that such threat to the lives of the innocent peaceful protesters could jeopardize the security of lives and properties of the staff as the youths of the community could begin to unleash mayhem on the staff of the institution.
“We as a human right and advocacy group wishes to express our deep reservation, sadness and total displeasure on the alleged threat by Eze Laz Umahi on the innocent staff of the teaching hospital. It is an act unbefitting of a first class traditional ruler and an elder brother to the serving Minister for Works.
“His utterance during the peaceful and solidarity march in favour of the Chief Medical Director of the institution, Prof Uzoma Agwu is not just a call for violence attack on the staff but an act capable of causing break down of law and order in the area.
It is also sad to note that the traditional ruler had earlier on Monday led youths of the community to the institution and disrupted both the clinic and administrative services of the institution. The youths who besieged the hospital barricaded the hospital gate, restricting patients and people from accessing the hospital for emergency medical treatment.
We had expected the community to channel their grievances to the appropriate authorities instead of taking laws into their hands. The Federal Ministry of Health which is the mother body of the hospital should have been communicated and not to threaten burning down the establishment owned and managed by the Federal government.
We are therefore calling on the Minister for Health, the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, the Security Agencies and other relevant authorities to wade into the crisis rocking the institution to ensure the security of lives and properties of the management and staff of the institution whose lives are now endangered by the statement of the traditional ruler.
It is also important that the Traditional Ruler be called to order as the institution is a Federal government institution and run by the Federal government. He should also be made to apologize and reassure the management and staff of their security. We can not afford to have Federal government establishment destroyed by the statement of a royal father.
The group urged the management and staff not to hesitate in reporting any act of harassment and intimidation to the appropriate quarters. Ends.
