Nigerian Pilot learnt that the leadership crisis has torn the members of the NANTMP into two factions, and each of them continues trying to play a supremacy role over the other in Ebonyi State since the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru came on board.
It was gathered that one Dr. Stella Amadi serves as the State Chairman of a faction of traditional medicine practitioners which is still under NANTMP. While one Dr Madubuchi Ojiugwo reportedly emerged as the State Chairman of another faction of traditional medicine practitioners under the umbrella of the National Union of Medical Herbal Practitioners (NUMHP).
Briefing Journalists yesterday in Abakaliki, the State Vice Chairman of the NANTMP, Dr Chinedu Opoke condemned the development and however, urged Governor Nwifuru, and other key stakeholders in the state to intensify efforts to reunite the traditional medicine practitioners into one umbrella to avoid a further crisis in the state. Opoke explained that the tenure of Mrs Amadi's leadership as the Chairman of the NANTMP in Ebonyi has not elapsed, saying the alleged hasty formation of another association led by Ojiugwo as the general platform controlling all the traditional medicine practitioners in the state would lead to a full-scale crisis if not addressed by the relevant authorities.
He pleaded with Governor Nwifuru to summon all the traditional medicine practitioners from 13 local government areas in Ebonyi for a town hall meeting, noting that the approach would avail them the opportunity to discuss the way forward for peace in the association and as well, encourage alternative medicine to the modern practice in the state.
The NANTMP Vice Chairman who specializes in the healing of psychiatric patients also observed that uniting the traditional medicine practitioners by the state government would help them to curtail quackery and fish out those using their natural gifts of healing to witch-hunt human talents and existence.
"It's our passionate appeal to all the NANTMP members in Ebonyi State to allow Ambassador Dr. Stella Amadi to complete her tenure since the National leadership of our Association has not conducted an election. Considering that she has exhibited a high sense of transparency, and greater numbers of our members love her leadership style, we humbly appeal to the Ebonyi State government under the watch of His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to help uniting our members to stop tearing our Association into two factions. Chief Dr Mrs Stella Amadi is still serving her first tenure and when she completes her tenure, the official election will be conducted. If she does well, she may win again or else, another person can take over from her.
"But for somebody like Dr. Ojiugwo to start calling himself the State Chairman of the traditional medicine practitioners in Ebonyi is not only against our constitution but has never been done in any other state across the nation. If the attempt prevails in Ebonyi, it means our members and even the state government will be denied many traditional health benefits coming from the national and international communities. The government of Ebonyi state should assist us to develop our traditional medicine, but it has to begin with peace-building among our members to avoid any form of power tussle or litigation against one another."
While extolling the state government for its commitment to addressing the health challenges of Ebonyi citizens, Opoke proclaimed that "Governor Nwifuru's performance in his first tenure will facilitate his reelection for the second term in office, owing to his developmental strides." He applauded the state governor's approval of the recruitment of professional medical personnel in the state and the establishment of the Ebonyi Traditional Medicine Board.
