The Ebonyi State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) has pledged support for Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, praising his administration’s integrity and developmental strides while urging government action against fake herbal practitioners in the state.
Coordinator of the association, Rev. Dr. Sam Ezenyi, made the remarks in Abakaliki at the weekend, describing Governor Nwifuru as “the best performing governor in Nigeria” and “a man sent by God to transform Ebonyi.”
“Our governor is not like other politicians who make promises and fail. He is a man of integrity. Whatever he says, he does. That is why we are praying for him day and night. He is a real governor sent by God,” Ezenyi said.
He pledged that traditional medicine practitioners in Ebonyi would continue to mobilize support for the governor’s policies and programmes.
Ezenyi, however, raised alarm over the growing activities of unqualified herbalists, accusing them of endangering public health with harmful concoctions.
“Many people use dangerous substances such as water used to bathe corpses to prepare medicines for unsuspecting patients. This is killing people. We cannot keep quiet,” he warned.
He called on the state government to partner with NANTMP in registering, verifying and monitoring practitioners to eliminate quacks.
“If the government gives me the mandate, with security backup, we will create a proper database of practitioners. We will verify their addresses, their specialties, and test them with real cases. Anyone who fails will be disqualified. This is the only way to stop corruption and protect lives,” he said.
On the association’s internal leadership crisis, Ezenyi alleged that a factional leader, Chief Dr. Austin Ekechi, popularly known as Omeruoha, has monopolized the chairmanship for 18 years while controlling licenses and dues without accountability.
“We don’t really have an authentic chairman in this state now. One man cannot run an association alone. The governor should intervene so that proper elections can be held,” he added.
Ezenyi emphasized that unlike others, he has never collected money from members and remains committed to voluntary service.
Highlighting his own practice, he said his traditional medical clinic and pharmacy treats chronic ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, fibroids, stroke, and infertility with measured herbal remedies. According to him, many patients who spent millions in hospitals have recovered under his care at minimal cost.
He urged both government and the public to distinguish genuine practitioners from quacks, stressing the need to restore confidence in traditional medicine.
“I advise our members to stay focused and operate transparently so that government and the public will know who is genuine. We must restore confidence in traditional medicine because health is wealth,” he concluded.
