A renowned traditional medicine practitioner from Ndiagu Umuoghara in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi State, Trado-Doctor Francis Ikechukwu Ezza, has questioned the growing trend of Nigerian political leaders travelling abroad for medical treatment, declaring that many of the ailments treated overseas are neither mysterious nor incurable under indigenous healthcare systems.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists on Thursday in Abakaliki, Ezza argued that several high-profile deaths recorded among political office holders could have been avoided if confidence had been placed in local herbal medicine.
“The sickness affecting politicians is the same sickness the ordinary man suffers.
The difference is that the common man visits a herbal healer early and receives treatment. But many politicians ignore traditional solutions and travel abroad, sometimes when it is already too late," he said.
Ezza traced his healing abilities to a long ancestral lineage of herbal practitioners. According to him, the knowledge of roots, herbs, and natural therapies was handed down from his forefathers to his father and now to him.
He described his work as a calling rather than a profession, noting that he has successfully treated various chronic and stubborn ailments over the years.
“This gift is inherited. It is not something you learn in a hurry. It is spiritual, natural, and practical. We study the body, nature, and divine guidance,” he explained.
The herbalist called for greater recognition and regulation of traditional medicine in Nigeria, urging government authorities to integrate herbal healing into mainstream healthcare policies.
He stressed that countries such as China and India have elevated traditional medicine to global standards and challenged Nigeria to follow suit.
Ezza also emphasized that early diagnosis and faith in indigenous knowledge remain key to effective treatment outcomes.
Meanwhile, developments within the National Union of Medical and Herbal Practitioners (NUMHP), Ebonyi State Chapter, indicated ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening traditional medicine administration across the state.
Following recent reconciliation efforts between National Union of Medical Herbal Practitioners, NUMHP and the Ebonyi State Association of Traditional Medicine, stakeholders have resolved to streamline leadership structures by adopting a single recognized chairman per Local Government Area in the state.
Sources within Ezza North confirmed that Dr. Francis Ikechukwu Ezza has been tipped as a leading contender to chair the union in the area, a move many practitioners described as a step toward consolidating unity and professional standards.
Ezza thus appealed to Nigerians, especially public office holders, to trust local medical knowledge and avoid unnecessary foreign medical trips.
“Our land is blessed. God gave us leaves, roots, and knowledge for healing. We must believe in what we have," he hinted.
