Ondo NMA Tasks Akeredolu on Health Workers Safety During Curfew

pharmacy

Following the crisis arising from the ongoing protest across the country and announcement of curfew in Ondo State, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ondo state Chapter has enjoined the governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to ensure that healthcare workers across the state are protected and not harassed by security agencies as they provide healthcare services during the curfew period.

Akeredolu had on Tuesday declared 24 hours curfew across the length and breadth of Ondo State to curtain the crisis arising from the #EndSARS protest in the state.

While condemning the killing of innocent protesters, who are only out to seek justice and a better country, the association in clear termscondemned the use of live ammunition on non-violent, unarmed protesters at Lekki tollgate, insisting that the government needs to interface with the protesters and attend to their demands, thereby ensuring a truly reformed Police and good governance.

The association, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its state Chairman, Dr Stella Adegbehingbe, charged the state government to protect the citizens of the state and their properties during this period and beyond, stating that the primary purpose of government is to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.

“The Nigerian Medical Association, Ondo State has followed with keen observation the #ENDSARS protest in the different parts of the country, directed at ending brutality of personnel of the police.  We note that the protests have been largely peaceful until some aspects of the youthful effort were hijacked by hoodlums, who are suspected to be sponsored.

“We believe that it is the constitutional right of any Nigerian to lawfully associate and express themselves peacefully. The primary purpose of government is to protect the lives and properties of his citizens.  We received, with dismay, reports of the use of live ammunition on non-violent, unarmed protesters, thereby killing innocent protesters, who are only out to seek justice and a better country.

“We condemn any use of force or live ammunitions on any peaceful protester by security agencies in any part of the country. Nigerian Medical Association, Ondo State is calling on the Federal and State Government to interface with the protesters with a view to attending to their demands and thereby ensuring a truly reformed Police and good governance”, the statement reads.