The presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his counterpart from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), were conspicuously missing as presidential candidates from the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi; African Action Congress (AAC), Mr Omoyele Sowore; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Barr Adewole Adebayo, and that of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, responded to the invitation by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), which requested their agenda for Pharmacy profession and healthcare in general.
Speaking on Thursday at the Plenary Session which was part of the events for the 95th Annual National Conference of the PSN, tagged TinCity 2022, held at Crispan Hotel and Suites, Jos, Plateau State, the presidential candidate of the AAC, Sowore, described how shameful and terrible the situation of things at the level of the healthcare sector is in the country. He said the president who should build the sector is out of the country and is always on medical tourism abroad.
“We are at a critical period in the life of this country because as we are here discussing healthcare, the president of the country has run away from the country for this same reason, but as for me, I promise you that any illness I cannot treat here in Nigeria should rather kill me.
“Some of the presidential candidates who should be here too are not here for the reason best known to them, especially a particular one that needs healthcare the most. Although we all need healthcare, some needs it more, but they are not here. So, I commend your commitment and dedication to being the most trusted healthcare providers and I promise to work with you to take this country to an enviable height,” he said.
He went on to add that Nigeria has failed all of us adding that over 5000 pharmacists, about 8000 doctors, and thousands of nurses as well as other healthcare workers have left the country in search of greener pastures, adding that we should celebrate the ones that are left.
On his part, Obi noted that the country is riddled with leadership and systemic failure but this can be corrected next year by “giving way to competent leadership, adding that the party can affect the necessary changes to make Nigeria great again.
Obi, who was represented by the party campaign director in the state, Mr Bako Nanzing, further noted that the ruling party in the country is a failure, incompetent, a colossal choice; docile and inactive, saying the 7 points agenda of Peter Obi for Nigeria is sacrosanct.
He said: “We are ready to move Nigeria from a consuming country to a producing country. Pharmacy and pharmaceutical products are essential and with your vote when we get there, we shall place priority on the pharmaceutical sector and the healthcare sector in general, he said
In his speech, the presidential candidate of SDP, Barr Adewole Adebayo assured the pharmacists that his administration if emerged would be friendly to them, adding that the pharma sector right now is a replica of what Nigeria looks like.
Adebayo noted that Nigeria’s situation at the moment can best be described as a doctor’s handwriting, nobody understands it. He said if the problem of insecurity and poverty can be handled properly, half of the challenge of the nation is solved.
“If elected, the first thing I guarantee is stability and security as you would be saved, and you would be saved as well. No unrest, no banditry, no kidnapping so that you will be able to set up your pharma business without fear or any challenge, and we will not subject the profession to the tyranny of the politicians.
While speaking, the President, PSN, Prof. Cyril Usifoh, said the session was necessary to hear what the candidates have in store for Pharmacy and healthcare as they have been lied to and subjugated for too long in the scheme of things.
The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was absent. Also absent was the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, although he was represented by the gubernatorial candidate for APC in the state, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, but he only spoke on his gubernatorial ambition, while the gubernatorial candidate of NNPP in the state, Dr Alfred Dabwan, also represented Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Chair of the session, Pharm. Azubuike Okwor, former president, PSN and current president, PSN, Prof Usifoh, presented the Charter of demands to all the candidates, vowing to hold them accountable to their promises after the elections next year.
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I vote for Adekunle Faid Adeleke