Kidnap: Support, Not blackmail C’River Govt With Strike, Ayade Urges Doctors
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Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade has urged members of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, to call off their industrial action and support the government in its efforts to deal with evolving security challenges in the state.
The governor said on Monday evening, through his special adviser on media, Christian Ita, that the doctors were unfair to his government by deciding to embark on a strike, despite efforts by the government to tackle recent kidnap cases.
The statement said “the Cross River State Government views the strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state as unfortunate, regrettable and I’ll-advised.
“The response of the government since the unfortunate abduction of some persons, including two medical doctors, has been strong, robust and total. The government is therefore, undeserving of the unconscionable reaction of the association.
“While the Cross River State government is reluctant to impute political undertone to the actions of the NMA, suffice to state that it had immediately after the incident launched a manhunt, using all the security agencies, in an effort to intercept the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
“Only a day earlier, a similar kidnapping incident along the Okom-Ita and Uyanga axis of the Calabar-Ikom Highway was diffused, and the victims rescued in record time. Since the latest incident, anyone who has traveled along the said road will attest to the fact that the entire Uyanga forest is brimming with security operatives, with commendable successes, including the arrest of key dramatis personae who are assisting the on-going operations.
“No society is completely devoid of crime but what matters is the response of government. In this case, the response of the government has been swift and total. Government is determined to rescue the victims and stamp out this evil once and for all. So, what government needs at the moment is support and not blackmail. Security is the responsibility of everyone, including the NMA.”
