The Medical Guild has appealed to the Lagos State Government to prioritise the health and lives of healthcare workers, saying 15 doctors died within six months in the state.

The Chairman of Guild, Dr Sa’eid Ahmad, made the disclosure during a news conference ahead of the guild’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference, on Sunday, in Lagos.

The Medical Guild is the association of medical doctors under the employment of the Lagos state government.

Ahmad noted that the past year has been particularly challenging for the guild due to ongoing co-morbidities exacerbated by manpower bleed and the attendant severe overwork among members at service points and a number of members’ deaths.

“The intensity of the attendant sense of loss was probably brought to its peak with the tragic event of collapsed elevator in the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, which claimed the life of our young colleague, Late Dr Vwaere Diaso.

“This was to be followed by end-on-end demises of some additional colleagues, sometimes, multiple over a few days,” he said.

Ahmad stressed that the sad events serve as an inescapable wake-up call to intensify vigilance towards self-care, and deepen the level of engagement with the government to prioritise the health and lives of healthcare workers in the state.

“These, afterall, are the people in whose hands the health and lives of the people are entrusted,” he said.

To address the situation, Ahmad said that the guild, through a series of emergency General Assemblies and consultations, developed a comprehensive position paper.

He said the paper drew the attention of the state government to urgently take actions to salvage the spiraling health of the health workers.

Ahmad said that the document identified the roots of the welfare problems culminating in massive exodus, and proffered practical and workable solutions.

 ”We had demanded short, medium and long-term solution categories to these problems, including the basic need for healthcare workers to be able to obtain much needed care themselves within the system in which they work.

 ”This document has indeed formed the cornerstone of highest level policy discussions with the Government of Lagos state on behalf of our members.

“It is our hope that these discussions produce policy pronouncements and actionable directives at any moment,” he said.

He disclosed that the guild, through its Office of Social Welfare, spent N21.5 million in responding promptly to some of its sick members and support for families of bereaved members in times of loss.

The Chairman said the guild had embarked on housing mortgage and automobile facilities in a bid to provide members decent accommodation and mobility to ease their commuting to work.

Ahmad commended the government for resolving all issues of stagnation and demotion of In-service trained specialists and financial implementation of same since August 2023.

Speaking on the forthcoming AGM and Scientific Conference, Ahmad said that week-long activities, which began on Sunday, would feature medical outreach, cancer awareness campaign, lecture series, among others.

Ahmad noted that tapping into these intellectual reservoirs by health policy makers and other stakeholders would yield benefits.

 He said it would greatly enhance appropriate policy formulation and implementation strategies for the overall benefit of saving lives and improving wellbeing of the people.

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

The New Commissioner Of Police, CP Isyaku Mohammed has said the State Command will embark on constant raiding of the black spots and criminals hideouts across the state.

The new CP disclosed this at the Police headquarters, Osogbo, State capital on Friday, said he has directed all formations to draw up action plans to actualise missions that will instantly arrest prevalent crimes in their areas to the barest minimum.

Mohammed stated that during his stay in the state as chief law enforcer he will provide credible leadership that is professional and accountable to the people through intelligence-led, community-oriented.

He noted that he is open to constructive criticisms and welcomes all manners of suggestions that will aid his administration in providing better police services to the good people of Osun State.

He urged the residents of the State to join forces with the State Command to make the State a peace-haven for all.

He said, “This occasion offers me an opportunity to meet with you, the Fourth Estate of the Realm, and invite you to share in my mission of making Osun state a safe haven and home of peace for all who live and carry-on legitimate businesses therein. Together we shall all chart a good course in policing the State; and I therefore, solicit for your generous cooperation in sustaining the already existing strong synergy and good working relationship between you and the officers of the Command.

“I want to clearly state that as the chief law enforcer of the state, my mission is to bring to reality the vision of the Inspector-General of Police of zero tolerance to corruption, a secured environment for citizens to thrive, policing with International best practices, upholding the Rule of Law, and Respect for fundamental Human Rights of all citizens.

“All these I shall strive hard to achieve, especially with the support of team-spirited Officers and men I met in the Command, together with the cooperation of other security agencies in the state and stakeholders such as the traditional rulers, religious leaders, public spirited associations, students and youth leaders etc; as security is a collective responsibility. I have no doubt that, together we shall fight all criminal elements in the State to a standstill and Osun State will not be a safe haven for criminals to breed.

“In arrival, I received briefings on the security state of the Command, especially with respect to pockets of prevalent crimes such as: Cultism, Rape/ Defilement, Land Grabbing, Communal clashes etc.

“This will be immediately followed by a tour of the formations for on the ground/spot assessment of every locality within the state to ascertain their peculiarities, as I lead this mission of keeping the state safe, from the front,” the CP added.

In response to a recent statement made by the Benin Oba regarding the historical founding of Eko (Lagos), His Royal Majesty, Oba SulaimanAdekunleBamgbade, the Olofin of Isheri and revered successor of the ancient throne of the Aworis’ progenitor, has affirmed to the Awori Heritage Alliance of North America that Eko (Lagos) was undoubtedly founded by the Awori people.

The Olofin in a press statement said, “In light of this confirmation, we, the Awori Heritage Alliance of North America therefore issue the following statement to emphatically and resolutely repudiate the remarks made by the Benin Oba concerning the founding of Eko (Lagos) during his courtesy visit to the Lagos House, Marina on Sunday, 26 November 2023.

“This statement by the Benin oba is not only erroneous, it in fact constitutes an utter disregard for the centuries old strongly held historical traditions of Eko (Lagos); as well as the documented historical facts on the founding or source of Eko, Lagos.

“In his statement, the Benin oba alleged that a ‘certain area in Lagos, maybe the nucleus of Lagos was founded by my ancestors.’ This profound misrepresentation of historical fact actually undermines the rich and verifiable history of the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba ethnic group who are the autochthonous people and founders of Eko, Lagos.

“It is imperative to at this point adduce certain highlights from the published as well as archived official historical records of Lagos, as collected from the native historical traditions of the indigenous inhabitants of Eko (Lagos) by the British colonial administrators of Lagos & Nigeria.

“The Deputy Chief Secretary to the British Government of Nigeria, Sir Alan C. Burns, GCMG published the ‘History of Nigeria’ in 1929 for the British colonial authorities based on the historical traditions collected in Nigeria from the native sources. The founding of Eko (Lagos) was detailed, and the nature of Lagos’ relationship with Benin was clearly spelt out as quoted below.

“A band of Yorubas, led by a cadet of the royal family, appears to have settled at Isheri, on the Ogunriver… the settlers then spread southwards to EbuteMetta, on the mainland opposite Iddo island, where a town was built and farming was begun. Some time after this the inhabitants moved across to Iddoisland. Iddo, however, was scarcely large enough to support the number of settlers, it was [then] decided to begin cultivation on the neighbouring island of [Eko] Lagos. [When] the first invasion from Benin took place; the inhabitants were fortunate that at this crisis their Olofin, or ruler, was a man of great courage and strong character, and under his leadership the King of Benin’s soldiers were repulsed.

“Subsequent attacks met with no better success, and the Olofin gained in fame and influence. He is reputed to have had thirty-two sons, one succeeded his father as Oloto of Iddo, the title of Olofin falling into abeyance. The custom of the [Eko] Lagos chiefs to wear ‘white caps’ came originally from Iddo, and was introduced by the ten sons of the Olofin, whose successors still wear similar caps.

“Some little time after the Olofin’s death there began the peaceful penetration into [Eko] Lagos of settlers from Benin. The Binis probably realised that they would not be able to occupy [Eko] Lagos by force, as they had already been so decisively beaten in their attacks on Iddo, and it is thought that they were also prevented from further aggression by superstitious fear, the dying wife of the Olofin having pronounced a terrible curse on any further invaders from Benin. Whatever may have been the reason, the Binis arrived with no great show of force, and permission was asked of the [Eko] Lagos people for them to land.

“Furthermore, a ‘confidential’ colonial report of the British Intelligence Division entitled ‘Précis of Information Concerning the Colony of Lagos, Together with Notes on the Neighbouring Native Territories,’ compiled in February 1888, unequivocally admits the Awori’s founding role of Eko, Lagos.

“This British document, which was printed for the archives of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, outlines the arrival of the Bini immigrant group (among other non-native immigrant groups) into Lagos. These non-native groups, such as the Bini group, were able to settle-in on the island only after their sought permission to land was granted by the Awori natives. European coastal trading activities had by circa 1570s transformed the Eko area into a focal point of considerable importance. This development drew in non-native immigrant trading groups such as the Bini group.

“All of the above historical information which were collected from the historical traditions of the natives, by the British authorities evidently establish the following facts:

“That the Awori (a subgroup of the Yoruba ethnic group) are the autochthonous people of Eko (Lagos), as well as the founders of Eko, Lagos.

“That the Bini trading group who visited the area centuries later, and got allotted a piece of the island to encamp (as was done for others) have nothing to do with the founding of Eko, Lagos.

“In addition to the foregoing historical facts regarding the founding of Eko, we wish to shed light on another often-misrepresented aspect of our history. This pertains to the identity of the historical Ashipa — the progenitor of the royal dynasty of the Eko kingdom.

“This Ashipa is identified without any trace of uncertainty in the classical Awori historical traditions as a Yoruba noble (Awori) from Isheri-Olofin. This historical fact is also documented in the same early records of Lagos history already cited above. The same information is also contained in other early records of Lagos history such as the ‘Notes of Evidence tendered by Mr. Herbert Macaulay, C.E., At the Commission of Inquiry. Re: The Succession to the House of Docemo’ in the year 1920.

“The marital-alliance of this Isheri chief (Ashipa) with the family of the then Benin Oba produced the first crowned-king of Eko, King Ado. However, we must stress that while King Ado’s ancestry traces also to the then Benin oba through King Ado’s mother; this issue from the marital-cum-political alliance does not confer the founding right of Eko (Lagos) upon Benin kingdom or the Bini people; neither does Ashipa’s tribute of gratitude to his royal-political patron & in-law confer such right.

“As has been demonstrated from the original received traditions of Lagos which are also referenced to the earliest official records of Lagos history, it becomes clear that it is blatantly erroneous and categorically misleading to even suggest that Benin kingdom founded any part of Lagos. No! Not an ‘inch’ of Lagos was founded by the Benin kingdom or the Bini people.

“Furthermore, the present Benin Oba’s snide remark at His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba AdeyeyeEnitanOgunwusi (Ojaja II) will not be overlooked. Not only was the remark disrespectful to the person of a permanent Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), a council of which the Benin oba is merely a member; it is also couched with grave historical fallacy. We demand an unreserved apology for this sacrilegious incivility and blatant insult to the cradle of the Yoruba civilisation.

“We strongly urge the Benin Oba to, going forward, desist from making statements such as this which are not only false (as have been demonstrated), but also have the potential to stir up irreparable inter-ethnic strife capable of setting Nigeria on the path of irreversible disharmony & potential balkanization; especially as we are all only slowly recovering as a Nation from the ugly discords of the 2023 elections.

“We stand firm in our commitment to preserving and promoting the historical truth and call for a respectful acknowledgment of the same by all parties. We also demand a retraction of this fallacious statement from the Benin oba, and we insist on an unreserved apology to all Awori sons, daughters, kith & kin; His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife; and the Yoruba race as a whole.”