UBTH: Doctors canvass support for Obaseki as CMD
As the seat of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) continues to remain vacant, stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to eschew ethnic politics and appoint the best candidate for the office, from among those who emerged most successful at the recently conducted interview for applicants.
Some doctors and medical experts at UBTH, who spoke condition of anonymity, said the saddle of leadership of the tertiary hospital should not be a matter of ethnic politics but based on competence and professionalism.
According to them, the outcome of the recently conducted interview by the Federal Government reliably confirmed that Dr. Darlington Obaseki, who is the acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, emerged overall best, with the others coming behind, adding that Obaseki should be appointed and not playing to ethnic sentiments.
Among the three shortlisted by the Federal Government are Dr. Darlington Obaseki, who is the first on the list and Prof. Sylvester Idogun, a professor of Chemical Pathology, as well as Prof. Alfred Ogbemudia, an Orthopaedic surgeon.
Both Dr. Darlington Obaseki and Prof. Alfred Ogbemudia are from Edo South Senatorial District, while Prof. Sylvester Idogun, hails from Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State.
It was gathered that no fewer than fifteen applicants in the race for the position of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) have successfully indicated interest and passed through the interview process conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health.
The latest is that the among the fifteen applicants, two applicants voluntarily withdrew and another two disqualified from the race on account age factor, leaving Dr. Obaseki as the best candidate for the number one office in the hospital.
Dr. Darlington Obaseki is the acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital following the successful completion of two terms in office and exit of the immediate past Chief Medical Director, Prof. Michael Ibadin.
Others who vied for the position include Prof. Clement Osime; Prof. Gabriel Ofouvwe; Prof. Victor Ekanem; Prof. Anthony Okonkwo; Prof. Godwin Bazuaye; Dr. Casmir Omuemu; Dr. Osahon Enabulele and Prof. Ernest Omoti, immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Edo State branch.
