By Francis Nansak Lafia
Association of Resident Doctors Federal Medical Center Keffi have threatened to down tool should the federal government of Nigeria fail to secure the release of their colleague Dr Ganiyat Popoola and her nephew.
The ARD on Thursday held a solidarity match calling on all authorities concerned to ensure the safety and release of the female doctor and her nephew who had stayed in the dens of their abductors for over seven months now.
Speaking to our Correspondent in an interview immediately after their solidarity procession which started from the ARD Secretariat to the administrative block of the FMC Keffi,the president of the association Dr Dabot Theophilus said Dr Ganiyat’s home at Kaduna was invaded and she was kidnapped along side her husband and her nephew, but even after the payment of ransom which led to the release of her husband , Dr Ganiyat Popoola and her relation were held back by the kidnappers.
“This is why we in federal medical center have joined our other sister branches across the country to break out silence over the continuous stay of our sister and colleague in the hands of kidnapper.
” It is quite sad and shocking that the issue of kidnapping has not stopped in Nigeria ,we are fortunate that her husband has been released months back but Dr Ganiyat is still in the hands of her kidnappers with her nephew even after payment of a handsome amount as ransom.Dr Ganiyat is someone’s wife, mother and someones sister, apart from that she is a Nigerian.
“We are not alone in this peaceful demonstration as it is a mandate given to us by our National body ,that is the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) for a match in solidarity with our sister in order to enable her freedom” Dr Theophilus narrated.
He further said should her detention by the kidnappers persist, they will be left with no option but to down tool, saying there was an initial ultimatum ,but some factors were considered and that slowed down the earlier action.
According to him “Yes we gave a two weeks ultimatum earlier which has elapsed but we considered other factors such as the hunger protest that lasted for over a week, if not we would have down tooled, so because of that we have decided to extend the ultimatum by another two weeks and if nothing is done we are going to proceed on industrial action, but before that a meeting will be called by NARD to give us directive” Dr Dabot posited.
Addressing the resident doctors in front of the administrative block, the Acting Head of Administration Mr Jibrin Bawa on behalf of the management expressed concern and sympathy with Nigeria doctors over the continuous detention of their colleague who was kidnapped for over seven months.
” This is very painful and unthinkable of any reasonable Nigerian that a lady would be in the hands of unknown persons for over seven months. So management is in total support of your peaceful demonstration which I pray that the authority concerned would heed to your voices and ensure that she is released unhurt” ” He said.
Also , the Head of ServiCom ,Dr Jonathan Isa in his words said” It is not palatable and very very unfortunate what has happened to someone who is a mother, a wife ,a sister and someones daughter .I heard in a meeting where the issue of this particular lady was discussed. So in my opinion, this solidarity match is coming up at the right time and I pray that it will get to our leaders to ensure that not just Dr Ganiyat but all Nigerians in captivity by kidnappers will be released.
New National Star reported that the demonstrating resident doctor carried placards and chanting solidarity songs with inscriptions as” Free Dr Ganiyat Now, Help Bring Back Ganiyat, Help find Dr Ganiyat . Agonizing Months and Days in Captivity ,we demand Dr Ganiyat immediate release and freedom, among others.
However, the demonstration did not hamper their duty as the president Dr Dabot wished them a safe working hours as they returned to their various duty posts.