Vice President Kashim Shettima has knocked Nigerians who mocked President Bola Tinubu for stumbling during the Democracy Day celebration on June 12. At the event, held at the Eagles Square, Tinubu missed his step while climbing onto a military parade vehicle, leading to a fall that sparked widespread media coverage and ridicule.
During his remarks at a PEBEC Town Hall Meeting at the Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa, Shettima expressed dismay over the negative reactions to Tinubu’s misstep. Deviating from his prepared speech, he berated those who made fun of the President, stating, “When the President stumbled during the June 12 celebration, it is not only disheartening and disenchanting but stultifying and heartbreaking that some of our countrymen were celebrating.”
Shettima emphasised that true leadership is not measured by physical prowess but by the ability to generate effective solutions for the nation. “The hallmark of true leadership is not the ability to lift a bag of cement but the capacity to come up with robust ideas to solve a nation’s problems. President Tinubu means well for the nation, and most importantly, he is imbued with the skill set to drive change in this country,” he asserted.
Drawing parallels to historical figures, Shettima noted, “One of the greatest presidents of the United States was FDR. FDR, with all his health challenges, was able to shepherd the American economy during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Because of the quality of his ideas, America became a superpower.” He also mentioned Mwai Kibaki, whose leadership led Kenya to double-digit growth despite being confined to a wheelchair after an accident.
Shettima concluded with confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, stating, “I can tell you, with all sense of confidence, that the president we have now is a man of ideas, who is robustly imbued with the capacity.”
[6:11 PM, 6/29/2024] Akpan: NMA Akwa Ibom Resolves Leadership Crisis
The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State Branch, Prof. Emem Abraham, announced that the leadership crisis within the association has been resolved. Speaking at a press briefing at the Doctors Mess on Udo Udoma Avenue, Prof. Abraham explained that the NMA national body restored peace after reviewing a report from a delegation investigating the issue.
“The crisis over the purported impeachment of the Chairman and Vice Chairman has been resolved,” Prof. Abraham said. She mentioned that the delegation, led by NMA Vice Presidents, spent three days in Akwa Ibom State meeting with all parties involved in the crisis and the elders of the medical profession.
The national body condemned the impeachment attempt and vindicated the leadership of Prof. Abraham and Vice Chairman Dr. Aniekan Utuk. Additionally, the suspension of the Secretary, Dr. Useneobong Morgan, was lifted, but he and others implicated were referred to the disciplinary committee.
“The national body also lifted the suspension of the Secretary, Dr. Useneobong Morgan. But he was referred to the disciplinary committee set up by the State Executive Committee,” Prof. Abraham stated. She thanked God that all allegations of impropriety and high-handedness were proven baseless.
Prof. Abraham, whose tenure ends next month, urged all doctors in the state to work together to improve the association and healthcare in the state. “We are preparing for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will culminate in the election of new officers,” she added.
Dr. Unyime Ndoh, Public Relations Officer of the NMA Akwa Ibom State Branch, assured the public that all issues leading to the crisis have been settled. “The Chairman is law-abiding, and we are committed to implementing the national body’s resolutions,” Dr. Ndoh said.
The crisis began when Dr. Useneobong Morgan and some members issued a statement of impeachment against the Chairman and Vice Chairman over alleged impropriety and high-handedness after an Ordinary Meeting on June 2, 2024.
