From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Medical and non-medical activities in all the government hospitals in Ondo were yesterday grounded as doctors in the employment of the government shut down all hospitals in the state.
Many of the patients receiving treatment in the hospitals were affected by the development as they were left unattended to.
The doctors also staged a peaceful protest to express their anger on the non-payment of their five months salaries by the government.
The medical personnel, including pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists and other allied health workers in the state march round major streets in Ondo town during the protest.
The doctors, who converged on the Mother and Child Hospital, Ondo as early as 7.00am, closed the gate leading to the hospital and prevented any activity from taking place.
The health workers who abandoned their duty posts across the state carried placards with various inscriptions including “Pay our salaries, shall we die before you pay us? We are saving lives, pay our salaries and safe us from hunger,” among others.
The Osemawe of Ondo kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo who addressed the protesters at his palace, said he would personally meet with Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who also is a medical doctor on the plight of the health personnel.
He said the state government could not afford to play with the health of the people of the state, hence the need for instant action on the matter.
However, the health workers vowed to continue with the protest until their five months salaries are fully paid.
Don’t demolish Olorounsogo market, group tells Lagos govt
Head, Campaign and Strategy, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Chijioke Odom, has urged the Lagos State Government to cancel and reverse its plan to demolish Olurunsogo Market in Oshodi.
In a statement signed by Odom, the group enjoined the government to immediately cancel and stop the continued harassment and intimidation of traders with the intention to subdue and subjugate them into submission to the use of state power. The statement reads: “The LASG should establish security, peace and confidence-building platforms and measures such as stakeholders’ dialogue for the sustenance of the peaceful commercial activities that have been on-going in the market for 10 years now.
“The LASG should let the Olorunsogo traders be; encourage them with incentives in acknowledgement of the market’s indelible track-records, but more so in recognition of the ethnic melting point which the market has become in its 10 years of existence.”
The group also demanded that LASG should desist from all actions capable of upsetting the peaceful co-existence and trading activities in the market, including unfounded threats such as the present demolition notices.
which are capable of several deep interpretations with negative consequences.
The LASG, being a product of the mandate of the people, must abide by the rule of law ensuring that all her administrative actions and decisions as they affect her citizens including Olorunsogo market traders are lawful, consistent and equitable.
The group reminded the LASG that it is easier to destroy than to build but they believe that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will listen to the voice of reason because the electorate who voted him into power believe that their willing surrender of authority to him to administer state affairs will be used in the interest of all.