Chief Dr. Henry Onwe, the Chairman, Cross River State Business Men’s Forum has called for caution over the motion by the House of Representatives urging the Federal Government to suspend the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Chief Medical Director, Dr Ikpeme A. Ikpeme.
In a press statement made available to newsmen in Calabar on Friday, High Chief Henry Onwe emphasised that the need for caution on the matter became necessary following the failure of the House of Representatives to carry out any investigation before adopting the motion moved by the member representing Afikpo South/Afikpo North federal constituency of Ebonyi State, Mr Iduma Igariwey.
He said recent public discussions surrounding internship placement at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) have raised serious concerns, particularly claims that the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, acted on ethnic considerations in dealing with some medical graduates. As a concerned citizen of Cross River State, and having followed the public discourse closely over the last fortnight, acting on those allegations without careful investigation would be counter productive.
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“The impulsive call by the House of Representatives on the Federal Government to suspend the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Chief Medical Director, Dr Ikpeme A. Ikpeme based on the adoption on Thursday, of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Afikpo South/Afikpo North Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State, Mr Iduma Igariwey is hasty, hash and unrealistic.”
High Chief Onwe insisted that for a matter that involves a body of the status of the National Assembly, painstaking investigation ought to be carried out before reaching any decision or taking any action.
“To reach a decision that is without bias or error, there is compelling need for the House of Representatives to carry out thorough investigation where all the parties involved in the matter are given opportunity to fully express themselves and state their position the way it affects them before a decision is reached or an action is taken for the purpose of equity and, fairplay and justice.”
From information available, there is no indication or evidence that the affected House Officers had any direct interaction with the CMD concerning their internship placement. The claim as implied in their complaint to Mr Oseni, that they had a meeting with him is being contested. So who exactly were they dealing with?”
There is also no evidence that he made any statement formal or informal, suggesting that anyone was rejected, whether on tribal grounds or otherwise. It is, therefore, unsettling that an accusation of ethnic bias is being acted upon in the Federal House of Representatives without clear proof or firsthand engagement. No matter what is in the public and media space, it must be understood that Dr Ikpeme is the only person authorized to speak on behalf of UCTH which the House of Representatives did not contact to speak on the issue.”
Making reference to the Nigerian Constitution, Dr Onwe stated that the foundation of this country is built on natural justice, equity and fairplay to all sections of the country whether a majority or minority tribe or ethnic group.
“It is on this basis that Section 14, subsection 3 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) primarily emphasises the Federal Character Principle in all aspects of the country’s activities. That section of the Constitution mandates that the composition of any organ of government and its agencies MUST reflect Nigeria’s diversity.This is to promote national unity, cohesion and preventing the dominance of any state, ethnic, or sectional groups in public appointments and affairs.”
Chief insisted in the statement that for any decision to be reached, the lawmakers ought to sought answers to the following questions:
(a) who authorised the postings
(b) What criteria was used in effecting the postings
(c)How come 99% of the persons posted to one federal institution are from one section of the country
(c) Are there no qualified persons from other sections of the country that ought to be posted alongside these ones from one section of the country?
(e) What is to be done to ensure equity and national spread in line with the principle of federal character in the postings”.
He stated that answers to these questions which would ordinarily not have taken much time to unravel could have appropriately guided the House of Representatives to take a far reaching decision that would provide lasting solutions on the matter and also guide against subsequent issues of that kind emanating in the future.
Chief Onwe also found fault with the claim by the House of Representatives that the CMD’s action is contributing to brain drain insisting that there is no guarantee that after their housemanship, the said medical doctors would remain in Nigeria to undertake their medical practices. He said doctors who are taking flight out of Nigeria daily also did their housemanship in the country, yet they are leaving the country in droves therefore, heaping the blame for doctors shortage in the country’s healthcare system on Dr Ikpeme amounts to giving a dog a bad name just to hang it.
He said further that that the House of Representatives in its haste to take a decision relied solely on media reports and did not find time to call the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, or Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in Calabar to ascertain the veracity of media reports before reaching a decision on the motion moved by Igarewey.
“The House of Representatives copiously quoted media reports during deliberations on the motion and came to a conclusion and went ahead to urge the federal government to suspend the UCTH Chief Medical Director. The Reps members are not even abreast of the fact that the doctors in question have since commenced their training over a week ago in the hospital but still belatedly called for the suspension of the CMD.”
Taking a swipe at Igarewey, Chief Onwe said the lawmaker seems to lose sight or is ignorant of the fact that over the years, the UCTH has consistently maintained fairness, brotherly disposition in the appointment of top medical doctors, nurses and paramedics of Igbo origin to positions of authority in the UCTH.
Claims of ethnic discrimination contained in Igarewey’s Motion is are unfounded and inconsistent with the known administrative record of the hospital under Dr Ikpeme and even under past CMD’s as UCTH operates as a federal institution that reflects Nigeria’s diversity. Staff appointments and training opportunities cut across ethnic and regional lines. A notable example is the recent appointment in November 2025, of an Igbo woman as Head of Nursing Services by this same CMD and administration, a fact that challenges the narrative of tribal exclusion.
“Most of those appointed serve next in rank to the CMD. This is principally derived from the friendly and accommodating disposition of the average Cross Riverian who sees other ethic tribes as brothers and sisters even against the backdrop that people of the state have not been fairly treated in some places.”
In conclusion, the respected High Chief called on members of the House of Representatives from Cross River State to rise up to their role and stop any injustice against Dr Ikpeme by ensuring that the House of Representatives returns to its Motion on the issue and do the right thing by carrying out thorough investigation of the saga surrounding the current posting of housemanship doctors to the UCTH before reaching a decision.
“Also, it is pertinent at this juncture to call on the federal government to stay any action against the CMD based on the call by the House of Representatives Motion of Thursday, January 26, on the issue. As citizens, we owe it to ourselves and to the country to seek truth, promote dialogue, and allow due process to prevail especially in matters capable of deepening divisions.”
