Peter Obi has strongly condemned the EFCC's raid on University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. The former Labour Party presidential candidate posted his criticism on X on Thursday.
Obi said using teargas in a hospital was thoughtless and reckless. He noted that firing canisters endangered both patients and medical staff inside the facility.
EFCC operatives reportedly stormed the hospital to arrest Professor Eyo Ekpe. Ekpe is a cardiothoracic surgeon and deputy chairman of the hospital's medical advisory committee.
According to Obi, the operation compromised safety within the hospital environment. He stressed that such conduct jeopardized the health of sick people and medical personnel.
Obi acknowledged the EFCC's constitutional right to carry out investigations. However, he insisted that the manner in which agencies execute their duties often troubles him deeply.
He emphasized that rule of law forms the foundation of any functioning nation. "The disorderliness allegedly demonstrated by EFCC operatives must not be encouraged," Obi wrote.
Nothing whatsoever justifies deploying teargas inside a hospital, he argued. Obi questioned whether officials truly understand how critical hospitals are to national development.
Citizens deserve respect and dignity, the former candidate insisted. He asked what message authorities send when they arrest a senior professor in such a demeaning manner.
Obi pointed out Nigeria's shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons. The nation has only 80 such specialists for a population of 230 million people.
Ekpe is the sole cardiothoracic surgeon in Akwa Ibom State. His arrest in this fashion, Obi said, sends worrying signals to other dedicated medical professionals.
He called for better conduct from public officials across government agencies. "We must condemn the rascality that characterizes some public offices and bring in civility," Obi concluded.
