Prior to the 2023 elections, the Nigerian Medical Association demanded that candidates for governor and president undergo psychological evaluations.
According to the professional organization, candidates’ medical examinations would give a thorough picture of how their bodies and systems compared to others who would assume political office in the nation.
Recall that there had been proposals for candidates to go through medical exams to determine their level of health, with many Nigerians arguing whether or not such a step would be appropriate.
The scandal began in April when Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retired), the head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, pushed political parties to include drug integrity testing in the selection processes for candidates.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, the NMA President, Dr Uche Ojinmah listed the battery of tests that candidates should undergo to ascertain their state of health and fitness for office.
He said, “Simple medical check-ups such as chest X-ray, cardiac echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound scan, urinalysis, kidney function test, liver function test, blood pressure and blood glucose assessment will give one a comprehensive view of the state of the body system.
“Sadly, people applying for top-level jobs like Chief Medical Director or Medical Director in our public service are made to undergo these tests while those contesting for executive and legislative posts don’t.’’
“We also want them to undergo psychiatric evaluation. These shall exhaustively evaluate the people vying for the ultimate job in Nigeria,” the NMA president added.
According to Ojinmah, a professional organization like the NMA might be tasked with creating an impartial panel to conduct medical and psychiatric exams.
He said, “The NMA could be given the responsibility of choosing an independent panel of people who are well known in those different fields to carry out the tests because the problem is that if you allow a government agency like the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria or others, the government in power can influence it.
“So, we will prefer a professional body to be given the responsibility of setting up a panel of renowned specialists in the necessary areas to carry out a clear survey and present the report to the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
The NMA President noted that the medical and psychiatric tests should be made public.
“If a madman is about to be president, we should be told, that is just the truth. We see a lot of things going on with those in power, you will realise that there is an imbalance. So, I think the results should be made public, we have a right to know.
“When they are going to vie for a Medical Director or Chief Medical Director of hospitals, they do most of these tests and those who will take the decision of choosing will see the results.
“So, people are going to be President and they don’t think that we should see their results? We are the ones to make that decision, we should see their results.”
Asked if any candidate who is not medically or mentally fit should be stopped from vying for any position, he said, “It is our position that if you have a mental problem or a neurological problem or you have any organ damaged that may not be treatable, or you are psychiatrically imbalanced, you should not be allowed to lead, you should be stopped. Will you make a madman your traditional ruler? You will not.”
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