POLITICIZATION OF BSUTH ENDANGERS PATIENTS
…The CMD, Dr. Hwande, Should Recuse Himself From the Position
The Network for Transparent Governance (NTG), strongly condemns the ongoing politicization, mismanagement, and gross misconduct taking place at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) under the leadership of Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr. Stephen Hwande.
One such deplorable incident occurred on Friday, May 2, 2025, when the CMD took journalists on a tour of the hospital in a media display sponsored with public funds, which could have been utilized to purchase medical items for the treatment of patients. During the media show, Dr. Hwande sounded like an aspirant on the rostrum of a political party at a campaign event. Hwande obviously forgot that he is heading an institution where the highest standards of professional conduct, diligence, and discipline are required.
It is disheartening that BSUTH, a noble institution and one of the largest medical facilities in northern Nigeria, entrusted with the healthcare needs of Benue people and other Nigerians, has been reduced to a political platform in the last two years under Hwande’s leadership.
Instead of prioritizing the health and well-being of patients, Dr. Hwande has chosen to engage in media shows, propaganda, and empty rhetoric, portraying an illusion of progress that is far from reality. The truth, as clearly demonstrated by the deplorable conditions at BSUTH under his leadership, paints a different picture – a picture marked by neglect, decay, and a complete failure to maintain and improve the facilities he inherited, thereby hindering the hospital’s ability to deliver basic healthcare services to the public.
Since Dr. Hwande’s assumption of office, the teaching hospital has deteriorated into a state of abandonment. The “performance” of the CMD is only visible on social media. Patients are dying from preventable ailments due to the lack of essential facilities such as water and electricity. Basic amenities like sanitation facilities are in a dilapidated condition, posing severe health risks to patients, staff, and visitors alike.
Instead of addressing these fundamental issues, Dr. Hwande and his team have been preoccupied with self-promotion in the media, thereby diverting attention from their responsibilities.
It must be emphasized that the politicization of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital is not only unprofessional but also dangerous. This unfortunate act is undermining the integrity of the hospital and eroding public confidence in BSUTH, as many patients are being forced to seek treatment elsewhere out of fear of the unknown.
The blatant partisanship exhibited by Dr. Hwande has created an atmosphere of apprehension and discrimination, discouraging many from seeking medical attention at the hospital. Such misconduct by a man who should be a neutral and fair-minded professional is threatening the very vision the founding fathers of BSUTH had for establishing it as an impartial healthcare institution.
Reliable information available to NTG shows that there is stinking corruption at BSUTH under Dr. Hwande with medical supplies invoices printed on non-existent equipment which the current management claims to have purchased. Hwande has been depriving BSUTH to feed his private health facilities in town. He inflates medical bills at BSUTH to be beyond the common people and he has zero regard for accountability.
The latest example of the stench of corruption oozing from BSUTH under Dr. Hwande came to light when he inadvertently revealed during the media tour that Governor Alia released a whopping N1.6 billion just for the running of a water line from the Water Board to the hospital. This is only one instance of the fraud taking place under Hwande at BSUTH and by extension the Alia administration.
*OUR DEMANDS*
a) Dr. Stephen Hwande should either recuse himself from the position of BSUTH CMD to fully engage in partisan politics or be relieved of his appointment to allow a competent and unbiased medical professional to take over and restore the hospital’s reputation.
b) The hospital management should be held accountable for the current state of neglect and mismanagement, with appropriate sanctions imposed where necessary.
c) We urge the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC), and other relevant regulatory authorities to investigate the conduct and performance of Dr. Hwande at BSUTH. The unprofessional conduct and politicization of a public healthcare institution undermine the credibility of the medical profession and threaten the health and safety of the people of Benue State and Nigeria as a whole.
d) We call on Governor Hyacinth Alia to call Dr. Hwande to order to concentrate on his duties as the CMD of BSUTH or ask him to resign and move to the political arena where his heart currently lies.
Healthcare is a sacred trust that transcends politics. It is imperative that those tasked with the responsibility of managing health institutions uphold professionalism and integrity in the delivery of services. The current situation at BSUTH demands urgent intervention to restore the hospital’s credibility and ensure that it serves the genuine health needs of Benue people, free from partisan inclinations.
Signed:
Dennis Agema
President
Network for Transparent Governance (NTG)
