Herbalists under the umbrella of the National Union of Medical Herbal Practitioners, NUMHP Ebonyi State Chapter have warned traditional rulers to stop interfering with their activities in the state.
This was contained in a communique endorsed by Trad. Dr. Sunday Nwaji - State Board of Trustee Chairman, Trad. Dr. Stephen Ndubuisi Nwogha – the NUMHP State Chairman, alongside Trad. Dr. Maduabuchi Ojiugwo – former State Chairman, Trad. Dr. Victor Onuoha – State Secretary, Trad. Dr. Obiageri Oyibe – State Women Leader, Trad. Dr. John Nwaelem – State Treasurer, and Trad. Dr. Godlead Okorie – State Chief Task Force.
The communique read in full: "Arising from an important urgent emergency meeting of the National Union of Medical Herbal Practitioners, Ebonyi State Chapter held at the Union’s Secretariat Abakaliki on 11th December 2024, members unanimously resolved that:
"Traditional Rulers in Ebonyi State should stop interfering with the activities of the Medical Herbal Practitioners in the state as their meddlesomeness has created disunity in the affairs of the union.
"The union urged them to concentrate on their assigned mandate of being the father of their various communities and custodian of the people’s culture.
"That those in corridors of power as government appointees should please focus on the implementation of government policies and programs rather than delving into the administration of the Medical Herbal Practitioners Union activities as their involvement will not only polarize the union but heat the polity.
"The union has set up “Task Force” to apprehend those parading themselves as leaders and members of an unrecognized body other than the National Union of Medical Herbal Practitioners in the state, which has national recognition.
"The union warned that those who go extorting money from uniformed members should henceforth stop as the union will arrest and hand over the culprits to the law enforcement agency for prosecution."
