A civil society group in Nigeria’s Kogi State has raised concerns over the involvement of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zoe New Dawn, Engineer Akpa Stephen Achema, in ongoing discussions surrounding healthcare challenges in Ankpa Local Government Area.
The Ankpa Good Governance Vanguard (AGGV) voiced its concerns in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its chairman, Audu Musa, warning against what it described as the politicisation of a sensitive sector.
According to the group, healthcare challenges in Ankpa should not be turned into a media campaign or used for personal or political gain.
“Healthcare is a serious and critical matter that requires sincerity, collaboration and respect for local realities, not propaganda or publicity stunts,” the statement said.
AGGV alleged that individuals who are not deeply rooted in the Ankpa community were being mobilised under the guise of philanthropy, a move it said was capable of creating unnecessary tension in the area.
The group also questioned repeated media reports attributed to Achema announcing plans to establish facilities in Ankpa, including a hospital and a hotel, calling for greater clarity on the location and current status of the proposed projects.
“The public is entitled to ask where these projects are located and whether they truly exist beyond press statements,” the statement added.
While stressing that it was not opposed to genuine support aimed at improving healthcare delivery in Ankpa, AGGV said such interventions must be transparent and free from political undertones, personal branding or hidden agendas.
The group urged individuals and organisations interested in supporting healthcare development in Ankpa to work closely with recognised authorities, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainability and accountability.
AGGV further called on Achema to refrain from actions it said were fuelling controversy around Ankpa’s health challenges, insisting that the community deserved long-term solutions rather than public disputes.
