Opinion

Doctors’ Strike: How Justifiable?

Published

10 years ago

January 25, 2016

A few days ago,
members of the Rivers State chapter of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), embarked on a three-day warning strike following the abduction of two of their members.
Although the association did not proceed with an indefinite strike as earlier threatened because the kidnapped doctors were released, it has become a trend that whenever doctors are kidnapped, their colleagues threaten to down tools in protest. This has drawn reactions from members of the public some of who bared their minds to our Deouty Editor (Feature), Calista Ezeaku. Our photographer, Ken Nwiueh Donatus captured their images.

Madam Apolonia Onouobodo- Civil Servant
My opinion is that for the fact that doctors are being kidnapped, should not make doctors to go on strike for the whole public to begin to die. I think I should have suggested that they should take their protest to government house and the House of Assembly. The Governor and the law makers will then help them to see how those people can be brought out from wherever they are being held. Embarking on strike cannot solve the problem. It was not the members of the public or the patients that sent the kidnappers. Everybody in the state is facing the same problem. So their own case should be handled the way other cases are handled so that sick persons in the hospitals will not perish because of two people that were kidnapped by criminals.
Anyway it is a sympathetic situation. It is not good that doctors are being kidnapped but there is nothing we can do. We cannot help the situation because that is what our state has been turned into. So, I think it is good that the doctors assist the public, resumed work while they continue seeking ways of how their colleagues will be protected.
They should go to the Governor and the police and discuss with them on how doctors in the state should be protected. If it means signing an agreement, they should do so. They should state what they want, if it is keeping armed men in their homes, in their offices so that this thing does not occur again, better. They should demand for more protection in their homes and work places. That is my own advice.

Pastor Opusunju Godspower
It is not fair for doctors to go on strike but they had to do that because of the circumstance they found themselves. It is not fair actually for the kidnappers to be kidnapping them. They are rendering humanitarian services. They provide health care for everybody. So it is not good for them to go on strike but they had to do so because of the circumstances they found themselves. They are not happy because two of their members were kidnapped and many other doctors have been kidnapped in the past. I don’t know why they should be kidnapping them because it is not fair. The other day I heard there were so many patients in the hospital which could not receive treatment because the doctors were not there and the patients were crying. It is not fair. I think the people involved in this kidnapping should think about it because their actions can affect their sisters, mothers and other people close to them.
The doctors are for the society, it is not good for them to be kidnapped. So, partially I am in support of the strike because they cannot be keeping quite like that. This thing must stop. Strike may not be the solution it may make government hear them more and even those people that are kidnapping can hear them also.
The police and other security operatives in the state should also buckle up. They should ensure that they provide adequate security for the doctors and other persons in the state. The doctors need to be protected because of the services they are rendering to the nation. So the security operatives should try and reduce the rate of kidnapping in the state, particularly the kidnapping of doctors so that there will be peace and the hospital will be moving ahead.

Nwali Florence – Civil Servant
Well it is not all that right for doctors to abandon their jobs but what the kidnappers did was not good. May be other doctors are afraid because they don’t know whose turn it will be next. So those in authority should look into the incessant kidnapping of doctors. Doctors are there for everybody including the kidnappers. When they are sick and are at the point of death it is doctors that they will call to cater for them. Is it not so? So it is not good for them to kidnap doctor. It is equally not good for doctors to abandon all the patients in the hospital who need their attention and go on strike. So I will urge the doctors to be considerate of the innocent, poor patients who cannot afford to go to private hospitals, and avoid strike actions. And as they do that, the police and other bodies incharge of security should tighten security around the doctors and within the hospitals so that the doctors will be safe and happy to do their jobs.

Mr Sunny Nnaleh – Businessman
The doctors strike is a welcome idea because kidnapping is getting too much in Rivers State. By this move I believe the authorities will listen and the culprits will think about their criminal acts and may decide to stop it. Kidnapping will stop if government begins to take proper care of the youths. I believe the reason why there is high rate of kidnapping and other crime is because there is lack of employment in the country for the youths. I know the doctors would not be on strike for ever but their action should serve as a wake up call for those in authority and those in charge of security in the state to do something drastic about the constant kidnapping in the state.
Having said that, I will also appeal to the doctors not to always consider strike as a way of driving homes their demands. They should not forget that the lives of so many people in the state are in their hands.

Miss Jassica Charlse – Applicant
Personally, I don’t think it is in the interest of anybody for doctors to go on strike. So, whatever it takes to secure the release of the abducted doctors should be done. Doctors should be given adequate security so that they can carry out their duties effectively. Don’t forget that these people work round the clock. They go on midnight calls and all that and if there is no security they can’t go and attend to patient whenever they are needed and this could have disastrous effect on the society.
Moreover, NMA is an association which like every other association, is bound to protect the interest of her members. So you cannot expect them to fold their hands and watch their members being kidnapped everyday. They have to protest.
But again, many people – Lawyers, radio presenters, journalists, corpers, lecturers, businessmen, politicians, and others are also being kidnapped and if every of their associations should down tools, what will happen to our state? So I think the doctors should have a rethink, consider other ways of pushing their demands while the security agencies should wake up to the responsibility of protecting lives and properties in Rivers State and the nation at large.
Miss Irene Barinee – Nurse
I don’t think it is a good thing given the doctors to go on strike because that makes patients and other health workers to suffer. I remember the last time the resident doctors went on strike how we suffered to cater for the numerous pateints and of course many of them died. In as much as I condemn the incessant kidnapping of doctors, I don’t believe strike is a way out of the situation.
They can persuade the state government and the police to do something about the safety of doctors and other health workers because not only doctors are at risk.
I know many doctors use the period of strike to divert patients to their private clinics which is not fair. They cannot tell me that as they embark on strike they will not be going to their private clinics so what is the essence of the whole strike action? Is it just to punish poor patients who cannot afford the exhorbitant bills at private clinics? That is not fair. So, I pray that the doctors should be considerate. The patients need them.
I also want to appeal to the state government to get to the root cause of this crime in the state and take all necessary steps to curb it. We cannot continue to live in fears like this.

Opinion

Beyond Physical Intimacy In Relationship

Published

1 month ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”Love is not sustained by sharing the same bed or displaying affection in public; it is preserved by the daily investment of trust, understanding, empathy, and meaningful conversations. Two people can be physically close yet emotionally distant, because lasting relationships are built not merely on intimacy, but on the consistent nurturing of hearts that remain genuinely connected.”

In an age where relationships are often measured by appearances, social media posts, and outward displays of affection, many couples are discovering a painful truth: physical closeness does not always translate into emotional connection. Two people can share the same bed, hold hands in public, and even maintain a seemingly happy home, yet remain strangers to each other’s deepest thoughts, fears, dreams, and struggles. This reality is captured in the thought-provoking message that emotional intimacy goes far beyond physical intimacy. While physical attraction may ignite a relationship, emotional connection is what sustains it. When emotional bonds weaken, relationships begin to suffer quietly, often long before any visible signs of trouble emerge.

One of the greatest misconceptions about love is the belief that affection alone is enough to keep a relationship healthy. In reality, genuine love requires much more than romantic gestures and physical presence. It requires understanding, communication, trust, empathy, and the willingness to be vulnerable with one another. Without these elements, couples may coexist rather than truly connect. Many relationships today are experiencing a silent crisis. Couples are spending more time together physically but less time engaging meaningfully. Busy schedules, work pressures, financial challenges, digital distractions, and personal ambitions have reduced many conversations to routine exchanges about bills, children, responsibilities, and daily survival. The deeper conversations that nurture emotional intimacy are gradually disappearing.

As a result, many partners feel unseen, unheard, and misunderstood. They may be present in the relationship physically, but emotionally they feel isolated. This emotional distance often creates frustration, resentment, and loneliness. Ironically, a person can feel more alone in a relationship lacking emotional connection than when they are physically alone. The danger of emotional disconnection is that it rarely announces itself loudly. Unlike dramatic conflicts or public scandals, it develops gradually. It starts when couples stop sharing their feelings openly. It grows when assumptions replace communication. It deepens when one partner feels consistently ignored, dismissed, or taken for granted. Over time, the relationship loses its warmth and vitality.This explains why some marriages and relationships that appear perfect from the outside eventually collapse unexpectedly.

Observers are often shocked because they only saw the physical togetherness, not the emotional distance that had been growing for years beneath the surface. Relationships do not usually break down overnight; they deteriorate through the accumulation of unresolved emotional gaps. Building emotional intimacy, therefore, requires deliberate effort. It is not a one-time achievement but a daily commitment. Emotional connection is built through consistent acts of attention, kindness, and understanding. It develops when partners genuinely listen to each other without judgment. It grows when people feel safe enough to express their fears, disappointments, and aspirations without fear of criticism or rejection. Trust plays a crucial role in this process. Emotional intimacy flourishes in an environment where honesty is valued and confidentiality is respected. When trust is broken, emotional walls quickly rise.

Rebuilding those walls requires patience, sincerity, and a willingness to heal together. Another important ingredient is empathy. Every individual wants to feel understood. Sometimes partners do not necessarily need solutions to their problems; they simply need someone who listens and acknowledges their feelings. A relationship becomes stronger when both individuals strive to understand each other’s perspectives rather than merely defend their own positions. Quality time is equally important. In a world dominated by smartphones and endless digital distractions, couples must intentionally create moments of genuine interaction. Simple activities such as sharing a meal, taking a walk, discussing personal goals, or praying together can strengthen emotional bonds significantly.

These moments communicate an important message: “You matter to me.” Respect also forms the foundation of emotional closeness. Partners who consistently speak respectfully to each other, even during disagreements, create a healthier environment for intimacy to thrive. Emotional connection cannot flourish where there is constant criticism, ridicule, or contempt. Perhaps the most important lesson is that emotional intimacy is not built by grand gestures alone. It is cultivated through small, consistent actions repeated over time. A thoughtful conversation, a sincere apology, a word of encouragement, or a genuine expression of appreciation can have a profound impact on the health of a relationship. Ultimately, the strength of any relationship lies not merely in physical proximity but in emotional accessibility. The question is not whether two people occupy the same space, but whether they truly know and understand each other.

Lasting love is sustained when hearts remain connected even amid life’s challenges. As society continues to grapple with increasing relationship difficulties, couples must remember that emotional intimacy is not optional; it is essential. Physical attraction may bring people together, but emotional connection keeps them together. It is built daily through communication, trust, empathy, respect, and intentional effort. When emotional intimacy is nurtured, relationships become more resilient, fulfilling, and meaningful. And when two hearts remain genuinely connected, love does not merely survive—it flourishes

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Opinion

Yahoo Culture And Nigeria’s Moral Fabric

Published

1 month ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Quote “A society that celebrates wealth without questioning its source gradually breeds a generation that despises hard work, glorifies fraud, and ultimately destroys itself from within.”

Nigeria’s battle against insecurity is not limited to terrorism. Another destructive force—popularly known as “Yahoo”—has steadily eaten into the nation’s moral and social fabric. Internet fraud, which has become synonymous with “Yahoo” in local parlance, poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s image, economy, and future. The activities of internet fraudsters have tarnished the country’s reputation globally. As a result, many law-abiding Nigerians abroad or seeking legitimate opportunities overseas often face suspicion and discrimination because of the notoriety created by these criminal elements. Originally, Yahoo was merely the name of an internet search engine created in 1994 by Stanford graduates Jerry Yang and David Filo. In Nigeria, however, the term has evolved into a culture driven by greed and materialism. It has become a disturbing subculture with its own language and values.

Expressions such as “mugu fall, guy man chop” celebrate the exploitation of unsuspecting victims, portraying fraud as intelligence and deceit as success. Yahoo boys are notorious for flaunting their ill-gotten wealth. They parade expensive cars, spend lavishly, and often display arrogance towards elders and society. Their extravagant lifestyle has even been blamed for rising rents and increased cost of living in cities such as Port Harcourt. Following crackdowns in Delta and Edo states, there have been concerns over the growing presence of these elements in Rivers State. What is particularly disturbing is that many of these young men and women, some as young as teenagers, have no legitimate source of income yet live in luxury. Their actions have ruined businesses, impoverished victims, and in some cases pushed people into depression, heart attacks, and suicide.

Yet, they continue to operate openly with frightening confidence. The prevalence of Yahoo culture reflects the deep moral decay in society. Sadly, some families not only tolerate the illicit activities of their children but celebrate and pray for their success. Anyone who condemns the practice often becomes the target of abuse and ridicule. A Port Harcourt-based pastor once experienced fierce backlash from Yahoo sympathisers after speaking against the menace. Nigeria’s permissive environment has unintentionally allowed the practice to flourish. Weak institutions, compromised law enforcement, and families unwilling to question the source of sudden wealth among unemployed youths have all contributed to the problem. The virtues of patience, diligence, and integrity are steadily being replaced by greed and a desperate desire for quick riches.

Perhaps one of the greatest casualties of Yahoo culture is education. The value of years of hard work and academic excellence has been diminished. Many young people now dismiss formal education as a scam, while apprenticeship and vocational training are increasingly looked down upon. The obsession with easy money has encouraged school dropout rates and undermined the culture of honest enterprise. An even more disturbing dimension is the emergence of what many describe as “Yahoo Phase II”—a phenomenon associated with ritual practices and occult beliefs. Although stories surrounding these practices are often difficult to verify, reports of ritual killings, organ harvesting, and other horrific crimes have heightened public fears. Young people seeking wealth at all costs are said to subject themselves to bizarre and inhumane instructions from self-styled spiritualists, resulting in unimaginable tragedies.

Regardless of the myths and realities surrounding these claims, one fact remains undeniable: the pursuit of wealth without values has devastating consequences. Society is increasingly witnessing cases of substance abuse, mental instability, and mysterious deaths among youths whose lives are built on criminality and desperation. Nigeria cannot afford to remain indifferent while a generation is consumed by greed and moral bankruptcy. Combating Yahoo culture requires more than arrests and prosecutions. Families must instill values of honesty and hard work. Religious leaders, educators, and community leaders must consistently promote integrity. Government institutions must strengthen the rule of law and ensure that crime does not pay. Above all, society must stop celebrating wealth without questioning its source. No nation can attain sustainable development when fraud is admired, hard work is ridiculed, and criminality is rewarded.

The future of Nigeria depends on raising a generation that values character above riches and integrity above material possessions. If this dangerous culture is left unchecked, the consequences will be severe. But if the nation collectively chooses the path of morality, accountability, and industry, there remains hope that the tide can be reversed and the country’s dignity restored.

By; Confidence Adoo

Opinion

Good Health Through Socrates’ Prescription

Published

1 month ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “In an age of advanced medicine and endless health information, the greatest prescription may still be the oldest one: know yourself. True health begins when we understand our bodies, emotions, habits and choices.”

The 21st century has ushered in extraordinary progress in science, technology and medicine. Diseases that once claimed millions of lives can now be prevented or treated. Information is available instantly, while fitness applications, health trackers and modern healthcare facilities have become part of everyday life. Yet, despite these advances, many people continue to struggle with physical illnesses, emotional stress, anxiety, depression and lifestyle-related diseases. This contradiction raises an important question: Why are people becoming increasingly unhealthy in an age of remarkable medical advancement? Part of the answer may lie in the timeless wisdom associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates: “Know thyself.” Though spoken more than two thousand years ago, these words remain profoundly relevant today. They remind us that genuine wellbeing begins with self-understanding.

Knowing oneself goes beyond knowing one’s name, occupation or social status. It involves understanding one’s body, emotions, habits, strengths, weaknesses and aspirations. It means recognizing how daily choices affect physical, mental and emotional health. In many respects, self-knowledge forms the foundation of healthy living. One of the greatest health challenges today is the tendency to ignore warning signs until serious problems emerge. Many people neglect symptoms such as persistent fatigue, poor sleep, chronic stress, unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity. Because they are disconnected from their bodies, they fail to recognize that their health is gradually deteriorating. A person who truly knows himself pays attention to these signals. Such an individual understands which foods nourish the body and which habits undermine health. They recognize when rest is necessary,

when stress levels become dangerous and when professional medical attention should be sought. Self-awareness encourages preventive action long before illness develops. The same principle applies to mental and emotional health. Modern life is filled with pressures. Social media often encourages unhealthy comparisons, while economic challenges, family responsibilities and workplace demands create enormous psychological burdens. Many people suffer silently because they have not learned to understand or manage their emotions. Knowing oneself means recognizing emotional triggers, vulnerabilities and sources of stress. It involves identifying feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger or frustration before they become overwhelming. Self-aware individuals are more likely to seek support, adopt healthy coping mechanisms and maintain emotional balance.

Self-knowledge also promotes discipline. Many of today’s health problems are linked to lifestyle choices. Excessive consumption of processed foods, alcohol abuse, smoking, substance misuse, physical inactivity and poor sleeping habits contribute significantly to disease burdens around the world. Most people are aware of these risks. The challenge is often not a lack of information but a lack of self-understanding. Individuals who understand their motivations, weaknesses and tendencies are better equipped to resist harmful habits and develop healthier routines. In this way, self-knowledge becomes a powerful tool for self-control. Socrates also taught that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” While philosophical in origin, this statement has practical implications for health. Examining one’s life encourages honest reflection. Are we eating wisely? Are we exercising enough?

Are we sleeping adequately? Are we managing stress effectively? Are we maintaining healthy relationships? These are not merely philosophical questions. They are essential components of a healthy lifestyle. Honest answers can reveal habits that require improvement and inspire positive change. Ironically, while technology has made health information more accessible, it has also made self-understanding more difficult. Many people spend hours following social media trends and public personalities while paying little attention to their own health. They know more about celebrities than they know about their blood pressure, sleep quality or emotional wellbeing. A healthier society will require more than modern hospitals and advanced medications. It will require citizens who actively seek to understand themselves. Preventive healthcare begins with personal awareness.

Parents, educators, religious leaders, healthcare professionals and policymakers all have important roles to play in promoting self-awareness. Young people should be taught not only academic subjects but also emotional intelligence, self-reflection, healthy lifestyle habits and personal responsibility. Ultimately, Socrates’ ancient wisdom remains as relevant today as it was centuries ago. A person who understands himself is more likely to make healthy decisions, maintain emotional stability, build resilience and seek help when necessary. The journey to good health does not begin in a hospital, pharmacy or gymnasium. It begins within. As the world continues to confront complex health challenges, perhaps the most powerful prescription requires no expensive technology or medication. It is the enduring wisdom that has stood the test of time: know yourself. In understanding ourselves, we discover one of the surest paths to healthier, happier and more meaningful lives.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi