The Benue Advocacy Network (BAN) has challenged the Chief Medical Director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Dr. Stephen Hwande, to provide verifiable evidence of claims that a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine was acquired under his leadership.
The call comes in response to reports circulated by an anonymous group, identified as “Govaliamediavanguard,” which credited Dr. Hwande with replacing the MRI machine allegedly procured by the immediate past administration of Governor Samuel Ortom.
In a statement signed by its president, Enoch Bemshima Ortese, BAN described the claim as “falsehood” and “propaganda” allegedly orchestrated by those aligned with the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia to discredit the achievements of the previous government.
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“It is on record that the Ortom administration acquired and installed a state-of-the-art MRI machine and two dialysis machines from Siemens, which were fully functional and generating revenue for the hospital prior to the transition of government,” the statement said.
According to BAN, the MRI facility operated 24 hours daily and attracted patients from surrounding states including Enugu, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Taraba, boosting both hospital service and internally generated revenue.
The group criticized the current BSUTH management, accusing them of prioritizing social media praise over genuine improvements in service delivery. They also described a publicized incident involving alleged expired drug discoveries as “stage-managed” and intended to defame the previous administration.
BAN insisted that if Dr. Hwande’s management indeed replaced the MRI machine, they must publicly present proof — including the purchase date, manufacturer, and cost — to validate the claim. Otherwise, the group said, he should “remain silent.”
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The advocacy group also warned the current administration against further attempts to “rewrite history with lies and propaganda,” urging the government to focus on service delivery and accountability.
As of press time, Dr. Hwande and BSUTH management have not issued a response to the challenge.
