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Psychiatric test for political office holders unnecessary – Neuro expert

By Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin
16 July 2017   |   4:29 am
A former National President of Nigerian Society of Neurological Sciences (NSNS), Professor Adesola Ogunniyi, has sharply criticised those canvassing pre-neurological/psychiatric tests...

A former National President of Nigerian Society of Neurological Sciences (NSNS), Professor Adesola Ogunniyi, has sharply criticised those canvassing pre-neurological/psychiatric tests for elected representatives in government as ignoramus in mental health management.

Ogunniyi, at the 49th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the NSNS in Ilorin, yesterday, said many factors that trigger mental health instability in man would not manifest, until his status has been boosted.

The ex-NSNS boss, a professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and Consultant Neurologist to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, said: “I am not sure subjecting politicians to psychiatric tests before election would help us out in whatever way we want to look at it.

“It will be difficult to achieve a 100 percent success in this respect. Though I am only an expert in neurology, some of the cases associated with psychiatry often manifest with development in status or significant increment in wages or profits of the sufferers.”

Ogunniyi, who advised persons, whose parents or grand parents had suffered any neuro or psychiatric disorders, to seek prompt medical advice, noted that the disease or disorder is cumbersome to eradicate from offspring. He said political office holders should be made accountable to the electorate to curb profligacy.

The senior medical practitioner warned against abuse of drugs and alcohol, just as he cautioned youths against peer pressures. He listed some of the early symptoms of health disorder to include: withdrawal syndrome, aggression and unnecessary craving for material things, “as if such is a matter of life and death.”

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