The circumstances around the arrest and detention of Senator Ike Eweremadu and his wife, in UK over alleged conspiracy to harvest the organ of a minor is not so clear. Perhaps in the next few days we shall know better.
Otherwise the question would have been why does Ike want to beat a drum with an axe?
I am careful not to jump into the issue as if I was present in UK. Oftentimes, social media does not actually give a clear story. The media tells the story differently from the Story Teller himself. It is said that the stick of truth may be overstretched but truth will eventually prevail.
However, are there lessons we can learn from this experience? My answer is a big YES!
It is high time we built hospitals that can withstand and outstand many of the international hospitals that we run to. We have the material and human resources for this project.
Senator Ike Eweremadu is a Nigerian politician and lawyer from Enugu State who has served in the Senate of Nigeria since May 2003. In fact, he was once the deputy senate president yet with many years in power they could not pass a bill for a reputable hospital in Nigeria.
The bill is still there but nobody sees it as a priority because they have access to treatment abroad.
What is actually wrong with us in this country? It is becoming clearer that the problem we refuse to solve in this country come after us not after our death but while we are still alive.
Many African leaders died outside their homeland because of poor hospital conditions.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president was always on routine checkups in Singapore until he died in a hospital in Singapore. With many years as president he did not build a standard hospital that can even manage the health issues of the rich.
Michael Sata, president of Zambia died while in office of undisclosed illness in the United Kingdom on October 28th, 2014.
Malam Bacai Sanha, president of Guinea-Bissau suffered from diabetes and died in Paris after four years as president at the age of 64. Throughout his days in office, he suffered from several health complications and was continually in and out of the hospital. Yet he never thought of a standard and well-equipped hospital for treatment.
Advanced intestinal cancer killed Omar Bongo president of Garbon in June 2009 in Barcelona, Spain, after being in office for 42 consecutive years. He died at the age of 72 and was one of the longest-serving rulers in history and also one of the most corrupt. Gabon is so blessed but he did nothing about healthcare.
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (Nigeria), died at the age of 58 in 2011 abroad even though they flew him into the country overnight.
Why embark on a journey of over five to six hours for treatment when in a stone throw you can have such. There was a case of a president who died while in the plane rushing abroad for treatment.
Many people die everyday in this country because of poor hospital facilities, doctors are migrating and advancing to other countries because they are not well paid. Yet with years in service and public funds these leaders wouldn’t just do the right thing.
Muhammadu Buhari’s in and out movement for health issues is still there. Sadly, enough one of the 2023 presidential candidates is also on routine health check abroad. These people have all the millions to throw around for election, yet run around for illnesses that could be handled at home. Many of these leaders indulge in this act but, you know what; the day the monkey is destined to die all the trees get slippery.
This craziness must stop. We can’t continue like this. Though Ekwrremadu’s daughter is resident in UK, their case only go to show that if such was taken care of in Nigeria they would not be going through this international embarrassment.
They were only found out simply because the laws are working? Who can detain a senator in Nigeria? Again, when he was arrested, he was found with funds he did not declare. When the laws are working, people will behave well.
We pray for the health and well-being of their daughter.
But Nigerians must learn from this experience.
“If a tree does not know how to dance, the wind will teach it.”
© Father Daniel
