WHEN is a man sick? Is it when the body is diseased or when he lies in bed, writhing in pains and doctors are battling to save his life? What is the difference between being sick and being ill?
In other words, who is healthy? To the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. If so, can we presume that there are many people walking the street who are either sick or ill? How true is the assertion of leading psychiatrists that more Nigerians are battling mental illnesses? Some are even said to be mentally ill but unaware of it.
Pardon the long preamble, dear reader. “Editorial Notebook” is not about to drag you on a needless voyage into the labyrinthine world of medicine. Nor am I reporting from a mental home. I am not even anywhere close to a hospital; malaria has decided to give me a break – in the spirit of the season, perhaps. Nor am I attempting to change my trade and become a doctor; it is too late.
Here is the matter. I am quite curious about the way our leaders allude to common concepts of “health”, “sickness”, “illness” and such related matters to either analyse a political situation or shield themselves in some uncomfortable situations. And many of them are not doctors; in fact, they seem to need doctors.
I will explain. When former President Olusegun Obasanjo issued a 16-page scurrilous statement in which he accused President Muhammadu Buhari of planning to rig the February 16 election and behaving like the late Gen. Sani Abacha (of dreadful memory), it was like an earthquake. The inciting effects reverberated from Abeokuta all the way to the seat of power in Abuja and beyond. It was, in the view of many attentive observers, a declaration of war by a General against another General. A fire-fight was on the way, we all feared. Panicky elders were calling for restraint.
The Presidency saw it from a different and sober perspective. No anxiety. No shots fired. It simply gave the old warhorse a piece of advice – “he needs a good doctor for good treatment” and added that Obasanjo should “get well soon”.
Many were taken aback by the Presidency’s reply. Is Obasanjo sick or ill? What is the nature of the problem? Did Buhari’s media man, Garba Shehu, who signed the Presidency’s statement, consult a doctor before issuing the advice? Will Obasanjo take the advice and see a doctor–to be reassured that all is well? What kind of doctor? A specialist or a general practitioner? It is all hazy.
Obasanjo, cunning, cocky and foxy, takes no prisoners when it comes to verbal warfare. He is as brutal as they come. He fired back. Buhari, he said, is “sick in the spirit, body and soul”. Some theological perspective there.
Suddenly, health has become a weapon for politics and politicians. Also finding it handy are pranksters, tricksters and gangsters. Why are our big men so enamoured of this phenomenon that has hobbled and humbled man for ages?
Recall how former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose swore that President Buhari was dying in a London hospital. He claimed to have photographs of the President on his sick bed and threatened to make them public if Nigerians would not be convinced that Buhari would not return to the Villa.
It then turned out that Fayose had been scammed – Buhari returned, hale and hearty. And many were shocked, not about Buhari’s return, but Fayose’s glaring indiscretion. They were asking: “Fayose scammed? Incredible. Those must be the master scammers.”
The former governor was later to deploy the health weapon on the eve of the July 14, last year governorship election. When the police fired some teargas canisters to disperse a crowd gathering for a rally, some landed in the Government House. His Excellency inhaled the smoke and collapsed. By the time his loyal aides who seemed to have been immune to the effect of the smoke rushed to his aid, he had broken his neck and arm. They poured water on his head to revive him before rushing him to the clinic where some inattentive doctors posing as specialists braced his neck wrongly and tied his broken arm to his broken neck. Remember?
His Excellency was crying like a baby: “I am in pains. I am in severe pains… Fly me abroad.”
There are also many big men – and women – whose health has become a subject of big debates in newsrooms, staffrooms and restrooms. Olisa Metuh – where in the world is the former PDP spokesman? Frail and weak, he was stretchered into an Abuja court where lawyers were struggling to convince the Judge that he needed medical attention and could not stand trial for alleged diversion of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the court to revoke Metuh’s bail. He has been absent from the court twice, consecutively.
Former Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been away in the United Kingdom for years. She claims to be suffering from cancer – his lawyers swear this is true. Diezani, rich, powerful and beautiful, used to be a member of the kitchen cabinet of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who once confessed to have been caged. She is believed to be one of those who “caged” His Excellency.
The EFCC is battling to get Diezani repatriated and prosecuted for alleged fraud. Not an easy task, I dare say. The woman may simply check into a hospital where doctors will certify her not fit to travel let alone face a trial that will be as rigorous as can be imagined.
After an eight-day standoff with the police, Senator Dino Melaye surrendered. He was helped into the car that took him to the police office where he suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to hospital. A few days after, doctors certified him fit to face questioning for alleged homicide. The senator representing the good people of Kogi West insisted that he was not fit and would not be discharged from hospital.
The game went on for days during which observers were arguing whether Melaye was ill or sick or both. One quiet morning, some security personnel stormed the clinic, yanked Melaye off the bed and dumped him in detention. He has been granted bail. Ever since, the loquacious and boisterous senator has remained quiet. Unusually so. Perhaps he is still of poor health. Poor guy.
When former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu was hospitalised in Germany recently, many felt he was trying to dodge a court matter. Not even his photograph on his sick bed would clear the doubts about his intentions. Instead of spending one year in Germany, His Excellency returned home, thanked Nigerians for praying for him and hit the road to campaign for a senatorial seat.
Back to Obasanjo. Prof. Itse Sagay, the renowned law teacher, has since joined the huge row sparked by Obasanjo’s comments on the Buhari administration. He says Obasanjo is suffering from “Power Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)”. Is this also a medical condition? He goes on to explain that Obasanjo “accuses his successors of doing what he did repeatedly, without a thought for his own gross misdeeds”. This, Sagay says authoritatively, is amnesia. And many have been asking: “Has Sagay taken a crash programme in medicine?”
Is amnesia a serious medical condition or mere forgetfulness to which all human beings–including the high and the mighty–are susceptible?
Why does Sagay feel so strongly that Obasanjo has been hit by amnesia? Some have been suggesting that he may have been thinking about some events that happened during his presidency–kidnapping of former Anambra Governor Chris Ngige, impeachment of some governors, removal of Senate presidents and rights abuses.
There seems to be a big health crisis among our leaders. Where can we find good doctors?
A jackpot hunt goes awry
It is incredible what some of our compatriots can do for money. Some are busy collecting women’s underpants, which they believe could be useful in money making rituals. Sounds so foolish. Others are killing for rituals and kidnapping for money. Such savagery sounds incredible.
But what do we say of a 27-year-old man who has lost an eye in a desperate quest for spiritual powers in aid of his battle to hit the lotto jackpot. Emmanuel Okachi, a newspaper report said, engaged a witchdoctor in Ishiagu village, near Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State for powers to see “lucky numbers” and win big in the Baba Ijebu lotto.
The witchdoctor prepared some concoction for Okachi to drink and rub on his eyes. He did. Then the left eye got swollen. He rushed to hospital but doctors could not save the eye. Okachi lost it – to greed and idiocy.
The story remains incomplete. How much did Okachi pay the witchdoctor? Who is he? Why has he gone into hiding? Is he not proud of his trade? If he has such powers why hasn’t he used them to help himself?
Our virtues – hard work, rectitude and honesty – are gone. The youth do not believe there is a righteous route to wealth; they must cut corners. In the end, foolishness has its pains – loss of dignity and, sometimes, physical wellbeing – and patience its gains – peace of mind and attainment of enviable feats.
Our youths should embrace the latter. An easy come, easy go life is perilous.
Leave a Reply