First, she became ill, started a drive to raise treatment costs which succeeded before she and and her family were accused of financially manipulating the good hearts of Nigerians. But on Sunday, everything ended as reports broke that 29-year old Mayowa Ahmed, who battled Ovarian Cancer and allegations of fundraising scam, died in a South African hospital.
Ever since Mayowa Ahmed’s death was announced on Sunday, some watchers of the developments have sought to hang her death on various causes such as fate and various persons. The parties involved include Toyin Aimakhu who had earlier joined the #Savemayowa Campaign but left, Aramide Kasamu of Life Stake Foundation and Linda Ikeji who owns LindaIkejisblog, the platform which broke a story denouncing Mayowa’s case as irredeemable and suspected foul play on Nigerians by the Ahmed family, a claim the family denied. This resulted in a police case which was only resolved after about a week later. She travelled to South Africa on August 11.
Last week, the late Mayowa’s family thanked Nigerians for raising about N32 million aside the $100,000 raised online via gofundme for her treatment abroad.
And while Toyin Aimakhu is yet to say anything about Mayowa’s death, some of her fans have come out to berate her. On Sunday, Aimakhu had posted a picture which had the wordings ‘I can’t believe there are only 4 months of 2016 left. What did I do for the other 8 months?’
And some of the responses served to inform her of Mayowa’s death.
‘Mayowa is dead’, wrote righteousree, ‘Aunty toyin… mayowa is dead’, wrote tonia.horlan ‘RIP Mayowa’ wrote 1srladyskincare while divalicious_phil asked ‘Is it true mayowa is dead?’
However, feeling the star was being harangued, other fans like remmysworld, came to her rescue, commenting: “Mayowa’s cancer was already at stage 4, unknown to Toyin…. she’s gone to rest free of pains and sorrow…..love you Mayowa but God loves you more Rip.”
Reporting the news of Mayowa’s death, LindaIkejisblog, at the end of the story prayed, ‘May her soul rest in peace, amen.’
And while posters also prayed for the repose of Mayowa’s soul, they also expressed divergent opinions.
‘May her soul RIP. Linda take note!,’ Juliet Iwuno said.
An anonymous poster questioned Linda Ikeji’s sympathy. ‘As if you’re pained. Linda pls tell Nigerians how d money will be used since you’re ominknowest.’
Another fan, Carloswilliams, still thinks the SaveMayowa Campaign was a fraud.
‘RIP dear,’ Carloswilliams wrote.
‘I still believe it was a scam. The family nd her Drs knew she (can’t) make it . They (were) only interested In the money. Chikina.’
Other posters wondered at how money yet to be spent on Mayowa’s treatment will be used.
‘No wonder LUTH doctors said she was on stage 4,’ Zetta Blog said. ‘Sad indeed….so what will happen to the 100 million?’
On any remaining funds, some like Oyinlola Ogunwale, advised the Ahmed to put it to charitable causes.
‘Now all we want is that the family should remove her south Africa and burial expenses and ensure that the balance is donated to people who need d help,’ Ogunwale posted.
‘If they hear that that someone needs a 10 million (naira) kidney transplant for example… they should ensure they donate all the money from the balance of the money with them… till Nigerians money with them is exhausted… my humble opinion.’
Prior to flying to South Africa for treatment, Mayowa’s family had considered hospitals in the U.S., India and United Arab Emirates. According to Mayowa’s family, she was misdiagnosed severally until a diagnosis of Stage IV Ovarian Cancer was given to her in June.
The late Mayowa’s elder sister, Mrs Tope Adeniran, said Mayowa was getting better before she died on Sunday.
“I really don’t know what went wrong,” she said.
“But she was a bit better yesterday (Saturday).”