The Nation Newspaper

Tag: battles

  • Widow battles kidney ailment

    Just when Lizabeth Chima was at a loss for a solution to a chronic kidney disease that hit her in 2009, she lost her loving husband last year. Then, she became lonely, running from pillar to post to raise money for sundry medical bills to stay alive.

    In 2012, the health challenge showed no relief as her malfunctioning kidneys threatened to pack up, thus making a maintenance dialysis that costs her N70, 000 per week unavoidable.

    At a point, she looked for kidney donors to speed up her recovery. Hope smiled on her as she got a volunteer. But now, she is grappling with a more splitting headache – how to raise N7 million to undergo a kidney transplant in an India hospital “before it is too late”.

    Mrs Chima, a stylist, has made several save-my-soul visits -including calls – to members of his family and friends with no reason to heave a sigh of relief yet for the single mother.

    Since doctors at the Gbagada General Hospital, which The Nation learnt “has done well at sustaining her life” said the only solution is for her to get a kidney transplant, she has been making efforts to have her life saved.

    When The Nation visited her 12, Ovea Street, Alapere-Ketu, Lagos home at the weekend, Lizabeth cut a pitiable figure amid a few helpless sympathisers, who could offer nothing except mere words of courage. “Just keep your hope in God; He will send your helper to you,” a woman – urged her.

    Writhing in pains, Mrs Chima, 48, explained that the problems started in 2009 when she noticed a boil on her left leg. She pressed it with a finger and the boil disappeared. Poor Lizabeth; to her, the problem was over. But she was soon to realise how wrong she was.

    “Soon after, I felt some pains and I ran to the hospital because I was worried. At the private hospital in Ikotun, I was told I had ulcer. I was treated but the problem did not go. After some time, the other leg was affected too. So, I knew I had a serious problem in my hands. I went to the hospital again and I was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH),” she recalled.

    Before she realise what was happening, every part of her body had swollen up and her tummy bulged as though she was pregnant. Curiously, after series of tests, doctors could not find anything wrong in her system.

    “After one month in the hospital,” she said, “I was discharged and asked to be coming for checks. But the doctors said they suspected a kidney problem, but added that they were not sure because it did not show in the scan conducted on me.”

    When there was no improvement, she was moved to another private hospital in Enugu State, where doctors could also not identify her problem.

    She recalled her search for relief: “I returned home and in 2011, the strange pains returned in 2012 in a more life-threatening fashion. I went back to that same private hospital in Ikotun where I was referred to a laboratory. It was there they detected a kidney problem. I was then referred to the Gbagada General Hospital. I was later at Babafemi Group Hospital, the four doctors have been working on me confirmed that my two kidneys had been badly affected.”

    Now, she can no longer breathe very well.

    The medical report from the Gbagada General Hospital, which she made available to this reporter, reads: “The above-named (Lizabeth Chima) known hypertensive, was admitted into this hospital following a complaint of blood in urine on February 24, 2012. She was assessed and managed as a case of chronic kidney disease possibly from chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). She was then discharged on August 27, 2013 to commence maintenance dialysis as an outpatient and also to visit the outpatient clinic. She is awaiting 24-hour clearance to determine her level of kidney reserve. However, clinically, it seems this patient will benefit from kidney transplant.”

    The widow rests her hope in God through public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations. Her son, Henry, said: “We hope Nigerians will come to her rescue.”

    He said an account with the name: Elizabeth Chima, number: 0003754321, had been domiciled at the Union Bank Plc for any prospective Good Samaritan. Mrs Chima’s mobile phone number is 07060439371.

  • Ace actor Pa Kasumu battles heart disease

    Ace actor Olukayode Odumosu, popularly known as Pa Kasumu, is in dire straits. He is struggling to stay alive as he battles heart and liver diseases.

    Amid fears and prayers by family members, relations and friends, he is receiving treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for “secondary prevention of repeat stroke,” after battling a cardiovascular disease, otherwise known as stroke. Now, he needs N12 million to address the health challenges that are pushing him to the brink.

    But, can he find help to stay alive and do what he loves doing? This is the poser on his lips when he spoke with The Nation. He recounted that his ailment began in 2009. Since then, he has been undergoing series of diagnostic tests and costly medications.

    All these have deprived him of any meaningful professional engagement in the movie industry; hence, he is suffering serious financial handicap.

    Odumosu, who hails from Odogbolu in Ogun State, said his vision was also failing, adding: “I have spent so much on these diseases. When it was first diagnosed, the doctors said the ailment was severe, that they would need to control its progression for it not to affect my kidneys. This they did, and I was happy they succeeded, but now, other serious ailments have set in, necessitating this battle of survival.”

    Odumosu, who recently clocked 60, with over 40 years in the movie world, said: “I am not tired yet; I still want to continue to make people laugh, but my failing health is a terrible obstacle.”

    He said he was experiencing memory loss due to the ailment, adding that it was time the government, corporate organisations and kind-hearted Nigerians rescued him from likely “untimely death.”

    Odumosu, who lives in a rented apartment at 9, Alayaki Street, Off Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos, said he had spent all he had on the diseases and could no longer afford the cost of further treatment.

    He gave his bank details as: Olukayode Olugbenga Odumosu; Diamond Bank Account number: 0036059543. And his mobile telephone numbers: 08033535159 and 08096762254.

    He added that his son, Tunde, could also be reached on 08174435105.

  • Anambra: Ngige Battles Ezeemo for ticket

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold its primary for the Governorship ticket of the party today in the 326 wards.

    The collation centre and the announcement of the result will take place at Emmaus house in Awka, later in the day by the party leadership.

    Before now, the national leadership of the party had adopted Sen. Chris Ngige as its candidate for November 16 election.

    Following the decision of the party, Anambra state screening committee petitioned the party’s hierarchy that primaries should be held to pick the candidate.

    This was granted on Friday by the screening committee which declares Godwin Ezeemo eligible to contest the primary.

    The letter to that effect was forwarded to Ezeemo, his campaign organisation and APC in Anambra State. It was signed by Tijjani Musa Tumsah, Interim National Secretary of APC.

    It reads “following the Gubernatorial Appeal Committee sitting which took place on Friday, 30th August , 2013 at our national secretariat, I wish to inform you that the Appeal Committee has set aside the decision of the screening committee and hereby declares you eligible to contest our primary election scheduled for 2nd September, 2013” APC wrote.

    As a result, Ezeemo stormed Awka at the weekend, with members of the party rolling out their drums in happy mood, praising the decision of APC for giving the aspirant a fair hearing.

    The party faithful were in frenzy, moving round the streets of Awka in motor cade, singing and dancing with brooms in their hands.

    The party’s primary will today pitch the former Governor of the state, now representing Anambra Central Senatorial zone, Dr. Chris Ngige against another heavy weight, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo in what the members of the party have described as a battle royal.

    According to one of the party’s chieftains in the state, who spoke with the Nation yesterday, “this is democracy at its best, this is the only way to test the popularity of those aspiring for a position and not what the other parties have been doing”.

    “People believe so much in APC, if Sen. Ngige wins, everybody will support him and if Ezeemo wins, it will be the same thing, the National leadership of the party has done well in giving everybody a safe landing, we the members of the party are happy” he said.

  • Five-year-old battles heart disease, ulcer

    The wore a sullen mien yesterday. Every day, she wakes up, hoping that one day, help would come her way to actualise her dream of becoming a lawyer. But that dream appears to be dying because of her condition.

    At five, Fatimat Usman’s life hangs in the balance and if urgent help does not come her way, she may bid the world an untimely final bye, no thanks to a heart disease and a life-threatening ulcer that are making life hellish for her. Sadly, the sore on her badly affected right arm festers by the day. All her poor parents and relations can do is to cry and pray for help from no one in particular.

    Her problem began two years ago, when she started having unusual temperature, said her mother, Mrs Wunmi Usman. She could not conceal her hopelessness when he spoke with The Nation at her 6, Olanipekun Street in Ayetoro, Ogun State.

    “In 2011, we noticed she was always getting sick and running temperature. We mistook it for malaria and gave her some drugs. The temperature stopped for few days but later came back. We took her to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for malaria again,” she told The Nation.

    According to her, the ailment refused to go and the little girl got emaciated by the day. The situation, she said, prompted her to take Fatima to a General Hospital where doctors recommended that she be taken to India for solution.

    “We were still thinking about how to run around to raise the money, when, on a particular day in 2011, she was sent on errand. On her way back home, she fell and knocked her right hand elbow on the ground. We applied an ointment on the elbow to reduce the pain, thinking the pain would soon go away,” Wunmi said.

    “Before we knew what was happening” she further recalled, “the hand began to swell few days later. We started to apply treatment to it but it refused to heal. We took her to the hospital for treatment, but we were surprised that pores began to come out of the elbow some days after. By the time we took her back to the hospital, the injury had festered. It was at later diagnosed as ulcer. Right now, the hospital said we would need N2.5 million for the treatment of both her heart and the hand.”

    Mrs Usman said all efforts by her cash-strapped family to raise the money failed. She, therefore, called on Nigerians to come to the girl’s aid, financially, to save her life.

    “I want Nigerians to help my daughter. I have no means of raising the money. I want them to help us for Fatima not to die,” she pleaded.

    A First Bank account, domiciled under the name, Usman Fatimat, with number, 3074405328, she said, had been opened for her, for the attention of Good Samaritans among the public.

    “I have sold all I needed to sell to rescue my daughter. The only thing remaining for me is to find a buyer for my person,” she said, as she broke down in tears.

  • Our battles with oil thieves, by Army chief

    THE Commander of the 4th Brigade Nigeria Army, Brigadier-General Pat Akeem, has revealed his men are daily shot at by oil thieves.

    He said the huge profits made by oil thieves were responsible for the thriving business despite several destructions of illegal refineries within his domain.

    Akeem said investigation has revealed oil bunkerers make over N20m monthly.

    He spoke to newsmen after his newly inaugurated Monitoring Team on Pipeline Vandalisation destroyed over six million litres of illegally refined diesel at Aroton Village in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Akeem said the diesel was processed in several illegal refineries located in the creeks and stored at different places within the village.

    Also destroyed were 67 Cotonou boats used in conveying the diesel to the high sea for buyers.

    The soldiers had a hectic time carrying the boats to the creek where they were set ablaze to prevent the fire from spreading to the villages.

    He said the monitoring team was set-up to ensure soldiers working in different installations and check points perform their duties accordingly.

    Leader of the monitoring team, Lt-Col Hassan Bello, said no suspects were arrested.

    Bello said most individuals in the community were involved in the illegal deals.

    According to him: “This is like a storage point. They sighted us and ran away into the bush. You can see the tanks containing illegal diesel in different places in the community.”

    Kidnapping: Construction workers seek overhaul of security system

    From Osagie Otabor, Benin

    Construction workers under the aegis of Construction & Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) have asked the Federal Government to overhaul the nation’s security system and concentrate resources in addressing the challenges.

    The body said it was worrisome the Federal Government was yet to make a categorical statement on the fate of the seven expatriates working with Setraco Nigeria Limited abducted by gunmen in the Northern parts of the country.

    This was contained in a communiqué issued by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrade (Dr.) Augustine Etafo and Comrade Ezekhumhe George after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Benin City.

    It advised the Federal Government to focus on youth employment, tackle corruption and fix poor infrastructures as a way to addressing security challenges in the country.

    The workers lamented the influx of expatriate into the construction industry, noting “the industry cannot move forward without the local content policy being put in place.”

    They also called for jobs creation in the three tiers of government and set up machinery for prompt payment to contractors.

     

  • UK’s richest man battles Obasanjo’s associate over Nigeria oil blocs

    UK’s richest man battles Obasanjo’s associate over Nigeria oil blocs

    • To explain relationship with ex-president

    Lakshmi Mittal, Britain’s richest man, is expected to be cross-examined over his business practices and relationships with politicians in a court case that could offer a rare glimpse into his empire.

    The steel magnate, worth an estimated £12.7bn, is being sued at the high court for allegedly reneging on an agreement to pay fees to a former friend for helping to secure an oil deal.

    The case, which begins on Tuesday, is the culmination of a seven-year battle with the rice importer Moni Varma. Both men will be asked to discuss their relationships with Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president who granted Mittal access to two unexplored oil fields in the Niger Delta.

    Mittal, 63, has previously dismissed the claim, saying the case would be defended vigorously.

    Since moving to Britain with his family in 1995, the “steel maharajah” has become well known for his expensive tastes and his involvement in public life. He has donated more than £5m to the Labour Party and has imported marble from the quarry used for the Taj Mahal to decorate his £60m home. The ArcelorMittal Orbit – 1,500 tonnes of steel twisted into a sculpture by the artist Anish Kapoor – dominates the Olympic park in Stratford, East London.

    In documents put before the court, Varma claims to have facilitated a deal in 2006 for Mittal to access two unexplored oil fields in the Niger Delta, and to have arranged a meeting with Obasanjo.

    Varma, 64, from Northwood, Middlesex, whose company Veetee Rice is one of Britain’s biggest rice traders, declined to comment on the case on Friday, saying: “Let the courts decide if my claim is legitimate or not. My intention is not to malign anybody.”

    The writ details how Varma and Mittal have known each other socially since 1997 and regularly discussed business opportunities at social events in London.

    Varma, who was born in India but educated in Malawi, has longstanding connections with Nigeria and had known Obasanjo since 2001, the documents claim.

    In July 2005, Mittal Investments Sarl, a company owned by Mittal, launched a joint adventure with OVL, a subsidiary of ONGC India, India’s leading oil and gas exploration company. A month later Mittal and Varma met for dinner at an Indian restaurant in Knightsbridge and discussed possible deals in Nigeria, the writ claims.

    In September 2005, Varma claims, the pair had a conversation that is at the heart of the case: how much Varma would be paid if the deal came through. Varma claims Mittal said he could expect 5%-15% of the defendant’s investment.

    According to the writ, Mittal responded: “I will cover you” or “you will be covered … The reward could be even bigger than 15%, depending on the size of the deal.”

    Varma claims that over the following six months he was cut out of the deal.

    Mittal’s joint venture with the Indian government was successful in its bids for two licences for 10 years in downstream projects in Nigeria. The anticipated combined yield of the “blocks”, or areas of oil, was 650,000 barrels a day and the value of the downstream projects is $6bn (£4bn).

    Mittal’s lawyers are expected to argue that Varma was a social acquaintance of their client, and that Varma offered to arrange a meeting with Obasanjo, but dispute Varma’s recollection of the conversation in September 2005. The lawyers have also dismissed as fanciful Varma’s claims of introducing Mittal to Nigeria.

    The commercial court has put aside 21 days to hear the case.

    A spokesman for Mittal said: “Mr Varma’s claim is an opportunistic and speculative piece of litigation brought on a conditional fee agreement, which Mr Mittal denies in its entirety and intends to vigorously defend.”

    Source: Guardian of London