SATURDAY
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ndia, Germany, France, UK, USA, Dubai and even South Africa. These are the favourite haunts of our elites whenever they have any ailment or any discomfort. Almost all our elected and selected leaders fly abroad every year for treatment. Some go every six months. Some, I hear, go every month! I have heard of a particular female minister in this cabinet who goes to the UK for dental appointment! Can you imagine the cost; just to fix a toothache? And when she can not find the time to go, flies the doctor in. What a waste. What an insensitive waste. Last week, the Governor of Taraba State, Governor Suntai was involved in a plane crash and has been reportedly ‘flown abroad for treatment’. Now,a private plane, whether borrowed, leased, or purchased, is an expensive way to move around. Especially if you are the governor of one of the poorer states in the country. But such is the disconnect between our leaders and the rest of us, that few eyebrows, if any, are raised concerning this man’s chosen mode of transportation. A couple of weeks ago, the first Lady returned to the country from a medical trip amidst mindless pomp and pageantry – considering the fact that we were not informed when she was ‘flown abroad for treatment’. If we didn’t know the ‘whither’ and the ‘whence’ surrounding her departure, why should we partake in her gleeful home coming?
in building and equipping the National Hospital in Abuja. It was to stop this bleeding that Obasanjo’s government pledged to upgrade some of our Teaching Hospitals. They obviously had little confidence in what they built because at critical moments, their wives were ‘flown abroad for treatment’. Sadly, neither of them made it back. Yet, Nigeria is so blessed. We have highly skilled professionals all over the world. People who are assets to any country. The good news is; most of them want to come back. ‘ the really sick people are in Africa’ one said to me. Another said ‘ if I can impart just twenty percent of what I know to my country, I will die a happy man’ But our leaders, from Gowon to Jonathan, have played lip service to Nigerians in the diaspora. The way those who have dared to come back have been treated has not encouraged the others to take the plunge. Yet, need them we do. One way of skinning this particular cat, is to encourage our skilled medical practitioners abroad, to pool together and come to setup three or four first class hospitals. They know themselves, and if they feel they can trust the government, will come up with the ways and means in achieving this. Ambassador Kolade did a wonderful job with Nigerian professionals in the UK when he was the Nigerian Commissioner. They know and trust him. He could therefore be useful. Another way of ensuring that the many
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Canyou imagine the cost; just to fix a toothache? And when she can not find the time to go, flies the doctor in
T
he term ‘flown
abroad for treatment’ has become such a cliché that we don’t even think about it anymore. Yet we should; because, if anything, it is a thing of shame that our elites go abroad for any, and everything – from toothache to tummy ache; from cancer to cosmetic surgery. But more than the huge cost involved in this medical adventures, is the fact that our leaders are the ones exposing our underbelly to the outside world, and advertising our underdevelopment. Leaders who can not be treated in their countries are failures. Last month, a young girl was shot in the head at close range. A war torn, crisis stricken Pakistan was able to save her life and stabilise her enough to be sent to the UK and I am sure her being in the UK is as much for medical reasons as it is for security reasons. My respect for Pakistan has grown because I know what would have happened if the incidence had taken place in Nigeria. Yet, it was to stop this figurative bleeding that Babangida’s government poured millions of naira
C M Y K
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medical trips to India etc, are halted, is to pass a law to stop political leaders and their immediate family, from being ‘flown abroad for treatment’
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y proposal is to ask the Civil Society to sponsor a bill that says ‘from year 2020, seven years from now, anybody who aspires to rule us as Governor, President, or Congressman, must undertake to treat himself, and his family, in Nigerian hospitals. If he can not do that, then he should leave us alone. A few serious ailments can be exempted if we so wish. Secondly, state funds must not be used to treat anybody abroad. It might be too late for us to benefit from this law. But I bet you, our children will because by 2019, we would have had some first class medical facilities. Then, for once, it can truly be said that ‘for their tomorrow, we gave our today’. P.S. no political leader should be allowed to have private jets until we have a National Carrier.
Welcoming a new author to town; Ifeanyi Ilechukwu
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n this era of exciting tale that economic crunch, discovers the pervasive hunger, crossroads where decaying infrastructure, hearts meet crown. low level human capital According to the development and a young author when he demoralising sociospoke with this writer, political orientation, “the book is set in getting the brain to think precolonial era of and rationalize ideas Nigeria focused on the and thoughts could be main character Ada, very tasking and and her journey painstaking. through marriage, At times, settling down religion and the *Ilechukwu to articulate thoughts creeping shadows of and ideas that could make meaning for deception”. In this journey, the the society could be very disturbing writer carefully places the reader at and nerves wrecking. At times also, it the edge of this story where the could be very frustrating trying to get words become moving pictures that the right mood to put thoughts down visually bring an African tale to life. in lucid prose for the reading pleasure According to Ifeanyi, his desire to of the public. put down his thoughts in a flowing This is why I do not envy the literary prose laced with symbols and exploits of citizen Ifeanyi Ilechukwu, symptoms of well-written English, 24 year-old Nigerian who has decided was partly a way to pour out a tale to present his thoughts, emotions and that appeals to him most profoundly literary ideas in a well articulated 185so that the reader will share in his paged fiction entitled ADA, to fulfil his world of fiction. As a young author inner desires as a budding author. His also, he explains to me some of his ability to create time to document his challenges in getting the work out and fictive reasoning in very symbolic and now ready for launch on Saturday, illustrative prose calls for serious November 10, 2012 at the Bishop consideration and celebration. Kelly Pastoral Center Benin City. Ifeanyi Patrick Ilechukwu represents Nurtured by a God-fearing mother the fighting spirit of the younger Madam Grace Ilechukwu, Ifeanyi generation of Nigerians who are comes across as a young man with determined to make meaning out of maturing intellect and profound life than its mundane realities, a knowledge of literary writing. He says determination that has enabled him to with enthusiasm that “more of my break the bogey of unemployment literary works are in the pipeline and and underemployment to make use of in no time, I will begin to unfold my his precious time. literary ability. ADA, is a story that replicates the Thank God for my caring mother pre-colonial era of Nigeria where since I became fatherless at a tender religion, marriage and betrothed age of three”. emotions are usually given a serious In a society with waning reading thought in a typical African village culture, writing could be quite setting. Ifeanyi is a holder of masters degree in media and communications from Pan African University, having obtained his first degree in Information and Computer System from Benson Idahosa University. He presently works as Data Consultant in the Finance Department of Global Fund Organisation, G e n e v a , S w i t z e r l a n d . debilitating. A work of art is better appreciated by the number of people DA; a tale of hearts and crowns is who reads it. For those who have the self explanatory and gives an god-given talents to explore, writing account of the widely held belief of to them is a natural thing that flows how gods can script the life of anyone from the innermost. ADA...a story of hearts and crowns is presented in in pre-colonial Africa. Ada, the main very clear print and in a size that character of the story has no choice makes it handy like a reader’s digest. than to play her part in a world that From the first chapter to the last, was scripted by the gods. Set in a the author holds the reader in awe rustic village of Afudo, getting married and suspense, thus making the book is the beginning of the end, however, apparently unputdownable. You will she finds a faith so strong and peaceful have no option than to want to read that could open doors she always through the entire book in one fell dreamt of. swoop. Ikenna’s heart belongs to another but That, according to the author, is his he must also find a way to get rid of his own way to arrest the reader’s betrothed. A marriage of attention and interest. Citizen inconveniences one could say, and Ifeanyi deserves all the accolades, what later became the end product of support and encouragement from the such a marriage? The author leaves the reading public to continue to fire him reader in perfunctory suspense. to greater heights. Ifeanyi, Beyond heartbeats scheming plots and congratulations. May your pen a destiny planned by gods, is an never go dry.
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Flown abroad for treatment
Vanguard Vanguard,, NOVEMBER 3, 2012—15
In a society with waning reading culture, writing could be quite debilitating
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