TRAGEDY - M.K.O Abiola's cousin at the brink of death

The story you are about to read was witnessed and written in 2012 but I have decided to re-publish this article to show you all three things
1. Not all that glitters is gold and
2. Nothing lasts forever
3. The rich also cry

Read and drop a comment

TRAGEDY

M.K.O Abiola’s cousin at the brink of death

·     Abandoned by wife, family

·     Rotting to death

By Samod Biobaku

Sixthsense34@yahoo.com

“When sorrow comes, they come not as single spies but in battalions…”

The above lines extracted from a narrative poem paints a theme of tragedy and to a lot of people, the four words: ‘The rich also cry’ would depict the flipside of seeming perfection but for a cousin of late politician and philanthropist, Chief M.K.O Abiola, Alhaji Abdul-Shina Abiola, they are words that cast a beam of precision on the tragedy that his life has become.

About a decade ago, Alhaji Abiola was a man admired by millions and envied by many more. Given his privileged family ties with one of the richest men Nigeria has ever produced, he had virtually everything money could buy; a house of his own, cars, a beautiful wife, three children and a source of income so lucrative that rather than be bothered by how to make money, he pondered more over how to spend the endless stream of money at his disposal. As expected, he lived a life many only dream about and perhaps never live till death comes knocking. Such was the kind of man Alhaji Abiola was about 10 years ago.

However, like a bolt from the blues, tragedy struck and like a heavily bearded man in a fire accident, he was consumed by the flames of misfortune. If Alhaji Abiola had been involved in a fatal automobile accident that instantly claimed his life, perhaps, that manner of tragedy might have spared him the harrowing level of pain and despair that has spread a blanket of calamity and misery over his life.

Today, Alhaji Abiola is plagued with an ailment that once upon a time, he would have waved aside as a mere minor health condition that could be taken care of with his fat purse.

With over a dozen flies and a rotten stench constantly providing him with permanent escort, Alhaji Abiola has not had his bath or brushed for weeks and can barely drag himself beyond taking a few steps as he always ends up sitting down on the streets of Lagos, Ogun State or wherever he manages to haul himself to.

In sharp contrast to the good old times when he was chauffer-driven to wherever he wished to go, Alhaji Abiola can no longer afford such luxury because even if he toiled to beg for enough money for his fare on the streets from passers-by, no driver would have him in a car or bus for more than a few minutes before the unbearable stench from his rotting leg and body would force the driver to grind to a halt and order him out of the vehicle.

On June 27, 2010, Alhaji Abiola broke the serenity of the Lagos residence of one of late Abiola’s wives who incidentally presently resides in the United States with her children. Like a ghost without a shadow, Alhaji Abiola slowly hauled himself through the gates and into the residential structure while most of the residents were having a fellowship or lounging in their rooms. Like barbells, he painfully dragged his heavy feet from one step to another as he appeared to take forever to climb the steps that led to the living room located on the first floor of the building. Reaching the living room, he lay down on the rug and within a few minutes, he closed his eyes and but for his chest that slowly rose and fell with his laboured breathing, he could easily pass for a man who has kicked the bucket.

Within minutes, the disturbing stench and disgusting odour from his rotting legs diffused into many of the rooms and the occupants were forced to locate the source of their intense discomfort. Upon discovering the man sleeping in the living room, they impulsively put their hands over their noses and asked themselves questions filled with why, when, where, what, who and how. Deciding that they couldn’t identify the man or ignore him, the eldest man in the house called out to him in a bid to ascertain his identity and mission. Without getting a response, he made contact with him and like a venomous snake rising from a deep slumber, he slowly responded to the call and identified himself; still in his lying position. Upon inquiry, he explained that he was very sick and was lying down to rest his tired body. The residents asked who gave him permission and access to the house and at this point, he sat up a bit and fully identified himself as a cousin of late M.K.O Abiola. The man who awakened him suddenly recognized the face as one of the men he used to see with M.K.O Abiola when he (resident) was still a kid. He greeted him politely and asked him why he was looking shabby, unhealthy and tattered. Most of the time, Alhaji Abiola kept asking the man to repeat his questions, a clear indication that he was gradually losing his ability to hear.

With the sun already setting, the residents suddenly realized that if they allowed Alhaji Abiola to remain in the house, he might spend the night. Ordinarily, they could have overlooked his passing the night as the presence of a member of their extended family but the fear of the manner of predicament they would have on their hands if anything happened to him; if for instance he failed to wake up the next day clawed at their minds.

Eventually, Alhaji Abiola told them that he was originally in Lagos to seek help from members of the Abiola family who resided in M.K.O Abiola’s residence but was told they were not at home at the moment and he had decided to wait. Upon receiving this information, they decided to allow him rest a while before escorting him to the M.K.O residence to see those he had originally come to seek help from.

However, when it was time to escort him, Alhaji Abiola appealed to the residents to allow him spend the night as he was very tired. As expected, the residents declined with fear evident on their faces. Realising the residents were on the verge of throwing him out, Aljaji Abiola burst into tears and appealed to the residents not to be cruel to him.

Torn between risking their peace and being heartless, they gently made him understand that they could not allow him spend the night and eventually escorted him to the M.K.O residence where his hopes were further dashed as he was told he could not be accommodated or assisted in any way since those he came to see were out of town.

Left with no other option, the residents who escorted him decided they still couldn’t allow him spend the night inside the house but offered to allow him sleep in a scrap car parked outside their domicile. He had no alternative, so he agreed. They offered him supper, which he gladly accepted

All through the night, the residents were restless as they kept taking turns to see if the man they had indirectly accommodated for the night was still amongst the living as they monitored through his breathing.

Very early the next morning, the residents made Alhaji Abiola understand that they could no longer accommodate him and urged him to seek urgent medical attention noting that his general health was fast deteriorating.

At this point, Alhaji Abiola produced his medical report from ‘The National Hospital: The presidency.’

A close perusal of the report revealed that Alhaji Abiola was on the brink of dying as made apparent in the content of the report, which read: “The above named patient (Alhaji Abdul Shina Abiola – Male – Hospital No. 130928) presented to the General Outpatient Department of this hospital 20/01/2006, a known diabetic Diabetic diagnosed 21/2 years earlier. He has been placed on Glibenclamide and Glucophage (Mertformin) with infrequent clinic visits thereafter.

He was also seen at the Ear Nose and Throat Clinic on 25/01/2006 following a complaint of progressive impaired hearing where an assessment of Bilateral Moderate-Severe Senso-Neural hearing loss was made. He has not been able to see the ENT surgeon for a follow up since then.” The letter was signed ‘Dr. Iheme OFC II (Senior Registrar) – For: HOD Family Physician.

Alhaji Abiola informed Simply Samad that his diabetic condition had done so much damage to him that besides his rotting leg and deteriorating hearing ability, he was already having problems with his eyes.

In Yoruba language, he narrated the genesis of his tragedy, his fears and appealed to Nigerians to come to his aid or call him on 08057944704 or 07025962481 before it’s too late. “I don’t know what’s wrong with the leg but I remember patronizing those Mallams that help people cut their nails. They help me cut my nails and then the problem started with the right leg. I was able to treat it because I was still at the General Hospital then. All of a sudden, the other leg got infected but they did not treat it at the hospital because I didn’t have money. The money I was supposed to pay the hospital was N18, 000 but I didn’t have any money.”

He was at a hospital in Abeokuta for a while but after staying there “for three months without paying my hospital bills, they seized my valuables and threw me out. It was a General Hospital at Ijaiye in Abeokuta.”

His wife left him over 7 years ago and took the children along with her. “I have three children; two boys and one girl but my family abandoned me. Some members of my family have promised to assists me but nothing yet.”

Before the predicament, he used to reside in Ogba in Lagos. “It was the sickness that took me to Abeokuta. My sickness started in Lagos. It was M.K.O Abiola’s brother that said I shouldn’t return to the house. I stayed with a member of our family at Ladipo Kuku, Off Allen Avenue for a while. I was there for a year before I moved. One of M.K.O’s friend who is the Secretary NADECO paid N1.7 million into the hospital for my treatment and that was why I was hospitalized for two years. I was treated then and I noticed the difference but it’s gone from bad to worse now. For over three months, I’ve not been to any hospital because I don’t have any money. If I see N20, 000, I’ll be okay. I’ll go to another hospital and be admitted. I don’t want my leg to be amputated,” he appealed.

He also told Simply Samad how the Sultan of Sokoto gave him N100, 000 and asked him to get a medical report. “The Sultan of Sokoto wanted to help me. He said he would get back to me after the council meeting sits; where my case would be discussed. Please help me.”

The concluding half of this article would be published soon.