Opinion I My One-On-One Meeting With Okorocha

MY ONE-ON-ONE MEETING WITH OKOROCHA

         

The last time I checked, I had what could best be described as a one-on-one and rigorous discussion with the Imo State governor in the person of Chief Rochas Okorocha. Though the outcome of the scheduled meeting was lengthy, I promise to summarize it.

        

It all started like a joke on Saturday the 18^th day of November, 2017. On that fateful day, I got a phone call from an unknown number and in the process, I learnt the caller was the leader in question. After brief introductory words, he invited me to his country home situated in Ogboko, Ideato-South Local Government Area (LGA), on the following day being Sunday. While still on the call, I quickly gave the invitation a second thought and eventually obliged him.

        

When I arrived the ancient Ogboko, precisely on the premises of the Governor’s home, on the stipulated day at about 2:00 pm which was the agreed time, I didn’t face much protocol right from the main gates till the time the chief host graciously stepped to the point outside the main building where I was received. From all indications, it seemed everyone was aware of my coming.

        

Several but consequential pleasantries were exchanged but I’ve earlier pledged to be succinct as well as concentrate only on the highpoints of the outing owing to time and space, hence the need not to go into inconsequential details. However, I wouldn’t fail to inform that a bottle of wine was presented by one of the domestic aides upon his Excellency’s request. He popped the drink himself and poured it into the two glasses placed in our respective fronts. We tossed to more successes and long life.

         

Having commended my writing and activism prowess, the governor verified that he learnt I’m a product of the prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), thus asked what informed my skills cum passion in the aforementioned career. I answered that I remained a tech expert by profession but a writer and activist by calling. On absorbing the more light thrown on the contradictory scenario, he was deeply impressed; hence, enjoined me to keep it loud.

        

His Excellency who was simply clad in a black three-quarter jeans, white T-shirt and leather slippers, told me that the invitation was necessitated by the need to appreciate my doggedness in writing and equally notify me that he cherished the style of my analysis and criticism, among other sundry issues of the moment. According to him, he had been following my works ab initio and had felt so much elated over my unflinching steadiness and passion in spite of where I was coming from, or my educational background. 

         

Having welcomed his seeming candid fatherly commendations, I thought it wise to delve into business, thus began by asking him the reason he loved to talk or address a gathering without any written material lying before his presence. He simply responded that he was a born orator, adding he saw oratory as part and parcel of his person right from his secondary school days. I disclosed that I had been attracted to such rare idiosyncrasy found in his nature even though I belong to such class.

         

I told him that most times I sensed he doesn’t pay apt attention to all the stuffs we write especially the ones targeted towards criticizing his policies constructively. He said people might think he does not adhere to advices or instructions, but the truth was that he often tried to overlook those analyses that would affect his emotions so that his enemies wouldn’t laugh at him. I saw reason in his reply but asked him to start paying better attention to constructive criticisms, which would help tremendously to reshape his policies, either on arrival or as they exist.

        

Although I’ve severally written on it, I therein unequivocally reiterated that I wasn’t on the same page with him concerning the idea of constructing new General Hospitals in each of the twenty-seven LGAs in the state. He acknowledged my criticisms in the past regarding the said project and went further to state that his idea was informed by his eager quest to resuscitate the wellbeing of the Imo people, health wise.

          

He therefore said if he knew individuals like me wouldn’t welcome the idea, he would have jettisoned it prior to its implementation. He equally pledged that the project would be completed before he leaves office in less than two years time. I verified if other projects commenced by the Rescue Mission administration would be completed as well, and he strongly replied “Yes.” I further said it wasn’t that I was against uplift of the people’s health status, but the funds utilized on the projects so far would have been channeled toward uplifting the already existing ones across the state thereby saving sufficient funds for other viable projects needed by the state.

         

Furthermore, we eventually ventured into politics. First, we discussed about zoning. I told him that other zones such as Imo East and Imo North were currently of the notion that they had been sidelined or intimidated by Imo West, thus sensed unfair treatment. He responded that politics remained a highly competitive tango whereby only the strongest is liable to emerge victorious in the long run, hence had nothing to do with fairness or what have you as being perceived by some individuals. According to him, rather than focusing on zoning, he preferred to pay greater attention to the individuality cum antecedents of the aspirant(s).

          

I verified about the rumoured altercation between him and his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere. In his words, the said second-in-command remained his trusted friend and brother till date, thus ought to be described as his best friend. He further clarified that his political enemies were just trying to make something out of nothing.

         

Similarly, I courageously looked into his majestic eyes and asked him whom he was seeing as his successor come 2019.  He replied that the name of his foreseen successor was still inborn in the public domain and since I deal with the public, there was no need disclosing it to me. I laughed in French and insisted that I needed to realize the anointed person, so I would know if he had made a good choice. Then he cheerily said, “Okay, I will tell you but not now.” I replied, “When, Your Excellency?”

          

Perhaps, in other to divert my attention, he asked, “Comrade, do you play table tennis?” I smiled in Latin and answered, “Yes sir.” He therefore invited me over to his Table Tennis court for a novelty match. We played and chatted intermittently till a point when his amiable wife, Her Excellency Dr. Nkechi Okorocha majestically walked up to us and rightly informed that the lunch was ready, thus had already been served to our delight. At this juncture, I turned only to find myself in my bedroom lying in my duvet. Then I soliloquized, “So it was a dream?”

         

If I had further opportunity in the dream, I would have asked his Excellency if he would love to vie for a third term in office while given the chance. But, does he really deserve a third term? Think about it!    

                 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador

Opinion II APC, PDP, Et al And Their Intriguing Antics

APC, PDP, ET AL AND THEIR INTRIGUING ANTICS

         

The last time I checked, the various existing political parties in Nigeria – particularly those domiciled in Imo – were conspicuously displaying in the Eastern Heartland all sorts of antics that could best be described as melodrama. The platforms in question included the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), among others.

         

Whenever it is rumoured that a certain bigwig of the PDP or the APC, or any other one, has defected from the party to another, if confronted or tried to verify, the affected politician would refute it, adding that light and darkness have no meeting point. In his or her opinion, the aforementioned natural factors are not unlike two parallel lines that possess nothing in common.

         

In other words, on the average, a staunch PDP member would tell you that the other party – the APC for instance – is meant for monsters or what have you, and vice-versa. Each time you observe such persons speak in the public domain, they don’t relent in notifying, or perhaps misinforming, the members of the gathering that the men in the other platform(s) are nothing but just bunch of elements seeking for whom to devour.

         

When I see them talk in such an intriguing manner, I can’t help but place myself in a laughable mood. In most cases, I would continue laughing till I’m being rescued by a messiah. You know, sometimes laughter could kill just as weeping could. In such case, I would keep asking myself; who are truly the monsters and who actually are the saints? Sure, my candid inquiry deserves a sincere answer from any concerned creature within.

         

The scenario, which has proceeded unabated, becomes more amusing when they are involved in a seeming campaign outing. Though we are not unaware that the campaign ban is yet to be lifted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), they are on a daily basis seen in one corner or the other showcasing what appears like a manifesto. Whenever they indulge in such ‘colourful’ outing, instead of concentrating on a mission statement, you would see them frantically condemning the other politicos or political parties. It has unwittingly become a custom among them that they can never be deterred by any atmosphere whenever they are in the mood.

         

Two weeks back, a good friend of mine who happens to be an ardent member of the APC visited me at my place of residence in Owerri on a friendly ground. Inadvertently, our discussion delved into politics. On his part, the PDP was already dead and had long been laid to rest, hence the need for the electorate to focus only on the APC, which he proudly addressed as the only living party at the moment. According to the view of the buddy, the PDP lacked the power to resurrect, thus there was no how a buried entity could compete with the living.

          

Thereafter, seventy-two hours ago precisely, I ran into a strong and old member of the PDP. In his passionate expression, he unequivocally stressed that the APC would definitely go into extinction come 2019 irrespective of the circumstance. In his words, coming to power of the said party in 2015 was occasioned by a slight mistake made by the PDP. He then went further to inform that such error would be well corrected, and vowed that it would never be repeated again. When asked by my humble self which area the APC was getting it wrongly, he replied that there was no single aspect the party had done well.

          

It becomes so fascinated when realized that these sets of individuals were once under one canopy, political wise. It shouldn’t be news that in one way or the other a given member of the APC had at a time being noted as a member or an affiliate of the PDP. It suffices to assert that virtually every member of the current ruling party is, directly or indirectly, a defected member of the PDP.

          

If the above analysis holds water, then noting the PDP as a family of monsters simply literally implies that the APC members are equally ‘monsters’. On the other hand, describing the latter as a home of darkness or whatsoever also signifies that the former begets darkness or as the case may be. Please, let’s not get the critique twisted; I’m only trying to create the impression that these whole people are all products of a certain background, thus ought to possess only one type of blood running in them.

        

 The summary of all is that, the best thing that would happen to the electorate in the Nigerian political sphere especially that of Imo is to concentrate on the individuality of anyone aspiring to occupy any political position rather than laying emphasis on the party he/she is coming from. Acknowledging that they all possess similar idiosyncrasies, background wise, it is therefore of no need to continue debating on the differences that lie between the various political platforms.

         

So, as the 2019 is fast approaching, it would be wise and ideal for Imolites to look inwards toward ensuring that no iota of mistake, let alone blunder, is made or committed in the long run. We can’t afford to blame ourselves after the deed is done. It is thus needless to state that the ball outrightly lies in our court. Soonest, we will be given another opportunity to take a decision, and we are expected to utilize such awaited golden chance judiciously or ought to be prepared to face the damn consequences of our mistake thereof.

           

As each of the political families continue to claim to be the home of the living saints, it’s obvious that the about to emerge 2018 would be an era when the electorate would in practical terms inform us on those that deserve to be addressed as monsters or saints, as might be the case. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador

   

Opinion I Still On 2017 World Diabetes Day

INTENSIFYING AWARENESS ON DIABETES
      

           

Today, November 14, the world over is commemorating the 2017 World Diabetes Day. The World Diabetes Day, which is an annual and international commemoration, was instituted in the year 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to help in raising public awareness on the dangers and control of diabetes.

         

World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations (UN) Day in 2007 through the passage of the UN Resolution. The day was chosen in honour of the birthday of Frederick Banting who along with Charles Best first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921. The campaign attached to the World Diabetes Day draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes community and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight.

           

The theme of this year’s anniversary is ‘Women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future’. The campaign is targeted to promote the importance of affordable and equitable access for all women at risk for, or living with, diabetes to the essential diabetes medicines and technologies, self-management education and information they require to achieve optimal diabetes outcomes and strengthen their capacity to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Record has it that diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths per year.

           

Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. It is often caused by the insufficiency or lack of the hormone known as insulin, which is produced by the pancreas – a gland found behind the stomach.

           

The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by insulin. When food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into the cells where it’s broken down to produce the required energy.

           

However this implies that, if one has diabetes, his/her body is unable to break down glucose into energy; because there’s either not enough insulin to move the glucose or the insulin being produced doesn’t work properly.

          

There are two main types of diabetes namely: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The former is usually more delicate than the latter which is far more common.

          

In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As no insulin is produced, the victim’s glucose level increases, which can seriously damage his body’s organs. Type 1 diabetes is often regarded as Insulin-dependent diabetes; it is also sometimes recognized as Juvenile diabetes or Early-onset diabetes, because it mostly develops before the age of forty (40) or usually during the teenage years.

           

If one is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he would need insulin injections for the rest of his life. He would also need to pay very close attention to certain aspects of his lifestyle and health, to ensure that his blood glucose levels stay balanced at all times.

         

Type 2 diabetes takes place when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it cells don’t react to insulin. This type of diabetes is generally known as Insulin-resistant diabetes. Since Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, the patient may eventually need medication mainly in the form of tablets.

         

Type 2 diabetes is in most cases associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as Maturity-onset diabetes owing to the fact that it is more common in older people.

         

During pregnancy, some women possess high levels of blood glucose, which makes their body unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. Such condition is known as Gestational diabetes and it affects up to 18 in 100 women during pregnancy. Pregnancy can as well make existing Type 1 diabetes worse.

           

Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, therefore it’s very necessary for a pregnant woman to keep her blood glucose levels under control. In several cases, gestational diabetes develops during the second trimester of pregnancy, which is weeks 14 to 26, and disappears after the baby is born. But the truth remains that, women who suffer from gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Let’s ride on!

           

The general symptoms of diabetes, which often take place simultaneously, are: feeling very thirsty; urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night; feeling very tired; weight loss and loss of muscle bulk; cuts or wounds that heal slowly; blurred vision, caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry; itching around the private part or frequent episodes of thrush.

           

Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days. Whilst, many people may have Type 2 diabetes for years without realizing it because the early symptoms tend to be friendly.

          

Statistics, according to World Health Organization (WHO), show that about 347 million people worldwide are presently suffering from diabetes. In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar. The most devastating aspect of diabetes is that, almost half of the people suffering from it do not know that they have the disease. In view of this, WHO stipulates that diabetes would be the 7^th leading cause of death by the year 2030.

         

Many more people worldwide have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is referred to as Pre-diabetes. If your blood sugar level is above the normal range, your risk of developing full-blown diabetes is increased. Thus, it’s absolutely very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it would get progressively worse if left untreated.

         

In general, diabetes carriers are advised to eat healthily, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests in order to ensure that their blood glucose levels remain balanced. Above all, they are also advised to maintain a very cordial relationship with their doctors or health experts.

          

As the global community commemorates the World Diabetes Day anniversary, I’m using this avenue to urge the general public to endeavour to live a life that would exonerate them from contracting this dreaded disease that has claimed hundreds of millions of souls as well as maimed several lives both in the past and present. They can achieve this by ensuring that they consume balance diets or by staying away from constant intake of starchy or sugary foods without supplementing them with other required classes of foods.

          

The sufferers of the disease ought to also note that they can live as long as possible if necessary precautions are always taken, or if they continually stick to the modus operandi surrounding the disease, such as eating healthily, indulging in regular exercise, carrying out blood tests regularly, and consistent intake of the prescribed drugs or frequent consultation of a physician, among others.

           

Yes, diabetes has no absolute cure, but can be prevented or managed if contracted; thus it is worthy to acknowledge that we have every opportunity to live without the disease or live healthily if being attacked by it. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador 

   

ShortStory II Testimony Time

TESTIMONY TIME

        I was barely 8, and was gradually nearing my early grave. What other notion could a kid in class four nurture than to insinuate that nature was against his existence?

        Though highly cerebral, I was so tender to lead a cause toward emancipating my person from the untold bondage. I became a shadow of myself and the talk of the day within my nuclear cum extended family, and of course the vicinity therein.

        My darling mum, being a qualified nurse, was very helpful to the situation at hand. In fact, she was my messiah to assert the least. Messiah, in the sense that, I was suffering from a medical condition. At 7, I was diagnosed of hepatitis, precisely Hepatitis B.

        I had grown to believe that the aforementioned disease was so cruel that it could claim the bearer’s life unannounced. Being a professional, my mum kept telling me in a language I would comprehend that it wasn’t as deadly as I learnt even though I could overtime widely see in her eyes fear and anguish, especially each time I got struck by the monster.

         I was transferred from a hospital to another on a regular basis, drank pints of blood donated by my relatives; and in some cases, it would seem as if all hopes had been lost. That was how my beloved family rolled for years; yes, a good number of years.

         At the time, use of cell phones was still inborn in the global community, particularly the Nigerian society. And, internet services were not yet ubiquitous; hence, only letter writing was in vogue. Each time any member of my family wrote home, he or she would concentrate mainly on the ailment. They would want to be intimated on the journey thus far and how exactly I was faring at the moment.

          I wasn’t bedridden and there was no time I was, but within me, I was only about two centimeters away from graveyard. It was so serious and was telling on me – both physically and emotionally – that everyone far and near began to reason that it wasn’t just a medical condition.

         It’s noteworthy that my parents’ scarce economy was expended in the process. In spite of the whooping expenses, they weren’t deterred, rather were so committed towards ensuring that I became a better person health wise.

         The situation continued unabated till when we encountered a certain pediatrician who told us that it could best be addressed via dietary. Thereof, I was placed under the care of a renowned dietician.

         She (the dietician) recommended that I should henceforth quit taking various foods and drinks, which included red meat, fried diets, and alcoholics, among others. From what was presented, it seemed I had to begin to detest most of the foods I had ab initio been enjoying both as human and a kid. The conditions alone brought another brand of shock into my already battered bone marrow. Nevertheless, neither did I nor my parents have any choice than to stick strictly to the laid down rules.

        “Hello Fred!” the paediatrician, Dr. Okafor called the moment he walked into the ward where I was hospitalized.

          It was about 8:30 am, and my second day in the centre.

        “Good morning, doctor.” I greeted, lying in my bracket.

        “Morning dear.” he responded. “How are you today?”

        “I am fine, doctor.”

        “I can see you are.” he concurred, nodding and calmly raised my left arm up, then looked at my mum who was seated right beside me. “Hope he slept well?” He asked her.

         I guessed she had already gone to his office to make some pressing enquiries, so there wasn’t need for exchange of pleasantries between them when he stepped into the ward.      

         She nodded immediately. “Yes, he did.” she supplemented. “I really thank God.”

         “Nothing would happen to him.” He assured my pleasant mother, and allowed my arm to return to the bed.

          “Amen oooh!” she exclaimed enthusiastically.

          “Once you stick to the recommended diets,” quoth Dr. Okafor. “He would never suffer from it again.”

          “Okay.” she replied. “I will try my best.”

           He detached his stethoscope from his neck and tenderly placed it on my chest with his right hand. “Do you feel pain here?” He inquired, touching the chest with the other hand as he listened to the gadget.

        “No sir.” I responded.

        “Alright.” he said, withdrew the equipment. “You will be discharged today, okay?”

        “Oh, thank you doctor!” I exclaimed elatedly, looked at my mum.

          She smiled at me in appreciation. “Thank you, doc.” She added, twisting her neck towards him.

       “You are welcome.” He said, hesitantly turned and walked away.

          Thereafter, ‘special’ dishes were made for me. All my soups were cooked without oil and even meat, except fish. Fresh tomatoes were used as the colouring agents. Same measure was applicable to rice, either jollof or stewed. I was taking enough water at intervals, mostly during meals. Aside water, my other food supplements were only natural fruits including oranges, banana, guava, carrot, garden eggs, and what have you.

        That was how I managed the situation for over a year. During this period, I was not unlike a total stranger at home because I inadvertently began detesting virtually every other food to include those I wasn’t advised to avoid. Before I could take anything, I had to consult my mum who would give me a go ahead order or ask me to steer clear of it, as the case might be. I was only doing it to save my humble soul.

         The experience was really hectic for me being a kid who was supposed to fall in love with almost every cooked food. But I had to cope because I had no option, though every effort was possible owing to my mum’s steady attention. You can now understand why I saw her as my messiah. Well, as a medical personnel and mother, she had no option than to respond accordingly.

         At 10, my doctor asked my parents to bring me for further diagnoses, which they complied. There and behold, no trace of Hepatitis B was found in my entire system. Months later, I repeated the tests and same results were observed thereof.

         “Congratulations Fred!” exclaimed Dr. Okafor as he walked up to where I was seated alongside my mum right in his office.

        On hearing the remark, my mum jumped up and I was compelled to follow suit. Therein, she hugged me tightly and passionately too. My dad later got the final breaking news when we got home. It was indeed celebration galore for the entire Nwaozor family.

        Since then till now, I have never been diagnosed of any form of hepatitis infection. If you asked me, I would say it was all about sacrifice and self denial.

       The rest is history, please!   

FDN Nwaozor 

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

_________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador 

http://facebook.com/theMediaAmbassador