The grave need not be so close
Nigeria in 1988, had just a handful of human or civil right organisations. They were in their infancy in a country with very high mortality rate. To some of us, it was worrying that while large parts of the world would mark the 40th commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the largest Black nation in the world, was going to be left out. More so when the country was under military dictatorship, which had, scant regard for human rights. Therefore, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) met to organize a national.
To organize it, the NBA sent Obi Okusogu, a brilliant mind with a natural disposition of putting people at ease. The NMA presented a thoughtful Dr. Ekpo then of the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos while the NUJ sent Kayode Komolafe, now the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers, and I. Given the short notice, we worked non-stop to put up a national event packed full with people including Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. Needless to say, the four of us became quite close. United by common beliefs of social justice and faith in the ability of Nigerians to take their future in their hands. We were to play lead roles in the eventually confrontation with military dictatorship. Okusogu was later elected General Secretary of the NBA and conferred with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) I knew I had a dedicated brother out there in the legal world who would not hesitate to gallop to my side pro bono.
What I did not know was that on November 23, death will pluck such a noble heart. Henry Odugala, was courage, commitment, intelligence and a high sense of proletarian internationalism combined. He was young, brilliant and a good journalist. He was ready to throw away his job at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Benin if that was the penalty for being committed to a better country. Just as I moved from journalism to the trade unions, he also moved, becoming the General Secretary of the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) In labour, he helped to anchor many of our programmes giving them the professional touch of a broadcaster.
November 4, was my birthday, a mutual friend and veteran of street battles, Biodun Aremu called me. He did not know whether to wish me happy birthday, or simply to break the tragic news; Henry Odugala passed away! I could not wait for the month of November to pass away as it seemed to rain death. The dedicated human rights community in Nigeria is small. A lot also depends on lawyers who take the defence of human rights as their primary duty. One of the most outstanding was Fred Agbaje. He was a dogged fighter and defended the weak using the judicial system. Just as I heaved a sigh of relief that November was finally folding up, it took along Fred Agbaje. It was November 24. If the best of our middle and upper middle-class patriots are dropping off so fast, we need no divinity to tell us what is happening to the masses down there.
Every one of these brothers have some means, will and courage to fight off death; if they succumbed, then what we require as a people, is collective fight. WE NEED NOT BOTHER WITH ANY TALE OF FATALISM OR DESTINY, BUT TO RE-EXAMINE OURSELVES AND ASK; WHY IS DEATH LURKING AROUND NIGERIA AND SCORING SO CHEAP GOALS? It is not a matter of Nigeria being a poor under developed country lacking resources; it is more a matter of priority, planning and leadership. Cuba, the small island of the brave and courageous, lacking the vast natural resources we have, enduring over fifty years of economic blockade and isolation, has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. This is not just in terms of its modern facilities, but more importantly, in its holistic approach to healthcare as general wellness of the body; physical and mental. It has a life expectancy of 78, and a healthcare system focused on prevention rather than cure.
The ratb.org.uk organization notes that: “Cuba has a record unmatched in dealing with chronic and infectious diseases with amazingly limited resources. These include (with date eradicated): polio (1962), malaria (1967), neonatal tetanus (1972), diphtheria (1979), congenital rubella syndrome (1989), post-mumps meningitis (1989), measles (1993), rubella (1995), and TB meningitis (1997)” We can learn from small Cuba beginning with keeping our communities clean by at least clearing refuse; didn’t the Holy Book say cleanliness is next to godliness? Cuba teaches us that you do not need to be rich to make healthcare affordable. Fellow Nigerians, the grave need not be so close.
To organize it, the NBA sent Obi Okusogu, a brilliant mind with a natural disposition of putting people at ease. The NMA presented a thoughtful Dr. Ekpo then of the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos while the NUJ sent Kayode Komolafe, now the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers, and I. Given the short notice, we worked non-stop to put up a national event packed full with people including Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. Needless to say, the four of us became quite close. United by common beliefs of social justice and faith in the ability of Nigerians to take their future in their hands. We were to play lead roles in the eventually confrontation with military dictatorship. Okusogu was later elected General Secretary of the NBA and conferred with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) I knew I had a dedicated brother out there in the legal world who would not hesitate to gallop to my side pro bono.
What I did not know was that on November 23, death will pluck such a noble heart. Henry Odugala, was courage, commitment, intelligence and a high sense of proletarian internationalism combined. He was young, brilliant and a good journalist. He was ready to throw away his job at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Benin if that was the penalty for being committed to a better country. Just as I moved from journalism to the trade unions, he also moved, becoming the General Secretary of the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) In labour, he helped to anchor many of our programmes giving them the professional touch of a broadcaster.
November 4, was my birthday, a mutual friend and veteran of street battles, Biodun Aremu called me. He did not know whether to wish me happy birthday, or simply to break the tragic news; Henry Odugala passed away! I could not wait for the month of November to pass away as it seemed to rain death. The dedicated human rights community in Nigeria is small. A lot also depends on lawyers who take the defence of human rights as their primary duty. One of the most outstanding was Fred Agbaje. He was a dogged fighter and defended the weak using the judicial system. Just as I heaved a sigh of relief that November was finally folding up, it took along Fred Agbaje. It was November 24. If the best of our middle and upper middle-class patriots are dropping off so fast, we need no divinity to tell us what is happening to the masses down there.
Every one of these brothers have some means, will and courage to fight off death; if they succumbed, then what we require as a people, is collective fight. WE NEED NOT BOTHER WITH ANY TALE OF FATALISM OR DESTINY, BUT TO RE-EXAMINE OURSELVES AND ASK; WHY IS DEATH LURKING AROUND NIGERIA AND SCORING SO CHEAP GOALS? It is not a matter of Nigeria being a poor under developed country lacking resources; it is more a matter of priority, planning and leadership. Cuba, the small island of the brave and courageous, lacking the vast natural resources we have, enduring over fifty years of economic blockade and isolation, has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. This is not just in terms of its modern facilities, but more importantly, in its holistic approach to healthcare as general wellness of the body; physical and mental. It has a life expectancy of 78, and a healthcare system focused on prevention rather than cure.
The ratb.org.uk organization notes that: “Cuba has a record unmatched in dealing with chronic and infectious diseases with amazingly limited resources. These include (with date eradicated): polio (1962), malaria (1967), neonatal tetanus (1972), diphtheria (1979), congenital rubella syndrome (1989), post-mumps meningitis (1989), measles (1993), rubella (1995), and TB meningitis (1997)” We can learn from small Cuba beginning with keeping our communities clean by at least clearing refuse; didn’t the Holy Book say cleanliness is next to godliness? Cuba teaches us that you do not need to be rich to make healthcare affordable. Fellow Nigerians, the grave need not be so close.
