EBOLA SCARE TAKES THE LIFE OF A NIGERIAN AT MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT, SPAIN

Late Ikenna Nzeako

*Ebola Scare Takes The Life of A Nigerian At Madrid Barajas Airport, Spain

By Uchendu Precious Onuoha (Masterweb Special Correspondent-Spain)

The fear of Ebola is the beginning of life. Ebola is the most dreaded terror and scourge to humanity at moment. It is no respecter of persons, color or race, white and black, it is without boundary. Mere glimpse of any sign of Ebola at a distance will make even the American Special Strike force to take to their heels. The best of medical personnel cannot stand at the sign of Ebola. So was the case on October 18, 2014 at Barajas Madrid Airport Spain, where a Nigerian drug peddler was mistakenly abandoned and left to stew in his own juice by the airport security and medical team because of Ebola scare. If not for the Ebola fear the life of the Nigerian may have been saved.

According to information gathered by our Special Correspondent at the airport, the 38 year old Nigerian, identified as Ikenna Nzeako from Owerri Imo state on the fateful day arrived on a Turkish airline flight from Istanbul to Madrid. As he was about to leave from the airport he started shivering and collapsed. The airport security men and the emergency medical team realizing he was a Nigerian felt scared and hesitated to attend to him. Time elapsed as he was left alone on the floor before a special medical team arrived and confirmed that it was not Ebola case. But was as a result of overdose of cocaine inside his body which has busted inside his stomach. Subsequently he died few minutes after the medical team attended to him. 

Our Special correspondent traced where he lived in Madrid and met with his live- in girlfriend who is the mother of his one year old baby girl. According to the lady who said that the deceased came to Spain in 2008 and they have lived together for almost three years. Responding to questions by the Correspondent, she said that the late Ikenna called her two hours before he died and was talking to her in Igbo dialect a language she could not understand as she is from Edo state. And she never knew that was his last word until she was called by the police to inform her about his death later. The late Ikenna came from a family of eight with his parents still alive with three elder brothers before him and two sisters all in Nigeria. One of the sisters in Nigeria, who spoke to our special correspondent on phone, said that they saw him last in 2012 when he visited Nigeria. She pleaded that the Correspondent should on behalf of the family appeal to the Nigerian Embassy and the Nigerian Community in Spain to help bring back the corpse, saying as we did not see him in life again let us see him at death.

Also the deceased fiancée who was carrying their one year old baby girl during the interview with the Correspondent requested for help from the Nigerian Embassy and the Spanish government for accommodation and financial assistance to enable her take care of the baby as she has no work now.

The Nigerian Embassy, in line with their citizen’s diplomacy was quick to react to the incident by demanding for explanation from the Spanish authorities on the circumstances surrounding the death of the Nigerian. According to the Ambassador, Bianca Ojukwu who spoke to our correspondent over the incident said that the facts had to be established clearly that it was not as a result of Ebola as was initially feared. She lamented that its quiet unfortunate the circumstances that led to his death. And the Ambassador condemned the act of Nigerian citizens who involve themselves in heinous crimes risking their lives and tarnishing the image of the country in their quest to make fast money. She said that its high time they withdraw themselves otherwise they stand the risk of grave consequences for their actions as the host country would not take it lightly with anyone who constitutes himself a nuisance to them after giving him residence and work permit. Ambassador Bianca appealed to Nigerians living in Spain to always respect the laws of their host country and stay away from crime. She encouraged them to look for work and engage themselves in meaningful activities.

A cross section of Nigerians who spoke to our Correspondent over the incident expressed their displeasure with the situation of things at home saying that due to corruption among those at the corridors of power and the mis-management of the country’s resources has forced Nigerians to migrate and turned to beggars abroad, compelling many to take to crime against their wish. They appealed to the Federal Government to set up measures that will alleviate the sufferings of Nigerian citizens in Spain and Diaspora.

If not for Ebola scare, perhaps the life of Ikenna may have been saved first, after which he would have faced the wrath of the law for his crime. However, Ebola “though like the toad ugly and venomous yet it wears a precious jewel on its neck” (Shakespeare). Nigeria has been certified Ebola free country by WHO, thanks to the rapid response the Government gave to that and the cooperation of the citizenry also. At least the Ebola fear has shown that things can work in Nigeria if we really want. If the approach that was used to combat the Ebola case is applied in all sectors of governance in Nigeria, the country will turn to a paradise overnight. Hence with the fear of Ebola, Nigeria will be free of corruption and the economy will recover. Nigerians will stay at home and would not migrate. Those abroad can go back home to enjoy the milk of the land and the likes of the late Ikenna would be saved from untimely death. Therefore let all the incoming politicians and office holders come 2015 take an oath and be sworn in by the spirit of Ebola. As the fear of Ebola that made the Spanish airport security and medical team to abandon the Nigerian citizen will scare away corrupt politicians from embezzling public fund and save the nation.

OHANAEZE NDIGBO YOUTH COUNCIL TAKES OFF IN SPAIN

OHANAEZE NDIGBO YOUTH COUNCIL TAKES OFF IN SPAIN

History was made in Madrid Spain on September 10, 2014 when Ohanaeze Ndigbo  Youth Council (OYC) the Youth wing of  Ohanaeze the apex body of Ndigbo solidly planted her feet in Spain with a meeting organized by the body for Igbo Youths in Madrid Spain. During the meeting which was attended by enthusiastic Igbo Youths, the Chairman and media coordinator of OYC – Spain, Hon. Uchendu Precious Onuoha passed the good will message from Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro , OYC National leader and Chief Charles Okereke Ohanaeze Youth Ambassador – at- Large/Diaspora Coordinator and Media Consultant. In their message the leaders extended their good will to Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu and advised Igbo Youths to be united and should not allow anything to distract their devotion to Igbo unity.

Hon. Uchendu used the occasion to explain to the youths that Ohanaeze Youth Worldwide ( Ohanaeze Youth Council-OYC) is the youth wing of the parent Ohanaeze with the recognition and approval of the parent body. And he called on the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Spain to discard all misgivings and not to feel threatened, as OYC is not meant to usurp its position. Citing that as a house that contains doors and windows, each utility has its unique function in the house. Also as players in a team each player will play according to his wing with a common interest to score goals for the team to win the opponent and not to score against it. He said that is only a mad man that can set fire or pull down his own house.

Responding to some of the concerns raised by some of the youths that Ohanaeze in Nigeria and Spain have been stagnant and have not made any significant impact to the plight of Igbo youths both in Nigeria and in Diaspora, the youth leader assured them that things will not remain the same again and that under the present dispensation OYC as the active force of Ohanaeze having a clear cut vision and goals to pursue will be very proactive to the plight of Igbo youths. Hon. Uchendu stated that among other things OYC will instill the sense of self-worth among Igbo youths and will set up modalities to ensure that any Igbo youth that has left the shores of mother land to Spain or abroad will gain the years spent abroad and return to Igbo land better than he left by inspiring and motivating them to acquire better education and meaningful skills from their host that will make them become useful to themselves and to Igboland and the society at large.

The youths who rose up from the meeting  happy and motivated by the convincing and inspiring speech of the leader who informed and showed them the document of OYC registration as a legitimate association in Spain unanimously pledged their support and raised and signed a communique that reads;

A DAY WITH OBJ AT MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT SPAIN.

At any point in time things happen for a reason. And destiny has a way of playing a role in our lives. Sometimes, where one finds himself may affect or decide his destiny and future. For all the years I lived in Nigeria, I was never privileged to see or meet any Nigerian president dead or alive except on television or newspaper. As fate would have it, here in Spain by virtue of my position of work at the busy Madrid International airport, I have been privileged to meet not just prominent Nigerian leaders and citizens, but other famous people and !who is who! in the world. And I have used my position to serve my country as I have always rescued and helped out many Nigerians both old and young that get stranded because of one thing or another at the airport.

June 24, 2014 was another great day for me at work. This was a day I met one of the most prominent Nigerian leader, former President Olusegun Obasanjo popularly called Uncle Shegee. This is a man I have heard, and read much about him. But I never knew I would ever meet him under the circumstances we met. While I was waiting for the sub-way tren that shuttles between terminal 4 and terminal 4s, which is the International wing of the airport where I work, I noticed the presence of three black men, two men and a lady. As it is in my character to always pay attention to Africans especially Nigerians I meet at this complex airport as I know that they don’t receive the best of treatment mainly because of language factors. As I approached them, I noticed a very familiar face which resembled the face of Uncle Shegee I used to see in television and newspapers.

He was dressed in a normal white agbada without anything spectacular. But still looking strong and active, walking without staggering. And the following conversation ensued between us;

Good evening Sir, please where are you traveling to?

OBJ, good evening, I am traveling to Malabo.

Sir, your face looks very familiar, are you the former President of my country Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo?

OBJ; No I am his twin brother, laughing…

Then, my observation is not too far from the mark, but I can’t remember him having a twin brother, it was never mentioned and this my first time to hear that.

OBJ; He was always at home, still laughing…

I maintained a steady gaze on his face and noticing my curiosity he opened up and replied;

I am Obasanjo, while offering a handshake.

Ooh! It’s my pleasure meeting you Sir.

OBJ; Do you work here?

Yes, I work here.

How is Nigeria Sir?

OBJ; Nigeria is fine. I hope you do contact home?

I contact home, but the news and information I receive about Nigeria is very disturbing.

OBJ; Things will get better, you people should always pray for the country.

Yes Sir, I believe that things will get better as nothing remains permanent in life.

While on the tren, I offered him a copy of the book, The Road We Traveled, A Memoir of Two Worlds, written by me. And he asked what the book is all about. I told him the book is about childhood in Nigeria and about the experiences living in abroad. He commended me and said he will read the book.

We talked about Nigeria and Nigerians in diaspora. I used the opportunity to let him know the hard conditions many Nigerians in Spain are going through as a result of the economic crisis, which has forced many to turn to Beggars.

To that he said he has always told Nigerians abroad that Nigeria is not that bad and that they should come back home if their situation abroad is not favorable. I accompanied him and his aides to locate their boarding gate and they thanked me.

But to my surprise, the OBJ I met is different from the picture of OBJ that has been created in my mind from what I have heard and read about him. Uncle Shegee seems to me a very simple, jovial, humorous, and down to earth person contrary to my imagination. I am happy I met him in person.

This is a man I would have needed a god father to meet, but God who is my God father made it possible for us to meet under the circumstances we met. Uncle Shegee remember to contact me as you promised, who knows if I am your legendry twin brother as my sister even said that we look alike in my danshiki attire..

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