USA Africa Dialogue Series - TRIBUNE: Omo Omoruyi is dead

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/23976-omoruyi%E2%80%99s-death-fulfilled-doctors%E2%80%99-prediction.html

FAMILY members, friends and associates of the late Prof Omo Omoruyi, the former Director-General of the defunct Centre for Democratic Studies during the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, have expressed their regret over the passing away of the elder statesman.

Aged 75, Prof Omoruyi died on Sunday night at Faith Mediplex Hospital, Benin City during a battle with cancer that lasted for some years.

As early as 8 am, the entire premises of the Omoruyis, located at 1, Omoruyi Avenue, Oko Central, GRA, Benin City, was filled with sympathisers, who visited to condole with the immediate family members of the late professor of political science.

Younger brother of the deceased, Pastor Eghosa Omoruyi, said his elder brother became weak about a month after he returned from the United States of America for medical treatment.

He said though his late brother served the country very well, he was abandoned by the people he worked for at his hour of need.

He said that burial arrangement would be announced as soon as the family agreed on a date.

Widow of the late Prof Omoruyi, Mrs Joan Omoruyi, who spoke with journalists, said she was with her husband in his last moments, describing him as a great husband and father.

"I was with him yesterday (Sunday) evening but I do not know the exact minute he gave up. He had everything as a husband and a father," she said.

She noted that the late Prof Omoruyi, before his death, wrote a book, entitled, "My journey back to Life," where he chronicled his battle with cancer.

The Presidency on Monday said that President Goodluck Jonathan has received with sadness news of the death of Professor Omo Omoruyi.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Jonathan commiserated with Prof. Omoruyi's family and the Government and people of Edo State "on the loss of the very distinguished academic and illustrious citizen whose contributions to the nation's political development will be long remembered."

It expressed the President's belief that Nigerians will always acknowledge and honour the late Professor's significant contributions towards laying an enduring foundation for the current democratic dispensation in the country through the work of the Centre for Democratic Studies which he served as pioneer Director-General.

Last interview with Tribune
Before his death on Sunday night, Prof Omo Omoruyi, former Director General, Centre for Democratic Studies during the General Ibrahim Babangida administration, in an interview granted our reporter in January, said he was only given five years to live in 2008.

You were reported close to dying before you were quickly taken to the United States some months ago. How close were you to death?
In 2008, when I went to hospital in Boston, the doctors gave me five years to live. They said they had tried for me and if after five years I am still alive, then I am a 'miracle patient'. If you read my book, I wasn't expected to live more than five years. In Boston, the Doctor said, 'Omo, we have tried for you. For your kind of cancer, five years is the maximum.  But I said "Doctor, I want to do more."

Now I am undergoing a unique cancer treatment plan. This time around, they put me on the newest drug for the treatment of cancer by the name of Xtiandi. The drug is a unique one that has just been approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States. It costs about 8000 dollars a month and I am supposed to take 11 for 11 months.

First, I want to thank God because He is my keeper. I thank everybody that has really helped in my hour of need such as Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, members of my family, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Architect Iroro and some other important people. Days before 2013, I was worried, asking if I would make it but we are in 2013 now. So, I really thank God for my life.

Looking at the way you were treated at the National Hospital in Abuja and the way you were treated in the United States, what can you say about the health system of the country?
I think one has to be selfish here. If Jonathan must leave a legacy, he must do what President Obama is doing in the United States. We must have a 'Jonathancare' like the Obamacare. It must be a complete health package that will take care of the aged, the downtrodden and everybody. He must equip one hospital in every zone of the country and make it a specialist hospital for the treatment of a particular disease instead of the present arrangement whereby every hospital takes care of 1000 diseases.

 

- Ikhide

 

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