Today the spotlight is on Eze Stephen Ibeneme, said to be a traditional ruler in a town in Abia State, who brought to the notice of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr .Ogbonnaya Onu, the feat of the cure of his prostate cancer with the herbal medicine prepared by ninety – something – year – old Pa Aliyu Giwa of Adavieba community in Kogi State. An action that led the Minister to visit the old man, promising that the Federal Government would buy him a vehicle, build him a four – bedroom bungalow clinic and assist in the production and marketing of his medicines in the country and abroad.
I am full of praise for Eze Ibeneme, not only for facilitating government’s goodies for the nonagenarian guru, but also for coming out to let the world know that he had prostate cancer and was cured by the herbal medicine prepared by him. Something which other dignitaries in the country who were healed of some diseases by herbal doctors have refused to do in the last two years, because they saw it as shameful to have such illnesses as prostate cancer and diabetes and go for treatment with herbal doctors instead of orthodox ones.
As long – time readers of this column which has been on for ten years know, I did a series from September 2015 through February 2016 on the herbal medicine practice of the then 76 year – old Dr. Adeola Isaac Odeyemi, a Ph.D. Computer Science graduate, who trained as a herbal doctor in 1991. In all, six hundred and seven people who included traditional rulers with university degrees, professors, scientists, medical doctors trained in Europe or the Americas, bishops and priests of orthodox and Pentecostal churches reached out to me for his telephone number for the treatment of their diseases.
Several dozens of them got back to inform me that they were cured by Odeyemi’s medicines they took for high blood pressure, asthma, stroke, arthritis, pile, sickle cell anemia, stomach ulcer, typhoid fever and erectile dysfunction. While the diabetics among them said that their blood sugar lowered considerably to safe levels. But of the lot only two common folks, a man and a woman agreed that I could publish their names and phone numbers when reporting their testimonies, which I did on November 25, 2015 in my column. But none of the elites and prominent people gave me the go – ahead to do so.
I have had the same experience with people doing this series on Mrs. Folarin. When I met and interviewed her last month, on Tuesday, July 25, I asked her for the identities and phone numbers of some of those she had cured of prostate cancer, so that I could contact them to confirm or deny her claim. She gave me the names of one Mr. Majekodunmi in the Oke Afa area of Isolo, Lagos and that of 85 year – old Pa Abdullahi Kusimo of Ketu, also in Lagos.
I did not call the latter because of his age and the fact that he speaks only the Yoruba language. When I called Majekodunmi’s number penultimate Sunday it was his wife who picked the phone. She confirmed that Mrs. Folarin’s herbal medicine had ended her husband’s prostate enlargement problems. But that it was only her spouse who could give me the authority to publish the testimony.
But the following day when I called Mr. Majekodunmi, he denied he ever had prostate enlargement, let alone go to a herbal doctor for treatment and that he did not know anyone called Mrs. Folarin. I then asked how the woman got to know his name, the area of Lagos where he lives and his phone number. I also informed him that his wife had told me the previous day that Mrs. Folarin treated him and that her herbal medicine worked for his prostate enlargement. His response was that I should not publish anything about him and immediately switched – off his phone.
For continuation next week.
Phenomenal Dr. Kolade, the best boss I ever had (4)
Having written about Dr. Kolade’s career as a star in the broadcasting industry, a great man in corporate management and an extraordinary diplomat when he was Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, attention now shifts to his education and academic achievements and his imparting knowledge to the younger generation in the last phase of his distinguished and glorious life. He had his secondary education at the prestigious Government College Ibadan, one of the six most famous secondary institutions in the country at that time. And had his tertiary education at the globally renowned Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which is now the University of Sierra Leone, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.
After his diplomatic service in the U.K. he returned home and teamed up with close associates to establish the Lagos Business School and the Pan -African University, which is now known as Pan – Atlantic University. He lectures on leadership and business management themes at the two institutions and doubles as the Pro – Chancellor and Chairman of the university’s Governing Council. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the trio of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc and Acorn Petroleum Plc.
A detribalized, hardworking, tireless and honest gentleman and an exemplary Christian, Dr. Kolade who is the epitome of humility and a role model, was the President of the International Institute for Communication (1973 – 75), the President of the World Association for Christian Communication (1975 – 82), the President of the Institute of Management (1985 – 88) and that of the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria from 1988 – 93.
As he continues his service to the nation and international communities, I say God bless my incomparable and indefatigable all – rounder oga (boss), Ambassador (Dr.) Christopher Olusola Kolade, a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), an indigene of Erin – Oke in the Ilesa district of Osun State, where he was born in 1932. Now 85, I pray he lives to the nonagenarian age and beyond in sound health and happiness unto the end.
Sir Ofoneme, the writer who is 81 years old, is a Knight of Saint Christopher (KSC) of the Catholic Church and a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP). A 1967 B.Sc. (Hon) Economics graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he retired as a Senior Administrative Officer at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation/Television Service (NBC/TV), on April 1, 1978.
Next week: Sina Adedipe pays his own tribute to Dr. Kolade, God’s instrument in 1969 in facilitating his career in journalism, a profession which at the age of nine was predicted for him by a prophet in 1953. The write-up on iconic Kolade is the story of the display of uncommon integrity in leadership.