Date: 2013-04-26

His surname translates literally as one who possess the bag of money; the traditional way of identifying a wealthy man in Yorubaland in the days of yore.

And truly Kunle Okeowo had tried his hands on many pies; he has been industrious and courageous, taking daring economic steps to accomplish his life vision. He had been Chief Press Secretary to two military administrators in Kwara State. He even served in dual capacity as CPS for Kogi state’s military governor when the state was newly created from Kwara State.

After leaving government he remained largely in Kwara State, building young talents as he anchored a popular television show, Critical Factor. For a total of 10 years, Kunle anchored this programme and served as leader of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in the state. He was a regular face in public events as anchor and his sweet, velvet vice was unmistakable. In fact, when General Ibrahim Bababgida visited Kwara as Head of State, Okeowo anchored the event. Ditto when Olusegun Obasanjo visited the state.

But now the once virile and agile broadcaster, who started his career with the NTA is lying helpless on a bed at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). Doctors said he is suffering from multiple myloma and associated ailments. His medical record indicates that he has recurrent anaemia, haemorrhage, deposit in the skull and spinal cord, electrolyte derangement and a mass in the region of throat. In lay terms, it means the ace broadcaster has recurrent low blood count; his blood level fluctuates from 17-25 per cent, whereas the normal blood level should be between 40 and 45 per cent.

At 60 years of age, that appears a really discomfiting diagnosis. And from estimates he needs a sum of N2.5 million to access expert treatment outside Nigeria. That amount would enable him travel to either India or Egypt along with a helper. Taking the foreign trip is critical to his recovery. For one, Okeoowo, an indigene of Offa, in the southern senatorial district of Kwara state has been on and off the sick bed at UITH for about two months now and while his family acknowledges what the hospital has done the slow rate of recovery necessitates a second opinion on the case. Another reason is that samples earlier taken from him for a test that was conducted in one of India’s hospitals brought back a result that does not correspond with the tests that had been carried out on him at UITH.

When he spoke with newsmen from his hospital bed early this week, Okeowo who had a large girdle around his neck various tests had been conducted on him by various departments of the hospital adding however that in a most baffling develoment the medical experts had not come out with any particular cause of his ailment. Unlike his former self, the Okeowo who spoke with his younger colleagues on Tuesday was a frail-looking and weak patient. He lamented that he can no longer walk without being supported.

Although he commended the medical experts in the teaching hospital for what he described as their painstaking and through treatment so far, he said it would be better to be taken abroad for a more advanced treatment. He however noted that he had exhausted all his savings on the treatment without any specific diagnoses, added that along the line many things had also gone.

He therefore called for help particularly from the state government, having served as state officer in many capacities as CPS to two governors and even served as CPS at a point to two state governments of Kogi and Kwara when Kogi was newly created.

His family has also joined the call on the authorities of UITH to assist in the release of their son to enable them take him somewhere else for further treatment. In two separate letters written to the authorities of the teaching hospital and signed by the patient, Kunle Okeowo, his wife, Mrs. Catherine Bolajoko Okeowo and elder brother, Pastor Ayotunde Okeowo, and dated April 12 and 22, 2013, the family thanked the hospital for prompt action and general management of the patient's treatment since he was hospitalised.

Excerpt from the letter reads: "Recognising however that there has not been much improvement in his health, we have begun to consider seeking alternative opinion over him elsewhere and would be glad if you would issue a comprehensive medical report on the treatment he has received so far and on his present state of health as at this time. This is expected to facilitate the next help we hope to receive wherever else we may have to go".