An Industrial Investor and Social Revolutionist, Don Ebubeọgụ has called on all well-meaning Nigerians to raise their voices once more so that Anambra State Government can be compeled to take responsibility for Mr Okey Akaneme’s health challenges.
This medium gathered that Akaneme, a former Chairman of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce was on the 11th of October, 2024 assaulted by officials of Salitz Ventures, an agency licensed by the Anambra State Government to handle sanitation and led by one Mr. Joseph Okoye.
Ebubeọgụ who is the CEO of the award winning food and beverages manufacturers, Tiger Food Limited said that Akaneme, a leader in the Organized Private Sector is someone who dedicated his life to serving others until he was reduced to nothing by government’s agent.
While calling on Nigerians to speak out against the dehumanizing treatment Akaneme got in the hands of Salitz Ventures, who he said disregarded their rule of engagement and acted outside the scope of their contract, Ebubeọgụ urged the people to use their voices to shine a spotlight on this issue as Akaneme “deserves better than this; he deserves our compassion and our action”.
Recall that the Anambra State government, through the Honourable Commissioners for Health and that of Environment, visited Mr Akaneme at Memphis Hospital in Enugu, where he is currently receiving treatment and equally suspended the contract of Salitz Ventures, pending investigation, but nothing has been done about the medical bills of Akaneme.
Calling for more actions, Ebubeọgụ said, “Some weeks back, we all rose against the dehumanisation of Mr. Okey Akaneme by the agents of the Anambra State Government (Salitz Ventures), led by one Mr. Joseph Okoye, who disregarded their rule of engagement and acted outside the scope of their contract.
“Once a vibrant leader and a beacon of hope for his community, Mr. Akaneme now faces a battle for survival, paralysed from the neck down and trapped in a near-vegetative state.
“Our collective outcry briefly captured the attention of the government, leading to promised investigations and the suspension of the agent responsible. However, seven weeks have passed, and the government seems intent on allowing this matter to fade into silence, just as Mr. Akaneme’s health has deteriorated further, forcing him back into the Intensive Care Unit at Menfys Hospital Enugu.
“As the hospital bills pile up to an overwhelming N20,751,000, we must ask ourselves—how much longer can he and his family endure this ordeal?
“His devoted wife, a professor at University of Nsukka, has been driven to the brink, using her modest salary and every ounce of her strength to fight for the life of her beloved husband—their family’s breadwinner.
“While she endures her own heartache and helplessness, the true criminals responsible for this tragedy roam free, unpunished.
“I implore you to let us raise our voices once more so that we can shine a spotlight on this issue. Together, we can compel the government to take responsibility for Mr. Akaneme’s health care during this desperate fight for survival. He deserves better than this; he deserves our compassion and our action.”
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He called on people of goodwill to take a moment to consider the gravity of Akaneme’s condition, illustrated by the pictures attached in the story, which reveal a man who once stood tall but is now brought low by injustice.
“He was a leader in the Organized Private Sector and the President of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce—someone who dedicated his life to serving others.
“May our hearts be stirred and our voices be unified to bring forth the change Mr. Akaneme desperately needs. Together, we can be the light in his darkest hour,” Ebubeọgụ said.
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