MEKA AKEREJOLA: FIGHTING TO STAY ALIVE!
Nigerian Radio Journalist, Orphan, suffers Chronic Kidney Failure…Pleads in tears ‘I don’t want to die, Please Save me’
*Exposed: Spends over a Million Naira in Indian Hospital
*Sit-at-home Wife, 3year old Son cry for help
*Silverbird’s Rhythm 94.7fm staff praying for his survival
*’Nigerian Union of Journalist has Insurance scheme for media professionals who dies in course of duty. Unfortunately, Meka didn’t subscribe for NUJ Insurance”–National Sec, NUJ HQ
*NUJ Regrets: ‘Response attained from government to save this journalist had been discouraging due to politics’
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU, CNN iReport in North America & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NAIJA STANDARD
“IF life gives me a lemon, I’d make a lemonade. On the rocks, make some soups with the peels and make sure I plant the seed. You just never know. This is my take on world peace”. Those were the catchy phrase of Meka Akerejola, a once lively and ebullient On-Air-Personality, OAP, a presenter in one of Nigeria’s wave-making radio stations ‘Rhythm 94.FM in Abuja-the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
He is no longer fit due to the deteriorating condition of his health to go on air and make his wide-listeners happy through his enchanting presentation, as the latest information reaching iReport showed that this problem which he is been battling since 2011 and treatment a year after in an Indian hospital has refused to let go of him; since his two kidneys have packed up as a result of chronic kidney failure.
Meka, an orphan and the only child in a family of four have exhausted all his resources and sensed that he needs global help to stay alive, as he is being sustained on dialysis three times a week. Unfortunately getting weaker by the day, he only needs the sum of N7m to N10m for the surgery and post surgery treatment to have his life back and smile again.
Sit-at-home Wife, 3year old Son cry for help
When iReport got in touch with one of Meka’s family relations, he said this journalist is looking so pensive, with hands placed on his stomach in tears saying “I don’t want to die. Please save me, help me inform the global community. Journalism is my life, I cannot do without it. I need help. I enjoy journalism and just wish to be treated, healed and return to our radio station.”
His wife and 3year old son have also been crying relentlessly, staying beside Meka, praying to God to send them destiny-helpers that would help them pay these huge bills, so that their breadwinner could be back on his feet again. Same way, the staff of Rhythm 94.7 FM have been praying to God to speedily heal Meka in a divine way.
Investigation by iReport confirms that Meka does not ‘drink alcohol or smoke’ but wondering how his kidneys could get this worse. Another question bothering this correspondent mind is the role being played by Nigerian Union of Journalist, NUJ, an umbrella body for practicing journalists in Africa’s most populous nation.
NUJ speak on Meka’s health problem
In an exclusive interview with Shuaibu Leman, National Secretary, NUJ, he raised few posers as to the reason financial help has not been forthcoming to assist Meka. His words: “The NUJ has been trying as a national media union for journalists in Nigeria to raise funds for treatment of Meka. We have written to political office holders, business outfits across the country. Sadly, the response we got from politicians had been very discouraging due to the just concluded elections and high-politics being played in the country.
“However, we intend that after the new administration of General Muhammadu Buhari will resume governance come May 29, 2015; we will re-double our efforts to see how to reach out to them(politicians) for financial assistance for Meka”, explains Leman.
When asked if NUJ has health insurance scheme as being practiced abroad for media professionals, he answered by saying “NUJ does not have health insurance scheme, but we have insurance for journalists in Nigeria who subscribed to our union insurance. Unfortunately for Meka, at no time did he subscribe for NUJ insurance, which would have permitted any journalists’ family to be entitled to the sum of N1.5m or N3m in case death occurs. No one is immune to fate, we are praying and hoping he gets well.”
*To reach Silverbird/Rhythm 93.7.FM (Headquarters) on phone, call: +234-1-793-6938
*To contact NUJ Headquarters, kindly call: +234-805-524-1132
*Meka’s family requests donation to:Meka Akerejola – Zenith – 1004157460, FCMB – 2427969013
