In years past, Udoh Akpan, a native of Akwa Ibom State, was a notable member of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, a group of men and women who perpetually cheer the national football teams and help eliminate dull moments in the stadia whenever the national teams are playing. Accompanied by trumpet sounds and exotic gyrations, Akpan and his colleagues would put up spectacular circus displays, posing as mascots and entertaining the audience with fanfare.
Even now, in spite of his excruciating pains, the former Trebor Lions Football Club of Lagos player is still passionate about sports development in the country. His patriotic activities in the Nigerian soccer industry over the years have earned him the nickname, Mr. Nigeria. He is simply one of the ‘craziest’ sports supporters around. Recently, he has joined a group promoting the Guinness World Record bout of World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion, Bash Ali.
But today, the once energetic Akpan limps about in murky and smelly clothing. He roams the streets with two dirty polythene bags that contain his belongings. He is homeless and is presumed to be mentally deranged. His eczema-infested face is etched in pains and bitterness. His utterances could be annoying and dangerous when he is not having his way. On his ankle is a decaying wound that disgorges some repugnant stench.
Ten years ago, while coming back from Akwa Ibom where he had gone to visit his parents, Akpan got involved in a motor accident on the Lagos-Benin Expressway. He carries the injury sustained in that accident till today.
The first time the 35-year-old bachelor walked into The Sun’s offices in Ibadan, a loathsome stench promptly enveloped the room and one of the two reporters in the office got nauseated and simply vanished. The second reporter stayed back, electing to “be a man, since someone had to attend to the visitor.”
“Don’t run away from me,” the visitor pleaded, having noticed the silent turmoil in the room. “I came here because I need your help. Do you know me? I am Mr. Nigeria.” And immediately, Mr. Nigeria dug his hand into one of his filthy polythene bags and produced a collection of photographs. In one of the photographs, he posed with some Super Eagles’ stars, including Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Pius Ikedia. In the other photographs, he was quite conspicuous in green and white colours as he entertained the crowd in a stadium, juggling a ball and waving the national flag.
Before his accident, the primary school certificate holder’s main job consisted of customizing jerseys for football fans. But today, Akpan is without any job, physically and financially incapacitated. “The injury has not allowed me to work or mix with people,” he asserted. Mr. Nigeria says he has virtually no one that he could turn to for help. He lost his mother on January 2, 2009 and his father on March 18, 2010. Five of his siblings are also deceased, leaving him with two brothers. One of them, he says, is a bricklayer while the other works as a driver with a telecommunications outfit.
According to medical specialists at the Ogun State General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, the solution to Akpan’s health handicap is a Below the Knee Amputation (BKA). That, they say, would cost N250, 000. According to them, the amputation would ease the vicious pains Akpan currently lives with. Other medical experts at the University College Hospital, (UCH), Ibadan, have also said that surgery, or amputation of the affected leg, is inevitable, observing that the wound had been seriously infected and had impaired his mental health. They have also warned that the condition may result in absolute insanity and even death if allowed to deteriorate.
Akpan says doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and General Hospital Ajegunle, both in Lagos, have also recommended a plastic surgery which would cost N1.5million.“I know amputating the leg is quite cheaper, but I don’t want them to cut off my leg. I beg, tell Nigerians to help me. The surgery would cost N1.5million. I am suffering. I also need money to move on with my life. I don’t even have a source of daily bread. Please help me,” he pleads.
He is optimistic that with the help of Nigerians, he would be able to undergo surgery here in Nigeria or somewhere abroad. Akpan’s plea for help has previously been published in some national dailies and aired on a number of television programmes. He has also been sending appeal letters to churches, banks and corporate bodies. But he says he has not been able to raise enough money for the surgery. He admitted that Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola once gave him N300,000 and that another N200,000 came from one Chief Olowo. He says, however, that his manager at the time, one Mr. Peter, bolted with the N500,000.
According to him, Bash Ali and Rafiu Ladipo, President-General of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, are aware of his predicament. Contacted on phone, Bash Ali admitted that Mr. Nigeria was in a precarious situation, health wise. Said the Edo born boxer: “I have promised him that I’ll help in taking him to India for treatment. It’s just that since I got back from Libya, I’ve been trying to settle things, but the system is so corrupt. I’ve told him to be patient.”
Bash Alli’s comments are sincere enough, but the boxer has his hands full already. He is currently locked in a battle with the Federal Government over the latter’s lack of support for his dream of becoming the oldest boxer to win a world boxing title fight.
And for Mr. Nigeria, there’s more to fear than amputation. He risks losing his sanity and even his life. He needs treatment and rehabilitation. He needs to be brought out of destitution. He needs a home. He needs to get back to supporting sports as he used to do, as adorning the green and white colours is like an addiction to him.
Says he: “Nigerians have been trying for me. Sometimes I just check my account and find money there. I thank them but I need more to treat this leg or they will amputate it. I want to go back to supporting my country. I love my country. Anybody that wants to help me can easily reach me on my mobile lines. They are 07037187903 and 07085061604. God will continue to help you as you lend a helping hand.”
Source : Sun Newspaper.
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