A kaduna-based journalist and publisher of Daily Newstime, John Adi, has explained why he is volunteering a kidney to the ailing daughter of a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Sonia Ekweremadu made a public appeal to the general public to save her life.
She noted she is in need of a person to graciously donate his/her kidney.
During an interview with Punch, the journalist stated that there is no financial gain attached to his gesture, he only decided to donate his kidney to help someone in line with the tenets of his faith as a Christian.
said, “Well, as a journalist, who has concern for public issues, I had followed that story from day one. It is very painful that a serving senator and former Deputy Senate President could be in such a problem, because he’s trying to save the life of his dear daughter. For me, that Senator Ekweremadu had to go into detention for this purpose is a serious embarrassment to this country.
“Most embarrassing is that it was in the United Kingdom that a former Deputy Senate President of our country is in prison custody over the allegation that he was trying to harvest someone’s organ.
“I followed that story with keen interest until the point where the wife was eventually released on bail and he (Ekweremadu) is still in detention till now, for whatever misconstrued issues. However, the daughter thereafter came out and made a passionate appeal to Nigerians to help her.
“It was at this point that I said to myself, “You mean in the entire South-East region and the entire senatorial district that Senator Ekweremadu came from, there is no one willing to help donate a kidney to save this girl’s life?”
“As a journalist, whose primary assignment is to report issues such as this, I was deeply challenged beyond writing stories about the issue; I moved to volunteer to help. The first question I asked myself was: “Is it that we’ve lost our sense of humanity or we’re afraid to die?” I immediately called my doctor and asked him to tell me about one’s chances of survival if one donates a kidney. And he said every human being has two kidneys and can survive with one inasmuch as he or she follows prescribed medical advice and guidelines. At this point, I made up my mind to help, especially considering her passionate appeal for help.
“Secondly, I had a deep thought about the Biblical injunction that says ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. In this case, we’re talking about daughter of a serving leader and lawmaker, despite the fact that he came from the East.
“The name ‘National Assembly’ is not Igbo National Assembly. So, I felt Ekweremadu is my senator and my former Deputy Senate President making laws that affect my life and the entire Nigerians. My Bible also tells me that all commandments have been collapsed into two to guide the world today, which is to love God and to love your neighbour.
“If we claim to serve and love God that we can’t see, the purpose of Christianity is defeated if it’s not reflected in how we relate with our fellow human beings. I love the girl and love what her father has done and he’s still doing for this great country. Thus, I decided to show unconditional love to save a life by donating one of my kidneys.
“As a public figure, I understand the implications of donating a kidney to anyone. It will definitely change the negative mentality about helping people. I am ready at anytime to donate my kidney if the compatibility test is conducted and confirmed okay, I will go ahead and do the needful.
“We are supposed to be our brothers’ keepers at all times, especially when the person involved is the daughter of our leader and it’s considered a payback time for what he has done for this country. There is no monetary inducement attached to it. My motivation is that if I have two kidneys, I can give one to someone in need if I know I will live thereafter; after all, if I die today, it is not for a criminal act, but an act of saving a soul. There is nothing more worthwhile and gratifying than making sacrifices for the sake of God and humanity.”
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