THE LAST MOMENTS OF ORONTO DOUGLAS
He was diagnosed
with cancer in 2008 and had been battling the disease since then with
“encouraging signs” of improvement, family sources told TheCable.
with cancer in 2008 and had been battling the disease since then with
“encouraging signs” of improvement, family sources told TheCable.
At some stage, he
was thought to have survived as the cancer went into remission, but he suffered
a relapse in 2011. He had been visibly sick in the last one year, losing weight
dramatically and sometimes needing a wheelchair to move around in the last
three months. Douglas, a trusted aide of Jonathan, travelled to the US in March
for his regular check-up and was told by his doctors that he could not survive
further medication.
was thought to have survived as the cancer went into remission, but he suffered
a relapse in 2011. He had been visibly sick in the last one year, losing weight
dramatically and sometimes needing a wheelchair to move around in the last
three months. Douglas, a trusted aide of Jonathan, travelled to the US in March
for his regular check-up and was told by his doctors that he could not survive
further medication.
“They told him he
would die in a matter of days. That was on March 18, 2015. He had to choose
between dying in the US and returning to Nigeria. He decided to return home,”
the source said. He was said to be in high spirits up till the moments leading
to his death, which occurred at 4:58am on Thursday at the State House clinic,
Abuja.
would die in a matter of days. That was on March 18, 2015. He had to choose
between dying in the US and returning to Nigeria. He decided to return home,”
the source said. He was said to be in high spirits up till the moments leading
to his death, which occurred at 4:58am on Thursday at the State House clinic,
Abuja.
“You would not
believe he was so sick if you listened to him on the phone. Only if you saw him
physically would you know his state. As at Wednesday, he was still working even
though he could not move around the house,” the source added. Unlike in 2011 when
he went on the nationwide campaign tour of Jonathan, he was not strong enough
to participate in the 2015 campaign, and could no longer go to office.
believe he was so sick if you listened to him on the phone. Only if you saw him
physically would you know his state. As at Wednesday, he was still working even
though he could not move around the house,” the source added. Unlike in 2011 when
he went on the nationwide campaign tour of Jonathan, he was not strong enough
to participate in the 2015 campaign, and could no longer go to office.
Douglas, who would
have clocked 49 on August 6, cut his teeth as a young lawyer and environmental
rights activist. He was the deputy director of the Environmental Rights
Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, a group devoted to “protecting the
environment”. He was a member of the legal team that represented Ken Saro-Wiwa
and eight other Ogoni activists at their trial under Gen. Sani Abacha’s
government in 1994-95.
have clocked 49 on August 6, cut his teeth as a young lawyer and environmental
rights activist. He was the deputy director of the Environmental Rights
Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, a group devoted to “protecting the
environment”. He was a member of the legal team that represented Ken Saro-Wiwa
and eight other Ogoni activists at their trial under Gen. Sani Abacha’s
government in 1994-95.
The Ogoni Nine, as
they were called, were executed in November 1995 in what was described as
“judicial murder”. The Okoroba-born humanitarian had degrees in law from the
University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, and De Montfort,
Leicester, England. He was commissioner for information in Bayelsa state, but
resigned in 2005 when DSP Alamieyeseigha, then governor, was impeached. He left
behind a wife and two young sons.
they were called, were executed in November 1995 in what was described as
“judicial murder”. The Okoroba-born humanitarian had degrees in law from the
University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, and De Montfort,
Leicester, England. He was commissioner for information in Bayelsa state, but
resigned in 2005 when DSP Alamieyeseigha, then governor, was impeached. He left
behind a wife and two young sons.
Culled from
TheCable.ng
TheCable.ng
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