On Friday, August 8, the Nigerian social circuit was thrown into a mourning mood. This was occasioned by the tragic death of Henry Abebe, one of Nigeria’s most prominent Big Boys, who died in Abuja. The very handsome and sociable Big Boy was the younger brother of the late Stella Obasanjo, the wife of former President Olusegun Obansanjo.
Abebe, a businessman and a former Executive Director at the Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, died in a local hospital in Abuja, after he reportedly fell ill.
The ELITES gathered that, prior to his illness, Abebe had been battling liver cirrhosis for years. Sources disclosed that Abebe suddenly took ill and was admitted at the hospital to get treatment for his liver ailment. His health was said to have stabilised for a while. However, his state of health took a turn for the worse, when the doctor on duty, who was not aware of his medical history of being diabetic, mistakenly administered glucose intravenously on him. This resulted in him slipping into Coma, from which he never woke up from.
Fondly called ‘Ahey’ by his friends and admirers, Abebe was the last of the seven children of distinguished industrialist and administrator, Dr. Christopher Abebe and his wife, Madam Theresa. Dr. Abebe is the first indigenous chairman of UAC Plc.
Since yesterday, when the news of Henry Abebe’s death broke out, members of his family and friends have become very downcast. Worst hit are his parents, his wife, Beatrice (nee Moekeme) pictured below and his children- Manny, Antony Ikhide and Nicole. And so also are his two surviving siblings- John Abebe and Rita Harold-Sodipo (nee Abebe).
Sadly too, since 1989 till date, Henry Abebe’s parents have had to bury five of their children. The first death claimed Edwin This was then followed by that of Victor, who died in 1989 of a terminal ailment. The late Victor, a successful obstetrician and gynecologist, was married to Edugie, the elder sister of Senator Daisy Danjuma.
The Abebes were still grappling with the pain of his death when Bess Abebe-Abiola, the last daughter and sixth of the Children, died in August 2002. Bess died of a kidney ailment and she was buried at Ikoyi Cemetery amidst sorrow and wailing that were so palpable. T
hree years after, precisely in October 2005, the eldest of the Abebe family, Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo, died just few weeks to her 60thbirthday celebration. The late Stella Obasanjo, who was fondly called ‘Sista’ by her siblings and their spouses, died at the Moulding Clinic in Marbella, Spain, from complications arising from a Liposuction surgery. Her death really shook the country, not just because her husband, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was then the President of Nigeria, but the circumstances
that led to her death sparked a volume of controversies among people across the world.
Henry Abebe joined the Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, in 2003 as a General Manager. Later he rose to become the Executive Director of Cabotage and Maritime Labour Services of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Abebe attended the University of Nsukka, Enugu State, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Accounting. He also obtained his Master’s from London School of Economics, where he majored in Banking and Finance. He worked in several banking organisations within and outside Nigeria.
Described, as a very good social mixer, Henry Abebe was close to most of the notable Big Boys, who were his bosom friends. Prominent among some of his close friends are Chief James Ibori, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Henry Imasekha, Ebisan Rewane, Timi Alaibe, Hosa Okunbo, Tunde Ayeni. Ivor Ekpe, Dere Otubu, Feyi Bali, Lulu Enboifo, Tony Anenih Jnr., and many others.
Source – The Elites (Nigeria)
My dad who was given a drip even with his heart condition and he didn’t recover. It was a grievous mistake cos his regular doctor was not around and the young doctor did not even make any attempt to check his records. Some of these inexperienced doctors just don’t get it. I lost my First child many years ago cos the young doctor I met could not realize i was having premature labour at 28 weeks and administered chloroquine injection on me. The fact remains that the qualification of some of our doctors leaves much to be desired and wrong diagnosis is quite common in this clime.
Ngozi, so sorry to read of your personal experiences. What more can I say! Lost for words really.
Just tells you the level of degeneration journalism as a profession has undergone in Nigeria. Couldn’t this junk writer have asked a medical doctor if there are situations where use of glucose would be necessary in a diabetic?
Reminds me of the other journalist who claimed a misdiagnosis of ovarian cancer some 16 yrs ago killed Prof Akunyili.
…..Christo, and your point been???
At least get a quote from the hospital before going to press with rumours!
Firstly, thanks for finding time to drop your comments. And, you sincerely believe a comment would come forth? Austine, if you know otherwise, I would be glad to publish your story.
Make an effort first before assuming they would not be forthcoming with information.At the very least you can tell your readers the hospital was contacted but refused to give any info. With regards to giving glucose infusion to diabetics it is wrong to say diabetics are not given that. Depending on the blood sugar levels intravenous glucose is given to diabetics who come in emergencies-the commonest being diabetic keto acidosis (DKA) in insulin dependent diabetes mellitis.
Sorry meant to say appalling and NOT appealing.
@Dr Ajayi, it may be true that he may have had other complications but even an idiot knows you don’t give glucose intravenously to a diabetic. My mother is diabetic and it’s stories like this that make us get on a plane every year to get checked out abroad as many other who can also afford to also do. No one is ignorant to the appealing state of our health care system and it’s only the grace of God that gets one thru. Whatever other complications Henry may have had, being given glucose that day sealed his fate and took any fighting chance of surviving the ordeal from him.
@Tolu you show complete ignorance in your knowledge of diabetes. Intravenous infusion of glucose does not kill! In fact glucose infusion is part of the management of a diabetic emergencies depending on the blood glucose level. I practice abroad, UK to be specific if that helps.That idiot who you say knows you dont give glucose IV to a diabetic knows nothing about diabetis. Jumping to a conclusion that that sealed his fate beggars believe!
Austin,let me first tell you how grateful I am to you for coming on to post your comment. I really appreciate that. Thanks for the rejoinder and education. God bless.
Commiserations to the kith and kin of this man, especially, his wife and parents.
Your write up appeared to suggest the “glucose administration killed him”. That may not be wholly accurate and at best, might be unfair to his doctors/carers. Doctors usually need autopsy reports and do not rush to conclusion or speculate. Putting my medico-legal cap on, I wonder if the cause of death was terminal and that the administration of any fluid or drug was coincidental and immaterial. Donning my medical cap, I was taught that in an emergency, two drugs could be administered to an unconscious or moribund patient to buy time: glucose (because too low sugar, hypoglycaemia kills) and cortisol/cortisone (because Addison’s disease, rare though, also kills.)
In a lot of people, liver cirrhosis kills on its own. ( http://www.fobitmedical.com )
I feel for the family as I am myself presently bereaved, albeit, old-age death.
Dr Ajayi, we are so grateful for your input and do accept our commiserations on your bereavement.
Impressive read!