By Kamil Opeyemi
Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy, has revealed how he battle with prostrate cancer shortly after the 2023 general elections.
Utomi, a chiefttain of Labour Party disclosed in a series of tweet via his X handle on Friday adding that this is the reason he appears to have gone quiet after elections.
Utomi said in the buildup to the 2023 elections, he occasionally visited a cancer centre in Ikeja after campaigns.
He added that whenever he talks about his struggles with cancer, it dawned on him that many people of his age bracket are also battling the same ailment.
“Did not see why it was taboo to say you were in a battle with Cancer. The more I talked about it the more I found many of my age in similar circumstances.
“It almost seems like an epidemic for Nigerian men over 60. Not talking makes them lose the benefit of early detection,” he wrote
The political economist added that once elections were over, his young nephews and cousins who are doctors in Europe and the US, joined forces with the Lakeshore people and decided they wanted me in their direct care
“Once elections were over, my young nephews and cousins, Doctors in Europe and the US joined forces with the Lakeshore people and decided they wanted me in their direct care.
“That’s how it seemed. I went quiet cause they controlled my phones to reduce stress
“When a biopsy showed I was positive last year I began treatment with a cancer Centre with a branch in Ikeja and VI,” Utomi said.
“I sometimes came from election campaigns to the Ikeja Centre near the Airport. The Doctors would try to smuggle me out from the back. The well known shielded ?”
He argued that if patients had been forewarned, the “misery containment” and chances of cure could be significantly enhanced, similar to breast cancer prevention efforts among women.
“I am moved this dawn of light to confront an epidemic under the carpet with great harm to men. Prostate cancer is bringing death and misery to many men. Had they been forewarned the misery containment and even chances of cure could be much enhanced, like women have with breast CA.
“I agreed with the Gambian Real Estate Entrepreneur Taf Njie while I battled the disease that we should do more to create awareness.. Nearly 30 years ago I went to Ibadan to speak and lend a hand to present Ondo First Lady Betty Akeredolu as she raised the breast cancer banner,” he added
Utomi played a pivotal role in the presidential campaign for Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, paving the way for an unprecedented third force in Nigerian politics.
Though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as president, Obi and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, are challenging the outcome of the elections in court.