•He swallowed acid, destroyed his organs, now begging for assistance to do surgery
From Joseph Obukata, Warri
Salvation Eko Taiwo is in dire need of salvation. He was well until 20 years ago, when he intentionally ingested acid. He, subsequently, developed difficulty in breathing, dysphagia and odynophagia, which necessitated a tracheostomy and feeding gastrostomy.
Since then, Taiwo’s life has been miserable, living a life of pain and anguish. And he is regretting his action. He is now at the mercy of public-spirited Nigerians to live a normal life again.
Whether deliberate or “spiritually remote controlled” as he claimed, he wanted to terminate his life in 2003 when depression set in. For no reason, he went out of his home and bought acid, which he drank to end his life. But he didn’t die instantly. He landed in the hospital and underwent some surgical procedures.
Today, that action, according to him, is the greatest regret of his life. He said God gave him a second chance to live a normal life again, ostensibly to use him for his pastoral work, but only if he could afford the surgeries that would enable him eat and breathe normally again.
Taiwo, a native of Ewu community in Ughelli South local Government Area of Delta State, would need more than N3 million to undergo a surgical operation at the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna, to which he was referred from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where he was first treated and operated upon.
He was booked for an operation in September when he narrated his pathetic story to our correspondent.
The man popularly known as ‘Pastor’ within his vicinity gave details of his ordeal and why he is passionately begging for assistance to enable him undergo the surgical operation that would help him live a normal life again.
He said: “My name is Taiwo Eko, I’m jobless and not doing anything for now. I used to work, but since the challenges I had, I have been jobless. I used to be a mast mounter, I was among those who mounted some of the telecommunication masts you see around. But I am computer literate.
“Sometime ago, I had corrosive ingestion. Out of frustration, I drank acid. I drank raw acid. So, they took me to the hospital and they have done three surgeries on me. That was 2003.
“Due to the renovation of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, they said they couldn’t continue with my surgical operations, so they referred me to National Eye Care Centre, Kaduna, and they said they need about N3 million for the surgery so that I can eat through my mouth and breathe through my nose again.
“That’s why I am appealing for assistance from government and individuals so that I can become somebody again in life. The money will enable me to undergo the surgery so I can get myself back.
“I’m seriously appealing to individuals and the government to come and help me with the surgery so I can eat through my mouth. I can’t eat through my mouth, and I can’t breathe through my nose. It was the acid that damaged the organs.
“They call these things on my neck tracheostomy and feeding gastrostomy. I eat through here (displaying the device) while I breathe through here. You can see my artificial teeth. The hospital said that they don’t have the machine and where they have the machine is National Eye Care Centre, Kaduna. That’s where I can repair it and be okay again.
“As I’m talking to you now, I am breathing through the pipe. I don’t breathe through my nose at all. I’m just suspending the air so that it doesnt pump too much. If I hold it or suspend it for too long I wouldn’t be able to breathe. I may choke.
“I usually release the air intermittedly and take in fresh one. They made this device for me in UBTH after they had done the early surgery. This was done since 2015. It was after this one that they referred me to Kaduna.
“I have been living with this condition since 2003. The hospital said that they could not do it and that I was going to remain like this for life but, with prayers and further consultations, God now intevened and the doctors referred me to Kaduna where they have the machine. They don’t have the machine in UBTH, if not they could do it there.
“They referred me to Kaduna in Janaury 2023. They said if I can provide about N3 million, everything would be okay. The doctor in Kaduna said about N2 million could be okay but because of logistic I’m appealing for N3 million so that whatever that is left I can use it to set up something for my life.
“I am not married and I’m going to 34 years now. I live in this one room alone. People paid the rent for me. Some friends paid for me. My relations and family abandoned me because they have spent a lot on me. If I was not facing this health problem I could have married but for now I can’t marry with this condition. Even some people do avoid me because of the health issue. Some people mock me because of the health issue.”
Asked if he had a girlfriend, he said no, explaining that, before now, he was in a relationship but “she left me because of the health issue.”
When asked what year exactly, he said it was a long time ago, just after he developed the health complication. He said: “I didn’t have issues with her before she left; and because of the health challenge I can’t make love with a woman because I can’t breathe well.
“Since 2003, I have not made love to a woman. I usually have the urge and my manhood functions but a woman can’t sleep with me. I am even hiding from women. Some people don’t even know I have these devices on my body because, if I don’t pull off my shirt for you, you wouldn’t know as I usually dress to cover up.
“It was an act of frustration that led me into drinking acid. Things were very hard for me. But let me just say it, it was just spiritual manipulation. They saw the vision in my village that I am going to drink acid but they did not pray over it. They told me a pastor saw the vision in the church, one of those white garment churches, but my family people didn’t pray over it. So, I just woke up one morning, bought the acid and drank it.
“I am appealing passionately that people should help me; let the government come to my aid. I am dying slowly. They should come to my aid so that I can be okay again.
“Let them take the contact of the hospital and make donations for me to undergo the surgery. Let them get the doctor’s number so that I can be admitted for them to do the surgery. The doctor’s name is Dr. Mohammed Mainasara of the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna. He said he could do the surgery but I don’t have any money now.
“I dropped out of secondary school but if I have the opportunity to go back to school after the treatment I will go back to school. I would like to be a pastor, too; people are already calling me pastor because I am currently doing the work of God.
“I want to go to Bible college. I don’t have a church but because of the way I show love to people despite my condition many people call me pastor, and my lifestyle has changed. It is just by the grace of God that I am alive today, it is a rare privilege, I don’t deserve it.
“I believe God preserved my life for a purpose. So, I do pray for people and I preach to them to serve God, that no matter what happens God can still do something good in one’s life. I do evangelism and people invite me to their churches too.
“I don’t know anybody that can help me reach out to the Delta State government but, with this interview, they should come and help me. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, should come and help me. I will be very happy if they help me. I still went out to vote during the election and I voted for them and I am praying to God that God should use them to bless my life.”
According to a medical report from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, signed by Dr. A.L. Okhakhu, consultant ENT surgeon, Department of ENT H&N, UBTH, and Dr. S.U. Okugbo, chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, director, Clinical Services and Training, UBTH, which was addressed to Dr. Mohammed Mainasara of the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna, the patient developed difficulty in breathing, and he is suffering from dysphagia and odynophagia, which necessitated tracheostomy and feeding gastrostomy. The report stated that the patient is demanding decannulation and laser excision.
The patient can be reached through phone number: 07062257254, 08081510326. Account details: Taiwo Eko Salvation, Zenith Bank; account number, 2082979911.
