Abuja, Nigeria — Na wah! The Federal Government don talk say dem dey serious about the health of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, wey dey face trial for the Republic of Benin. This Pastor, wey be businessman and cleric from Cross River, don dey chop hospital food for Cotonou since October 2023, and e no sweet at all (those hospital meals, chai!).
Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, don blow the whistle on this matter. She talk say the Nigerian Mission for Cotonou don observe say Pastor Egbaji health don dey go down fast fast, and e dey require some oga-level medical attention. This no be joke o!
According to her, the ministry don already call on Benin authorities to release Egbaji make he fit go receive beta medical care for Naija. E get some big men wey don recommend say make dem transfer am abroad (abroad?! This matter serious!).
“Pastor Egbaji don dey serve 10 years custodial sentence since dem lock am inside there. E don dey contribute plenty for Benin for over thirty years, so we no fit just sit down dey watch am dey suffer for detention,” she explain. She strong talk say humanitarian reasons dey behind this request, even though the nature of the offence wey him dey charged with dey serious.
The minister visit Pastor Egbaji for hospital back in August, and since then, dem don dey push for am to come back home where e fit get proper medical care. She no hide am say dem dey worry about the slow response from Benin authorities. (Abeg, how long we go wait for this kind matter?)
Odukwe-Ojukwu say this release go show the strong bond wey dey between Nigeria and Benin, wey no just dey based on traditional government talk but serious humanitarian effort. After all, wetin friends for Africa dey do for each other if dem no agree help when e matter reach like this?
Meanwhile, Pastor Egbaji dey sit down there, and na everybody dey wonder wetin go happen next. Will Benin government hear the plea, or dem go just dey do oga with the matter? No one sabi. But as Naija people, one thing we go do na to hold our breath and hope say this pastor go fit see light at the end of the tunnel very soon.
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