Health Is The Center Of Leadership: But Making A Caricature Of Someone’s Health Is Wrong

“Sickness can happen to anyone, whether young or old. But making a caricature of someone’s health is wrong in its entirety.”

One of the greatest challenges of leadership is the struggle to be a healthy leader. Being healthy encompasses many facets of life, from mental, physical, and spiritual health. St. Ignatius of Loyola once said that it is not the soul alone that should be healthy; if the mind is healthy in a healthy body, all will be healthy and much better prepared to give God better service. Being healthy should be a priority for everyone, not just leaders. However, I have seen leaders struggle with health time and time again. Because of their busy work schedules, leaders frequently fail to take care of their health. Their focus has been on taking care of the business and running it successfully. This notion leaves little time to look at their health. However, staying healthy is essential to good leadership. Our health impacts every area of our life. Unhealthy lifeclass choices bring down the quality of our life and hurt our ability to lead. Contemporary leaders are confronted with unrelenting health challenges while leading their respective nations. Empirical studies have shown that many nations have leaders with underlying health conditions, which in turn, have impacted their countries. As we approach the 2023 general elections, there is a particular concern about the health of candidates since their well-being plays an essential role in the success and future of Nigeria. But why should we be concerned about the health of our candidates? Is it our business?

Nigerians have always shown concern about the health of people. For example, in 2015, news of the sudden illness of Julius Agwu spread like wildfire on the internet. While there was no confirmation from the comedian and his family, the reported sickness generated concern when Mr. Agwu was said to have missed a show in London. Photos of Mr. Agwu on a hospital bed flooded the internet. Some of the comedian’s fans took their time to pray for him on social media. Reacting to the trending news, Bovi, a Nigerian comedian, in a post shared on the microblogging platform, debunked the report that Julius Agwu is sick. According to Bovi, Mr. Agwu was in a club a few days ago. Despite efforts by Julius Agwu’s manager to calm the situation over the health status of the comedian, Nigerians who are still worried about Julius were still sharing past pictures of him in the hospital bed on their social media accounts. In an attempt to calm his fans, the comedian’s wife, Ibiere Agwu, added her voice by thanking Nigerians for their prayers while also informing the fans that her husband was stable. But just as we unravel the mystery behind Mr. Agwu, reports emerged online that his wife (Ibiere Maclayton) left him for another man. According to online sources, his wife gave his living expenses to the many women she claimed loved his money. Some sources close to the couple said that the wife took care of Mr. Agwu for some time but got tired of the current situation as cash flow was not coming as when Agwu was stupendously rich and healthy. She must have been tired of the sickness and left Mr. Agwu. Later that year, we heard Mr. Agwu had surgery in the United States, where the doctors removed two growths from his brain. The ace comedian continued to thank his maker for giving him a second chance to fulfill his purpose in this world.

There have been grave anxieties and controversies surrounding the health of famous actor Hanks Anuku for some time. Different contradictions emerge each time there is a video of the actor online. The first was a fan who discovered the actor by the roadside, seated beneath a street light, drinking alone, in a video uploaded on social media networks. The fan who first noticed him was surprised to see him plead for help from his fans. A recent viral video of a mentally unstable man roaming the streets of Benin, Edo state, alleged to be the veteran Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku, sparked different emotions of pity and hurt online. Some of the reports claimed it was not Hanks in the video, while other colleagues of the actor have confirmed that the actor is not in the best state of mind and needs help. Many Nigerians have expressed concern about the fellow veteran Actor because of a video showing him dressed in rags and going viral online. Some Nigerians asserted that Hanks’ health might be due to his suspected drug use, while others said Anuku was going through a difficult time. But in response to the allegations, veteran actress Shan George debunked rumors that Anuku was mentally ill. According to her, they were on a set together just a few times. But reacting to the development, Shan George took to her Instagram page to debunk the speculations surrounding the video. According to her, the viral video was a scene from a movie he featured in Asaba, Delta State. Veteran Nollywood actress Shan George has responded to a “disturbing video” of Hanks Anuku, a coworker, that has gone viral online. But a Nollywood actress exposed the news saying some colleagues of the actor may not be painting the picture of his medical condition. This incident came on the heels of the alarm raised by a female colleague of the actor, Adanma Luke, who said all was not well with Anuku. Luke criticized colleagues for claiming Hanks Anuku was in good health and said he needed immediate medical and financial help. But Mr. Anuku broke the silence following the video that raised concerns about his mental state. Debunking the claim in a short video, he said the viral video emanated from a movie set. Anuku said he has been on a movie set while accusing people circulating the video of trying to destroy his image. In his words: Those circulating viral videos about him should find Jesus and leave him alone. Till today, we don’t know if these rumors are true or false.

Recently, a disturbing video announcing the fake death of veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie caught the attention of Nigerians on social media. Actor Browny Igboegwu shared the video clip on his Instagram page featuring images that falsely lead viewers to believe that the veteran actor lost his life in a car crash. Decrying the worrisome development, Igboegwu wrote: Chief Pete Edochie is alive. He did not travel to talk more about being involved in a fatal accident. I don’t know why somebody would write this nonsense on social media. Igboegwu returned to Instagram with a different post where he disclosed that he had to delete his first video as it had given many people cause for worry. He, however, maintained that Edochie was fine while dismissing false news that he was involved in an accident. Igboegwu disclosed that he had to delete his initial post as it had given many people something to discuss. But why would someone want Edochie to die? What are the motives behind the death rumors of Pete Edochie for the past twenty years?

Another Nollywood actor who has been in the headline for sickness is Mr. John Okafor, also known as Mr. Ibu. He was recently declared dead by some blogs, which turned out to be false. Speaking from a hospital bed beside his wife, the veteran actor lamented how some people were taking advantage of his health condition. But speaking in the video from his hospital bed, Ibu lamented how some people took advantage of his health condition after seeing him. He alleged that some people sold him off for free. He expressed confidence in God's healing power. He noted that reports which stressed he was in a critical condition and unable to walk were false. Mr. Ibu said he was recovering and did not seek financial help from anyone. He also informed the public that his official Instagram page and bank account were hacked by hackers trying to take advantage of his poor health and soliciting donations from people to swindle. But fans of the famous comical Nollywood actor advised him not to believe that his illness is due to being poisoned and focus more on his treatment. They suggested in numerous comments after the actor told a prominent newspaper that someone had poisoned him again. According to Mr. Ibu, his enemies were using him to rehearse (their powers). Some of the comedian's ardent followers and fans have asked him not to be as superstitious as many ordinary Nigerians who believe diseases come from hidden enemies and poisons. They urged him to get a proper checkup, especially his organs if he had a compromised lifeclass. Some even advised him to check his organs (liver and kidneys) if he has a history of alcohol and food. According to them, not everything is poison. Nigerians can be so superstitious when it comes to health.

A few days ago, Nigerians were shocked to see ailing photos of the Head of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo. Some of his church members released photographs of him taken at Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. In photos taken from the stadium, Fatoyinbo looked frail and aged. At the appearance of the images, people took to the comment section to share their opinion about his health. A cross-section of social media users suggests Fatoyinbo might have been down with a stroke or cancer. Others have blamed his health problems on random allegations that are still disputed. But one comment, in particular, caught my attention. The author said Pastor Fatoyinbo was dealing with a possible medical issue. However, associating his medical conditions and making a mockery of it is ridiculous. This notion is actually true because anyone can be ill regardless of age, sex, race, previous health history, or sociology-economic status. Hence, we should be careful when we make a caricature of someone’s health condition, as we will somehow get there someday.

In 2007, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua became the President of Nigeria in a controversial election. Though the nature of his elevation to power was flawed, Yar'Adua was notable for being the first civilian to win the Presidency from another civilian in a nation historically hindered by military coups. Even before becoming the President, rumors started flying in about his health, as he had traveled abroad for medical treatment several times in the years before his Presidency and continued to do so after his election. But in late November 2009, there were questions about Yar’Adua’s ability to serve when he traveled to Saudi Arabia to treat heart disease and kidney problems. After he had been absent from Nigeria for several weeks, critics complained of a power vacuum in the country, and there were calls for Yar’Adua to transfer power to the vice President. Some critics pointed out that it was unpatriotic for a government leader to travel abroad for so long in the name of medical vacation. They emphasized that if he can no longer function due to ill health, he should disclose his health status to Nigerians and resign honorably. There were calls for the impeachment of the President, who disappeared from the public for several months. According to these groups, the call was necessary not because of the Presidency but the health of the President. But others argued that anybody who sincerely loves him and values the President should be concerned about his health condition rather than the office he occupies. Although a ruling by a Nigerian court on Jan. 29, 2010, indicated that Yar’Adua was not obligated to hand over power to the vice president while he was out of the country for medical treatment, the controversy surrounding his prolonged absence remained. On Feb. 9, 2010, the National Assembly voted to have Jonathan assume full power and serve as acting President until Yar’Adua resumed his duties. Jonathan agreed and took over as President later that day, but it was unclear whether or not the assumption of power was constitutional. When Yar’Adua returned to Nigeria on Feb. 24, 2010, the government announced that Jonathan would remain as acting President while Yar’Adua continued to recuperate. Mr. Yar’Adua never fully recovered, however, and died several weeks later.

Eight months after Muhammadu Buhari became the President of Nigeria, he traveled to the UK for his first medical holiday on February 10, 2016. Ten weeks after President Buhari returned from London, the Presidency announced that he was returning to the UK for a scheduled medical follow-up. On June 6, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on a 10-day vacation to attend to a ‘persistent ear infection’ in a London Hospital. Not many Nigerians thought such trips would later become a routine for the President. Mr. Buhari ended up spending 14 days in London for treatment. Between June 6, 2016, and August 19, 2017, he made three medical vacations to London, spending 168 days. One year after his second trip in 2017, President Buhari traveled for another medical vacation to London. This time around, he spent four days, which made it 172 days on medical leaves, the longest by any Nigerian serving President. On June 5, 2016, Femi Adesina, the Presidential Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, explained that Buhari was examined and treated by his physician and a specialist in Abuja. The two doctors advised him to go for further evaluation in London as a precaution. Critics have thus confirmed Nigerians' concerns about his health, arguing that the President has been keeping it secret. By the way, the name of the hospital the President was receiving medical attention was never revealed, thus, increasing speculations about the actual ailment the President was treating. At some point, the Nigerian media was mesmerized by the question of President Buhari’s health, with rumors and insinuation flying, including the fake news of his death. But Buhari’s loyalists continued to insist that he was healthy. A few of his loyalists had to deal with the tales that the President was a cloned man replaced by an impostor. Today, there is no evidence to back up the rumor.

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the health of the Presidential candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has again been brought to the fore. Nigerians have started expressing their views and wondering if Tinubu’s health can cope with the rigors of the office he seeks to occupy. While some believe Tinubu’s health is needlessly being over-flogged and making an issue out of it, others think that the recent experience of Nigeria and Nigerians as to the state of health of their previous and serving leaders makes it a good source of concern. The question is, should Nigerians be concerned about the health of political candidates? The answer is yes. Political observers believe that Tinubu’s health issues were not an attack on him, but Nigerians are only skeptical based on experience. They explained that Nigerians want a President with a sound mind, whose government won’t be hijacked by cabals as witnessed in Buhari’s tenure. Since the return to democracy in 1999, only former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan had no underlying health issues while they presided over the country. The Late President Umar Yar’Adua suffered from a heart condition and a chronic kidney ailment that forced him to Saudi Arabia for three months to seek medical treatment. While away in Saudi Arabia, his absence brought the nation to the brink of a constitutional crisis that threatened to paralyze the government. When he became incapacitated, it became an issue to transfer power to the then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, until the National Assembly invoked the doctrine of necessity and swore him as the acting President. Yar’Adua later died in office. Also, President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical tourism to the United Kingdom is still very fresh in the memory of Nigerians. During his first tenure, he spent 200 days in the UK seeking medical treatment. While away, the cabals hijacked the government of Buhari and called the shots.

But a follow-up question is, why do Nigerians joke about the health condition of someone? The recent mockery of Tinubu’s health by members of the Pyrates Confraternity in a video that trended online had elicited reactions from Nigerians, including the founder of the association and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. Professor Soyinka described the lyrics of the chants of members of the Confraternity as distasteful. He said he was unaware that the association ever engaged in a collective statement of sponsorship or repudiation of any candidate. Like any other person, everybody is entitled to freedom of expression, individually or collectively. But for as much as sound health is the center of leadership, I maintain that mocking people with their health status is way too far. Good health is from God. But irresponsible, insensitive, and uncivilized utterances on the health condition of a candidate are not the best tool for marketing our preferred candidate. The best instrument to convince the electorate is to parade every word, every action, and even the perceived thoughts of candidates before the public. In that way, the electorate will decide who they will elect. We have the conscience to decide who to vote for in an election. Watching television, listening to commentaries, and reading opinions and blogs can leave one feeling angered, confused, cynical, or even contaminated. Hence, it is wrong to make a mockery of someone’s health. Old age is a blessing. Sickness can happen to anyone, whether young or old. But making a caricature of someone’s health is wrong in its entirety. It is acceptable if you disagree with a candidate but making a caricature of him because of his health is appalling. One may be lucky to see old age; another may not. It is utterly apparent that the probing questions about the health conditions of candidates will not go away anytime soon. Hence, I suggest that during the campaign, politicians should stick to the issues facing the nation and stop the distraction. Just as national security has continued to nosedive, the economy is in bad shape, and university lecturers spend so much time at home than they should have in the classrooms due to protests by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). There is a high rate of inflation, a high cost of living, and acute hunger, among others. Given the current situation facing the country, an ailing country does not deserve a weak leader, and as such, Nigeria deserves a leader with a sound mind to get the country out of the woods.

Rev. Ma, S.J, is a Jesuit Catholic priest and doctoral student in public and social policy at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri, USA.