Nwizu’s last words,
by close aide and confidant
By Murphy Ganagana, Abuja
Monday, August 2, 2004
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The
late Nwizu Uzoamaka
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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There were no signs of her imminent death. Even the loss
of voice which lasted over a month and swollen chin did not
prevent her from performing official duties up till the last
day she left for the United States of America for intensive
medical care. But a few minutes to her departure, Comptroller-General
of Immigration, Lady Uzoamaka Comfort Nwizu offered a passionate
prayer to a few close aides, which she wrapped up with a declaration.
"I leave you all my children, I cover you all with the
blood of Jesus. I am going, and I commit my journey to the
hands of God". These were her last words as recounted
by Isiaka Yusuf, her close aide and confidant.
The message seemed ordinary as delivered, but it created
an air of suspense among those present which gradually translated
to fear and finally tragedy. Did Nwizu foresee her death?
"I don’t think so", says Yusuf, a Chief Superintendent
of Immigration and spokesman of the service. "She didn’t
show any sign. There was nothing. She worked as normal. She
attended every meeting she was supposed to attend up to the
last day she left for her medical check - up. The only
sign was that she lost her voice for too long a period. She
was never afraid of anything or anybody, she was so strong."
Besides, Yusuf said since she wasn’t down on a stretcher
or hospital bed, the issue of chances of her survival didn’t
even arise. "Look, that woman believed strongly in God.
And she was not a woman to be frustrated. She always said
‘I remain focused, and I will not be distracted from
the work I have taken oath to do for this country.’
That was always her statement and she meant it".
Nwizu had strong hopes of quick return to her exalted office,
refusing to be depressed by her health condition. As she made
to leave her official residence for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport enroute the US, she dished out instructions to her
subordinates on some crucial official matters.
At the University of Illinois hospital in Chicago, US, where
she was placed on intensive care for 56 days before death
suddenly snatched her away. Nwizu was full of life till her
last breath on July 5. Ironically, she was billed to be discharged
barely five days before the cruel fate befell her.
Doctors said she died of super imposed infection of the bone
marrow, scientifically termed Sepsis due to multiple Myeloma,
a revelation which largely reduced widespread speculations
on the circumstances surrounding her sudden demise which Yusuf
says, is the will of God.
Nwizu, the woman
Yusuf gave an insight into her perspective of life and religion.
"She believed very strongly in God and also believed
that there is nothing that can happen or fail to happen in
this world, unless it is the will of God.
"She also believed in the fact that children of God are
those that God has anointed. Those that have the fear of God
and those that God loves. She believes that these people are
not found only in her religion, but in other religion. She
didn’t have any ethnic prejudice about anything because
she said that most people that helped her in the course of
her career were not Igbos.
"There were few Igbos but most times, they were not Igbos.
And along the line, she realized the fact that anybody that
wants to move Nigeria forward must understand that those that
can do it can’t come only from one ethnic group. The
person must be open-minded. He must refuse to be ethnocentric.
“So, if you look at those of us who worked close to
her, you can’t tie us down to one ethnic group, you
can’t tie us down to one region of the country, you
can’t tie us down to any religion, she recognized you
base on merit". Among other character traits, Yusuf identified
three unique aspects which brightened the star of the late
Comptroller- General.
"First, she was an extremely brilliant woman. She had
first class in her first degree, had distinction in her Masters,
she was also the overall best student of the year she graduated
from university. She was very intelligent and witty.
"Again, she was an unusually hardworking woman and I
believe that the amount of work she put into her job must
have contributed to her health problem. When you beg her to
slow down or close early from the office, she tells you that
she has a lot to do and what should be done today must not
be left for tomorrow. Most times, we close from office between
9pm and 10pm".
Nwizu was also said to be humble. And in her expression of
humility, she interacted with all that came her way without
discrimination. She granted audience to all visitors at home
and in the office without protocols. Her explanation was that
if anybody could leave his or her home and other engagements
to come and see her, it must be important to the person.
So she kept no visitor’s manifest. Interestingly, even
as Nwizu worked late into the night, she did not allow her
home front to suffer. Though all her children are of age and
live abroad, she returns home even at 9pm to prepare meal
for her husband.
"By the time she became Comptroller-General, her last
born, a set of twins, were getting out of secondary school.
So she had no baby at home. Her first born is a Chartered
Accountant who lives in the US, her second born is a girl
who just finished her MBA also in the US. The third born was
a medical student in UI who has graduated and is doing a specialist
course in the US now. So, it was only herself, husband and
personal aides that lived in Abuja. So, the family did not
suffer. And she always cooked the food for her husband."
Before her last trip abroad for medical care, Nwizu had a
lot of targets she set to be completed on her return. She
had directed her close aides to prepare some papers and make
certain contacts for official engagements which she had hoped
to accomplish once back in the country.
Unknown to many, Nwizu had a burning desire and passion for
a revolutionary change in the country. And this she captured
in a poem entitled Hope for our Nation which became a Bible
of sort for her official and private life.
She had lamented the gloom and depression in the country resulting
from self- inflicted vices, disrespect for sanctity of life,
selfishness and inordinate ambitions, greed and materialism,
hatred and intolerance, which have all manifested in the prevailing
civil conflict and strife.
Despite these short - comings, she believed that God
loves Nigeria, and so blessed her with abundant mineral wealth
and fertile soil crowned with intelligent and hard -
working people, which propelled her vision of hope. "I
see hope for unity in our diversity. I see hope in our conscientious
effort to live and let live. I see hope in our firm resolve
that peaceful co - existence lies in equal opportunity
and religious tolerance. There is hope now that womenfolk
are finally empowered to contribute their quota to the development
of our country".
Thus, on assumption of office as Comptroller General of Immigration
in January 2000, the first female to head a paramilitary organization
in Nigeria and the entire Africa, Nwizu rolled out a repositioning
programme for optimal efficiency in the Nigeria Immigration
Service (NIS).
She re - strategized operations by getting government
to grant self accounting status to the service which enabled
her to embark on so many projects, refocused logistics, established
new formations, and improved the general welfare of officers
and men. Nwizu also displayed exceptional acts of commitment
to serving the nation and humanity. In a rare act of bravery,
she single - handedly burst the hitherto uncrackable passport
racket in Lagos, disguised as a Hajiya at the risk of being
lynched by touts at their base.
As Deputy Comptroller General in charge of border patrol,
Nwizu traveled by boat kitted in full combat attire to the
inland waterways of the East and South - South in search
of a human trafficking syndicate which she also unmasked.
Aside her official functions, she also showed keen interest
for motherless children and the disabled, whom she catered
for through the Jireh Foundation which she established in
collaboration with her husband, Dr. Chimezie Nwizu, and managed
by the National Hospital, Abuja.
At the end of every month, Lady Nwizu remits part of her salary
to the Foundation with a directive for the National Hospital
to purchase drugs and other items for patients in financial
distress. But she had warned authorities of the hospital to
keep identity of the donors secret.
In the great beyond, her close aides say her only lamentation
would be her unfulfilled dream. "She started a solar
- based communication system for the Immigration service,
she didn’t complete it.
“She was able to take care of about 50 per cent of the
country when the capital funds stopped coming. By this year,
the capital funds are coming, but she in no longer there to
complete the project.
"She also started the Immigration Service headquarters
building on the Airport Road, Abuja. The project is under
construction, but she will not be there to see the service
move to its own head office. There are also the command buildings
across the country, but as God will have it, she is not around
to witness the progress of work, she will not be at the commissioning
ceremony.
"She had a dream of setting up an ECOWAS Immigration
Agency. She wanted to form an ECOWAS body for Immigration
authorities. Everything was in progress, the government had
already given approval, and she was supposed to go on tour
to Ghana by July this year, but she died just five days into
the month, and her dream evaporated," says Yusuf. She
would be buried at Nnewi, Anambra State, on the fourth of
next month.
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