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The most inevitable thing in this world is death. Death cares not either her victim is old or young; she cares not if the person is cruel or caring. It is never the business of the agent of death to consider if her victim is loved by all or not, she just strikes at her own ripe time, leaving many with tears and sorrows for the loss of their loved ones. Sadly she has done it again! This time, she has claimed the life of a man whose integrity, dignity, generosity, simplicity, love for mankind and environment are so much admired by all. He is a patriotic Nigerian who liked his country as much as he loved himself. Yes his name does ring a bell to many Nigerians. He is Oronto Douglas. Until his death, Oronto Douglas was the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy. Aside being the Special Adviser to President Jonathan, he was said to be among the closest of Mr. President.
Oronto Douglas was reported dead on Thursday April 9, 2015 at the State House Clinic in Abuja at the age of 49, having suffered from prolonged cancer-related complications. Oronto Douglas was a prominent environmental activist for the oil-producing communities of the Niger/Delta. As a matter of fact, his environmental activism actually brought him into a limelight. It is important to note that Oronto Douglas had been battling with cancer for more than five years before it eventually claimed his life. He used to travel to United State of America regularly for the treatment of this dreadful disease.
Sadly enough, about three weeks ago, exactly March 18, 2015, when Oronto Douglas made his last trip to the United State of American for the treatment of the said cancer, he had been told by his Doctor that he had a few days to live. A family close to the deceased was reported to have said, “They told him he would die in a matter of days. That was on March 18, 2015. He had to choose between dying in the US and returning to Nigeria. He decided to return home.” However, it is quite surprising that one, whose death had been guaranteed in few days to come by his own doctor, could be in a very lively mood till the moments leading to his death. “You would not believe he was so sick if you listened to him on the phone. Only if you saw him physically would you know his state. As at Wednesday, he was still working even though he could not move around the house,” a family close had said.
Emphasizing on the simplicity of Oronto Douglas, a man known as KJV at naijahottestgist blackberry group, recalled his experience with the deceased as he wrote, “I do not know Oronto Douglas personally though I have met him a few times that we had to fly together, he took a commercial flight to Lagos and I was surprised that he had no hangers on, no security (not even plain cloth SSS) in spite of his closeness to the President. He took his bag and walk to a waiting car like every other Nigerian in that flight. This may not make an impression with you but if you have been on the same flight with Kingsley Kuku, you will understand why this is such a humble virtue. Whatever role he had played in GEJ’s government, his humility and loyalty is legendary and worthy of commendation. He is a sad loss.”
It would be recalled that Oronto Douglas was a member of the legal team that represented Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists at their trial under the late Gen. Sanni Abacha led government in 1994-95. Regrettably, the nine were eventually executed in November 1995. However, the execution had been described by many as ‘Judicial murder’. Similarly, Douglas happened to be the Deputy Director of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria – a group devoted to protecting the environment. The late Douglas had degrees in Law from the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt and from De Montfort, Leicester, England. He was also a Commissioner for Information in Bayelsa State. However, he did resign voluntarily in 2005 when the then governor of the state, D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha was impeached. The late humanitarian is survived by a wife and children.
