How Ferdinand Agu Diéd In His Sleép Without A Whimpér, Anyim Appéals To God, Laménts

By Charles Igbo

“God, please, change your mind and send him back. What is the meaning of cardiac arrest? What is the problem?” – Anyim

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, has one request from God. It is for God to bring back Ferdinand Agu to life, send him back to mother-earth, to the warm embrace of his family and friends.

Agu, a former Director General of the defunct Nigerian Maritime Authority, NMA, 2000- 2005, now renamed Nigerian Maritime Administration And Safety Agency, NIMASA, after it was merged with the, also, defunct Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council, JOMALIC in 2006, suddenly passed in the morning of Friday, June 7, 2024.

A shattered Anyim, who was, also, a former Senate President, is, like most people who knew Agu, finding it difficult to absorb and/or accept the finality of Agu’s passing. So, he has appealed to God for  reversal, and queries the possible cause of Agu’s death – cardiac arrest. “What  is cardiac arrest?”, Anyim asks nobody in particular.

The disbelief is not surprising, given the circumstances of Agu’s passing as gathered by this medium.

On the Friday Agu passed on, he was at a traditional wedding in Abuja where he chatted as usual with people. He was, or so everybody thought, strong, hale and hearty. He never complained of any pains or headache. No sign of any ill-health.

Agu left the venue of the wedding at about 9.00pm back to his home in Abuja. He, as usual, with his wife and other family members retired to bed.

According to a family source, at about 3.00am, he and his wife were up and discussed this and that, then,  slept off again. Then, the unbelievable.

By about 6.00am when his wife woke up, her husband was not up. She thought that was unusual, and  decided to wake him up instead. To her uncomfortable surprise, he did not respond. At once, confusion and shock set in. She raised an alarm and her beloved husband was rushed to hospital. She did not envisage that could be the end. But it was. For, at the hospital, Agu was declared dead.

A mourning  Senator Anyim described his reaction when he got that usually dreaded early morning call which broke the news of Agu’s passing to him in a statement he personally signed, released on Saturday.

Anyim said he did not believe it because it was like a malaria-induced dream.

So, his first action was to call the Clinic where he was told Agu was rushed to. He spoke to the Medical Doctor who confirmed Agu’s passing. Yet, Anyim was not convinced. He told the Doctor: “It may not be our own Ferdinand.”

So, Anyim jumped out of bed and rushed to the Clinic “only to behold my most dependable ally lying lifeless.” Anyim added: “The most traumatic moment was to watch the ambulance move to the morgue.”

Following is Anyim’s full statement.

I LOST A PILLAR AND A BROTHER: MR. FERDINAND AGU, MFR

“It was like a malaria induced dream. An early morning call came in to break the news. Obviously, I did not believe it. So I sought the phone number of the doctor at the clinic he was taken to, and he   confirmed it. But I responded, ‘It may not be our own Ferdinand.’ I jumped out of bed to the clinic to behold my most dependable ally, lying lifeless. The most traumatic moment was to watch the ambulance move to the morgue.

“Mr. Fredinand Agu is the most intelligent man I have met in the whole stretch of my public service. He is most dependable and available at any point of need. Ferdinand, you think for me, you write for me and you advise me. What would happen to that body of knowledge, brilliance, and candour. What is life all about? You were not sick for one day. What is the meaning of cardiac arrest? What is the problem? Why now when the nation needs you most?

“God, please change your mind and send him back, for he has many set goals yet to accomplish and so much more to offer humanity.

“God, have mercy.

“Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON”

Ferdinand Agu, hailed from Enugu State. An Architect by training, Agu was an all-rounder in every subject. A working encyclopedia, Agu was a Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, attached to the office of the SGF.

A very inspiring character, Agu was the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences.

In his 60’s at death, Agu  held the National Honour of Member of the Federal Republic, MFR.