Kogiflame
By Dr. Christopher Ebuetse
Dr. Paul Akintelure You were a great person; you were focused and well read, and you affected the lives of people who came across you positively.
Only very few medical doctors would venture into politics because, in Nigeria, the game of politics is rough and dirty. Making oneself available for leadership could sometimes become a crime, and for us, your friends, it has resulted in regrets that you went into politics.
Couldn’t it have been much better if we prevailed on you to remain in your noble medical profession? This has been a recurring thought in my mind, and with this fine personality—vibrant, astute, intelligent, excellent in medical practice—how could he have left so soon?
Nigeria as a nation has lost a great personality who still has so much to offer the nation and the international community.
Each time I saw the name of Dr. Paul Akintelure in the media or on the internet, I was quick to read about him, following his development in politics, and we also discussed other sundry issues. He had a great mind, was wonderful in character, was intelligent, and was successful as a medical practitioner. In 1998, I lived in an apartment not too far from his hospital, a small building, and in spite of that, his hospital catered for the residents in the council area of the Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos State, and my children were small. When we visited his hospital, that was where we got to talking. What endeared me to him was his sense of purpose, objectivity, and intelligence. As a person with a medical background in parentage, I could see he was good in his profession. We were both alumnae of the University of Ibadan, and we both graduated about the same time; he could just be my senior in age in a few months.
Dokay is what I fondly called him; for him, he called me Chriso. As a doctor, he found interest in interfacing with people. He was loquacious; there was not a dull moment with him. So, we started inviting him for weekend morning shows on Africa Independent Television (AIT), and this was from 2000 to 2007. From there, being the founder of the Raymond Dokpesi Centre for Media Development, I saw him quite suitable to be the board chairman of the center while I propelled the NGO as its director general, and we were good at what we were doing.
He was in Abuja, Sheraton Hotels, for the maiden edition and other subsequent editions of the Raymond Dokpesi Annual Lecture series; these were in 2008, 2009, and 20010, and from then on, with his interest in politics, he had to step down from the NGO as apolitical, and I respected his desire to contribute to the development of the nation through active politics.
In 2012, he was a running mate to Rotimi Akeredolu; under ACN, the party lost the election to His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of the PDP.
Ever since his foray into politics, I have seen a man with immense interest in leading his people. We talked a lot about politics, governance, and leadership. He was sure that in 2024, he would again become the governorship candidate of his party, the APC. I was already praying for his rise due to his long-standing drive for politics. He was very loyal to the present president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Anything against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he would fight to the last; he was loyal.
He left the NGO; for politics, I agreed with him, and for the series of interactions with him, one could hardly see any politician as gifted, intelligent, and with the right mind to lead the people of Ondo State, like I found in Dr. Paul Akintelure.
If nothing else, we have discussed Ondo politics more frequently than anyone could imagine. His passion to change things for the better in Ondo State was paramount.
On March 26, at about 7 a.m., with my phone on hand, I saw breaking news, like a flash on Akintelure. I told myself, Oh, my great friend, I will call him later, so I continued with what I was doing.
A few minutes later, I said to myself, Let me read what was written about him. It was just a shock. I screamed, Breaking; Dr. Paul Akintelure is dead.
Oh, my world. Oh God, I could just think it was a tale, a joke taken too far. My brother and great friend are dead. How did this come about? What happened? I was devastated, terribly heartbroken, and downcast. I lost a great friend.
Through this year, we have discussed several hours nonstop, never a dull time. He never told me he was not feeling well.
The death of Dr. Paul Akintelure came as a rude shock to Ondo people and Nigerians at large. With the report by his personal assistant noting that he complained about threats to his life, it becomes a thing of great concern for us as his friends and brothers. The death should be investigated; we should really know what made a promising man with the ideal strength and purpose to lead Ondo State to succumb untimely to death. I urge the federal government of Nigeria to look into the circumstances that led to the death of Dr. Paul Akintelure. We mourn greatly!!!
Dr. Christopher Ebuetse
Is a journalist and broadcaster, author, publisher, and socio-political commentator on national issues.
