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Pat Utomi, a renowned professor of political economy and leader in the Labour Party, has opened up on his struggles with Prostate Cancer.
In a series of tweets, the 2011 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) said, “Prostate cancer is bringing death and misery to many men.”
Speaking about his struggles, Utomi said in the buildup to the 2023 elections, he occasionally visited a cancer centre in Ikeja after campaigns.
He added that whenever he spoke about his struggles with cancer, it dawned on him that many people of his age bracket are also battling the same ailment.
“Did not see why it was taboo to say you were in a battle with Cancer. The more I talked about it the more I found many of my age in similar circumstances,” he wrote on X.
Did not see why it was taboo to say you were in a battle with Cancer. The more I talked about it the more I found many of my age in similar circumstances. It almost seems like an epidemic for Nigerian men over 60. Not talking makes them lose the benefit of early detection
— Pat Utomi (@UtomiPat) August 11, 2023
He argued that if patients had been forewarned, the “misery containment” and chances of cure could be significantly enhanced similar to breast cancer prevention efforts among women.
“When a biopsy showed I was positive last year I began treatment with a cancer Centre with a branch in Ikeja and VI,” Utomi said.
“I sometimes came from election campaigns to the Ikeja Centre near the Airport. The Doctors would try to smuggle me out from the back.”
The political economist added that once elections were over, his young nephews and cousins who are doctors in Europe and the US, “joined forces with the Lakeshore people and decided they wanted me in their direct care”.
Once elections were over my young nephews and cousins, Doctors in Europe and the US , joined forces with the Lakeshore people and decided they wanted me in their direct care. That’s how come it seemed I went quiet cause they controlled my phones to reduce stress.
— Pat Utomi (@UtomiPat) August 11, 2023
Utomi played a pivotal role in the presidential campaign for Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, paving the way for an unprecedented third force in Nigerian politics.