By Chris Agada
I first came in contact with Dr. Ahmed Attah when he was an Adviser to the former Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Health Matters. As at then, I was working with Daily Trust Newspaper Headquarters, Abuja. I was planning to exit the paid job and was putting in some measures on how to start something on my own.
I met a friend and had some discussions with him which was centred on my plans to leave the paid job and start something on my own. He linked me up with someone in Abuja; and the guy asked me to meet Dr. Ahmed Attah at Government House, Lokoja to have discussion with him to see how he could help. I was a bit reluctant because I didn’t know him and have never met with him. Then I said to him “Bros, you know I don’t know this man, how can I go and meet him for the first time and….”. The guy cut in and said, “Don’t worry, I know who I’m talking about, Dr. Attah is a nice person, he may not give you money, but will be of immense assistance to you in the area of network which you really need in your business.” He added, “Go and prepare to meet with him, I will inform him that I directed someone to meet him.”
Having listened to this guy, I was convinced and headed to Lokoja few days later. Though the guy gave me Dr. Attah’s contact number to reach him either before leaving or on my way, I only dialled the number when I got to the entrance of the Government House where the security men asked me to call him so that they could speak with him. I dialled his number, and as God would have his way, it started ringing. He picked, and I introduced myself. He described his office to me and asked me to give the phone to any of the security men at the gate which I did. He told them I was coming to see him and asked them to let me in.
On getting in, it was off course, a busy day as the youths from Kogi East came to pay a courtesy visit to the governor. I came to his office and he rushed from the venue of the meeting to meet me. After we had a brief discussion, he asked me to wait for him as they would soon round off. In less than 30 minutes, he returned.
We had a very fruitful discussion and as I was about leaving, he said, “Chris, have a brief interview with me so that you can run it in your (about to debut) publication.” I said, “Ah! Sir like that? He said, “Yes, it’s we your people that will encourage you.” I was surprised because people of his calibre don’t usually like to be featured especially in the area of an interview in a new publication. I conducted the interview with him and later in the evening, I returned to Abuja. Few weeks later, he informed me that he had been appointed as Chief Medical Director of Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
During the 2023 Kogi guber poll, I travelled home for the election. I arrived in my community – Emagaba No. 1, and immediately I began to ask people if they knew him or his community. Surprisingly, both the old and young in our community know him. They all spoke good of him. One of my relations said he would take me to his community. That was how we landed in Dr. Attah’s house in Adupi-Emoriko which is just a stone throw to my community. On getting to his house, gaining access to the compound was a big task as mammoth crowd besieged the house.
I managed to get into the compound and asked one young man if he was around. He said, he was in the bedroom. I asked the young man to tell him that I was around. He shouted from the bedroom, he said, “Chris, elewa” (Chris, you’ve come). He hugged me and was so happy and excited to see me.
Dr. Ahmed Attah is, of course, a gift to not only Igala Kingdom, but to Kogi State and Nigeria at large. Despite his rich and intimidating credentials as one of the best medical doctors in Nigeria, he has remained humble. His doors for humanitarian services have continued to open to all segment of humanity.
As you celebrate your birthday today, may our good Lord continue to bless and keep you in your service to God and humanity.
Happy Birthday, sir!
Chris Agada is an Abuja-based media practitioner. He is the publisher of Nigeria Project Newspaper.
