Stanley Macebuh dies in penury
...Cant afford rent, medical attention
...Why he suffered stroke in 2006
...Why he moved to Gwarrimpa
One of journalism’s great minds, Dr Stanley Macebuh, is dead.
He died yesterday at the National Hospital, Abuja. He was 67.
Sympathizers thronged his Abuja home last night as the news of his death spread.
Many wept at the passage of Macebuh, pioneer Managing Director/Executive Editor of The Guardian, who was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Hospital at 6p.m., on Saturday.
Macebuh suffered a stroke in 2006.
His widow, Pauline, was all tears at their Gwarimpa, Abuja home, as she recalled her husband’s last moments.
She said she would miss Macebuh who she described as "my best friend".
Mrs Macebuh said: "He was a nice person but the greatest thing about him is that he had an attitude of giving. Stanley can fend for others and forget his family. Right now, I don’t know how to tell Kelechi that her dad is dead: you know he calls her ‘Babes’ and calls me ‘Champion’ as I had helped him recuperate after the partial stroke that almost took his life in 2006. I still love him and would miss him greatly."
Macebuh’s immediate younger brother, Prof. Kingsley Macebuh,
described him as "bookish" adding: "He was the kindest big brother any person could strive to have".
He said Macebuh’s friends in the United States called him "Baba Uwa" meaning father of all because of his selfless nature.
"He was not interested in accumulating wealth, he aimed for no property as far as he had a roof over his head", Prof. Macebuh said.
He said Macebuh had been complaining of weakness for the past one week, after being treated for malaria two weeks ago.
"He had even gone for a typhoid test, which came out negative. I spoke to him just yesterday (Saturday) about 1:38pm but I didn’t check on him till his personal Assistant came and told me that ‘Oga is shaking O!,’ we then rushed him to the hospital around six o’clock from where he gave up the ghost at 4:15am at the National Hospital Abuja.
"My brother has left a serious vacuum, he was selfless, he gave everything he had. He worked more for his friends’ welfare than his family. The family will miss his sense of natural patriotism for which he gave all in deeds and writings. He was more patriotic to his country than to his family. But still he gave all he had for the upkeep of the entire (extended) family".
Macebuh died a pauper. "He suffered a lot before his death. In 2007, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) took his home on Panama Street in Maitama because he couldn’t pay for the house sold to him by the Federal Government." He really suffered, a relation said.
His widow recalled that they lived in the street for three months before help came in Gwarimpa House 13 Road 12 where he lived till he died.
Before his death, the caretaker/landlord had served him quit notice, which expires today.
Mrs Macebuh noted that in 2007, when he was robbed and his hands broken, there was no aid to fly him abroad for surgery.
This was said to have led to first stroke he had.
His 10 year-old child Kelechi risks being sent out of school for non-payment of fees.
At the mortuary, no money had been deposited for a space for him when The Nation visited.
Only money for embalmment had been paid.
Mrs Macebuh pleaded that her husband be immortalized because of his large heart.
Macebuh was born on December 28, 1942. He attended Ngwa High School and King’s College, Lagos.
He attended University of Ibadan and graduated with a second class upper division. He was admitted to the University of Sussex in 1967, receiving a Ph.D in English Language in 1969.
He is survived by his wife, Pauline and three children-Ikenna (23), Marissa Adaku (27) and 10-year old Kelechi.
