Essien Attah, a colleague of the late , Allwell Orji, the medical doctor who allegedly killed himself by jumping into the Lagos lagoon, has provided new insights into the incident.
Orji reportedly ordered his driver to stop the car on the Third Mainland Bridge on Sunday, March 19, alighted from the car and jumped into the lagoon. Rescue operations are still ongoing to retrieve Orji's corpse from the lagoon Efforts are being made to retrieve his body.

The marine police discovered a body on Tuesday, March 21, but Orji’s mother says that is not his son.Attah, who took to social media to pour out the details complained about many issues hindering the progress of doctors in the country.

Titled ‘AND THE DOCTOR DIED’ Essien wrote: “Dr Orji Allwell was my junior and also a graduate of College of Medicine University of Lagos. Indeed I left the great citadel of learning just when he was learning the rudiments of the profession hence our paths never crossed but if they had, I would have embraced him like a brother and share ward round tales of how we survived the likes of Professor Bode and Professor Odum.
But Dr Orji is dead. I heard he jumped off Third Mainland Bridge in an apparent su*cide. What could have pushed the young man to take his own life? What level of frustration can kill the joy of life in an intelligent young man? “Indeed the dark-side of medicine in Nigeria has once again reared its ugly head. A profession that is in the final death throes of extinction has claimed another victim.

Indeed many see doctors as being on top of the food chain hence they carry a heavy burden. Numerous relatives feast on their finances like hungry vultures who keep on coming back for more carion. They can never take no for answer for it is said doctors always have money as if they work in Nigerian Mint.“Besides the retinue of dependents, there is the drop in job satisfaction.

The recalcitrant nature of government has left many doctors on half pay, irregular pay or no pay at all. How can a man with a retinue of dependents and a gamut of hungry mouths to feed survive when his small stipend is irregular and subject to political manipulations?
“And the frustration only mounts when you see your colleagues who travelled overseas faring far better despite your waning patriotic zeal that Nigeria will be better.”The medical doctor added: “This is only the beginning of frustration to harbour such justified thoughts.“Then there is the poor state of affairs in the health sector. Incessant strikes and decaying infrastructure have reduced doctors in Nigeria to a basal level of indignation and anger. It is now easier to squeeze water from stone than ensure the best possible care for patients.

The most basic of life saving measures like oxygen and blood transfusion services are fast becoming a luxury and it is only a man of stone who will not feel depressed at the loss of a patient whose life could have been saved. Doctors see the poverty and the helplessness of the common man every day. And when you care for another human being, their problems become your problem as well hence you share in their laughter, sorrow or frustrations.“This is the lot of a Nigerian doctor.
“But the worst culprits of them all are fellow doctors. How many colleagues called Dr Orji and asked how he was doing? How many went out of their way to show him love through his time of difficulty? A doctor is not super human. He is flesh and blood. We all need each other.

Instead professional rivalry amidst the spectre of consolidating respect and loyalty breeds a medical milieu that is akin to a rat race or the dog eat dog phenomenon in a bid to survive shark infested waters of economic recession and financial stability.”
He noted that the younger doctors bemoan the vindictive tendencies of their seniors who train amidst abuse and subjugation while the seniors are angered at the dwindling spectre of respect in the profession. “Hence a tense atmosphere of unequally yoked colleagues is the bane of the medical profession in Nigeria that stokes the embers of sadness, hopelessness and depression.“Dr Orji took it to the extreme but many more doctors are ill motivated and dissatisfied with the system.
Those who can, have left while others are in the process of leaving.
These are indeed the lucky majority for Nigeria has twice the number of Nigerian trained doctors overseas than the number at home.

And the trend is worsening as even more are jetting out as their future in Nigeria appears ever so bleak.“It is time for doctors to close ranks. Care for one another. Respect your seniors.
And seniors stop belittling the younger colleagues. End the rivalry that sees parents eating their young and vice versa. It takes nothing to be kind to one another. Kindness and love are all Dr Orji needed but on his day of need we were all found wanting.“Many a colleague are going through a lot but because of the burden of society, they feel ashamed to speak out. Hence the onus is on us doctors to seek them out and nurture them back to sound mental and physical health.
That’s what it means to be your brother’s keeper. “Patients should also learn to appreciate their doctor. This is the sole joy of a doctor that no one can take from them. Their service to humanity shouldn’t only be rewarded in heaven but a simple thank you can go a long way to making a doctor’s day. These are the worst of times to be sick in Nigeria and it’s also the worst of times for health personnel.

I know so many who are without a job and are struggling to survive. Even those with a job are living from hand to mouth.

Don’t mind the facade of Dr Orji’s beautiful Nissan SUV, the man had issues and just a calming word could have averted this tragedy.“Say something nice to someone today. It might make the difference between life and death. Show love to someone today. That may give them a reason to keep on living.“Life is too short to spend it unhappy.
Put a smile on someone’s face today. Dr Orji is no more and the doctor died, oh what a day of sorrow for many have tried but have failed to overcome the sorrow of today. Be an overcomer today. Make yourself happy but its even better when you make someone else happy.

It is well….and the doctor died, oh what a pity for a life lost prematurely to the sands of time.”Some Nigerians who reacted, expressed sadness at the way Orji had to take his own life partly because of frustration as stated by Attah.

Truly the Doctor died
Rest in peace Doctor

RIP

ORGANIZED PIECES OF RUBISH
this man just want to use this channel to get people's attention. if actually the problem has to do with the poor situation in the country, the doctor could have sold that his jeep with other things and attempt travelling off the shore of Nigeria rather than take his life.
I am considering a serious case of medical challenge like being impotent or HIV etc, and someone is talking about controllable situations like relatives and poor situation of the country.

Nonsense. Very stupid reason. Tell us another reason why such a promising young will take his life not this.

Sauce??

Hmmmm.... sooo many words to say nothing.

Any which way RIP doc.

It could be Mavrodi's Magic MoneyDouble a.k.a. MMM.
Not as if it's the first time...

Useless write-up. If you are claiming the doctor took his life because of poor working conditions, what should millions of unemployed graduates do?
Job satisfaction is an illusion. No job will give you all you want.

I thought you are revealing what lead him to his action..i didn't know you are to talk of general and phenomenon of days.. in 9ja.. He has sinned against himself.. You said something but on this matter is NO for me.. I decree no one is going no where except you want to travel out, but great beyond is a lie, na of us together we entered recession and together we shall commot..

I don't think we should see this physician's death as an opportunity to play politics and ask for increased salaries. This is not the time for that.

Suicide Is the most foolish thing a person can ever do.

so u just took time to type all the rubbish up there......Man wey never face real and bigger challenges, that one na man? Una never tok d real tin wey kill am

If you get thoughts of committing suicide

1. There are millions of people who are suffering more than you, look at them. When your suffering becomes smaller you will never think of committing suicide.

2. Know that you are needed, you are useful. You have to do something in the world.

4. Forget about what people think of you. People commit suicide because they think they have lost their prestige, their status. What status? What prestige? Who has time to think about your prestige? Everybody is entangled with their own problems, with their own mind. They can’t step out of their own mind, where do they have the time to think about you? These types of tendencies come because you think others are going to disrespect you. I tell you, it is worthless to worry about what the society thinks of you.

Mainly, we must realize that suicide is the worst thing a person can ever do.

alizma:
ORGANIZED PIECES OF RUBISH
this man just want to use this channel to get people's attention. if actually the problem has to do with the poor situation in the country, the doctor could have sold that his jeep with other things and attempt travelling off the shore of Nigeria rather than take his life.
I am considering a serious case of medical challenge like being impotent or HIV etc, and someone is talking about controllable situations like relatives and poor situation of the country.

I don't think you know the meaning of depression and job dissatisfaction and mental torture and extended family pressure and government insensitive and greedy relatives... do I continue.

One of the class mate of the Doctor that jumped into lagoon have this to say.
"Hmm, quite unfortunate. I know Dr Oji very well, we were course mates at a postgraduate course we completed 3 months ago.He had some health challenges then(seizure disorder in a known sickle cell) and was always alone.His parents gave him the jeep and employed the driver for him but at a point he lost the will to live.He didn't pass the postgraduate exam and that was the last straw-he received the news via a call from one of our colleagues and that was it .May his soul RIP.

One of our exams he sat beside me and had a seizure episode.He quickly signalled me and I raised the alarm.Our exam was delayed by 20 mins resuscitating him.Dat episode brought us closer dats why am really shocked"

Source : NMA Taraba WhatsApp grp

Too many stories out there on the young man's death. Everyone trying to make fame off his misery.
Only Dr Orji knows the real story.

Allwell Oji is not a doctor, he is a nurse in Port Harcourt and not Lagos, He schooled in Abia state from his primary school and above, as he is my friend and my younger brothers classmate in secondary school, (govt college Umuahia) and he is not dead, the news is false.

.

y are you sad? did your wife finally leave you?

alizma:
ORGANIZED PIECES OF RUBISH
this man just want to use this channel to get people's attention. if actually the problem has to do with the poor situation in the country, the doctor could have sold that his jeep with other things and attempt travelling off the shore of Nigeria rather than take his life.
I am considering a serious case of medical challenge like being impotent or HIV etc, and someone is talking about controllable situations like relatives and poor situation of the country.

what could have made this young man take his own life. a medical doctor with employment. its definately not these reasons this op is dishing out. surely its something wr are yet to know...

pls people try to be happy because your situation is not close to the worse not to talk of the worst.. there are millions of people whose conditions are far beyond what you are in and they are holding on so you too can..
Know this; if you want to be happy try to forget your situatiom and make other prople hahappy in your owm way. this is the secret of being happy .
....

brightmexy:
what could have made this young man take his own life. a medical doctor with employment. its definately not these reasons this op is dishing out. surely its something wr are yet to know...

pls people try to be happy because your situation is not close to the worse not to talk of the worst.. there are millions of people whose conditions are far beyond what you are in and they are holding on so you too can..
Know this; if you want to be happy try to forget your situatiom and make other prople hahappy in your owm way. this is the secret of being happy .
....

greenmonk:


I don't think you know the meaning of depression and job dissatisfaction and mental torture and extended family pressure and government insensitive and greedy relatives... do I continue.

brightmexy:
what could have made this young man take his own life. a medical doctor with employment. its definately not these reasons this op is dishing out. surely its something wr are yet to know...

pls people try to be happy because your situation is not close to the worse not to talk of the worst.. there are millions of people whose conditions are far beyond what you are in and they are holding on so you too can..
Know this; if you want to be happy try to forget your situatiom and make other prople hahappy in your owm way. this is the secret of being happy .
....

d doctor might equally be a 'Patient' in disguise

Beautiful nonsense

Bull shyyte! GENETIC!!

Why blame it on medical profession, Yoruba doctors, Hausa doctors, Tiv doctors, Edo doctors, Kanuri doctors, Tapa doctors, Urhobo doctors, Efik doctors, Idoma doctors, Ijaw doctors, Fulani doctors, .....every ethnic group in medical profession face the same hardship and struggle. Why is it only Ibo is weak and unable to stand the pressure and hardship? GENETIC!


Anyway, me sef go blame Oba of Lagos for why Iboman jump enter Lagoon.


May his Soul Rest in Peace sha.

Hey MODERATOOOORRR.

Why did you move the airforce lady thread to crime but leave Orji suicide in politics?

Any explanation for the different ways the subject is treated?

Medicine is like priesthood, it is a calling and people who are in a hurry to make quick money should go into Nigerian politics or banking or some other business.

ImperialYoruba:
Bull shyyte! GENETIC!!

Why blame it on medical profession, Yoruba doctors, Hausa doctors, Tiv doctors, Edo doctors, Kanuri doctors, Tapa doctors, Urhobo doctors, Efik doctors, Idoma doctors, Ijaw doctors, Fulani doctors, .....every ethnic group in medical profession face the same hardship and struggle. Why is it only Ibo is weak and unable to stand the pressure and hardship? GENETIC!
Anyway, me sef go blame Oba of Lagos for why Iboman jump enter Lagoon.
May his Soul Rest in Peace sha.

Hey im neither yoruba nor ibo but u are a foool.
Lalasticlala.. this boy needs help. Asap