By: Ike Philip Abiagom

In many hospitals across the world, if you don’t pay up, you won’t be allowed to go home. Patients are detained long after they should be medically discharged until they are able to foot their bills.

In most hospitals in Nigeria, security guards and sometimes locked doors are used to illegally detain patients who have bills pending. And in some instances, not even the death of these patients can secure their release as hospital morgues hold their bodies until families can settle their bills.

Chief Lucky Blessing Odiakachukwu Abuah, aka Bullet Empire ,the Chairman of Hen-Ric Empire Garden Ltd and Lucky Abuah Foundation, has intervened by footing the bills of stranded patients in selected hospitals in Nigeria.

According to a report by the Grassroots Publishers online, the Nigerian philanthropist Chief Lucky Abuah visits hospitals and interacts with authorities at the facility to inquire about those who are well but cannot go home because of bills.He secretly settles the bills, as he does not disclose to patients that their bills are about to be paid; he does not want to be thanked and would not even want to stay in touch with any patient he helps to release.

On one of such visits to Divine Victory Clinic, Asaba and another private hospital in Ibusa, Abuah met a patient in Ibusa hospital who had been sick for long and needed an intensive medical attention. The patient, at that moment, was thinking of how to foot his hospital bills and was hoping to receive a miracle.

Abuah, after having a chat with the patient without disclosing who he was and his mission, paid the man’s one million naira bill – without his knowledge. Although the philanthropist wouldn’t want to be thanked, he told the Newsbreeze that there was one thing he would like in return: “that one day they might tell a story about him: the story of how when they were in hospital, an angel came, paid their bill and left.”

Abuah has so far met people who have been compelled to stay on the ward for six – or eight – weeks after they have been discharged, the report added. He is rescuing such stranded patients under the “Lucky Abuah Foundation.
The Lucky Abuah Foundation Project does not cater to people with ongoing, serious conditions but those who are far better and ready to go home. Abuah is, sometimes, forced to deviate from the rules of the project, he said, while recounting the support he gave to a woman who bled for 11 months because she had to undergo a hysterectomy.

Abuah paid the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000.00) for all the patients at the Divine Victory Clinic Asaba during his recent visit to a hospital yesterday, he also footed the bill of a patient who needed a leg ulcer operation and a 10-year-old girl who needed further intestinal surgery.

Newsbreeze also reports that Abuah also donated food items worth N.9 million for the upkeep of the elderly inmates included:bags of rice, 30kg bag of dry fish, baskets of tomatoes, cartons of vegetable oil and bags of garri.The rest were: cartons of confectioneries, packs of bottle water, cartons of disinfectants, diapers, cartons of soap among others.

The philanthropist, who is saddened about the situation of such stranded patients, chastised the government over the development.

“The mere fact an individual, like me, has to go into a hospital to pay the bills of people who are stranded speaks volumes about the injustice in the system,” he said.

“There’s no reason why we cannot have proper health insurance. We have clever people who can think of schemes that can work.”

“Every week I see the impact of not having compulsory health insurance, and people die. So where do you want to put the price of a human life?” Abuah questioned.

Meanwhile, for the wealthy philanthropist, helping hospital patients to settle their bills is one of the ways that he realizes his Christian faith.

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

Chief Lucky Blessing Odiakachukwu Abuah, aka Bullet Empire ,the Chairman of Hen-Ric Empire Garden Ltd, a philanthropist whose passion for human development is immeasurable, Bullet Empire is celebrating his birthday today.

The great icon who could not hide his excitement revealed how rising by lifting others gave him joy and how impacting other people positively had made him an achiever.

Many will spend their lifetime trying to figure out rules to living, however, Chief Lucky Abuah not only figured them out but has been living them for almost two decades now.

“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.

“So, achievements generally could not necessarily be achievements in terms of material things. There is a way I look at achievement.

“How many people have you impacted in life? How have you changed situations around you? These are areas where one needs to perform well before he is called an achiever. He demonstrates the exact meaning of living by using his talent to serve the world and leaving a lasting impression while serving and mainly a positive impact on the causes that matter to the powerful.

You make each day special just by being yourself around people, you illuminate the darkest moments in the lives of people through your acts of generosity. You are kind and your care for humanity is never in doubt.

If asked, if I have met anyone who has lived all his life being charitable and kind to others I am going to mention you a million times because you are a servant of the poor. The volunteers would say the same because to all of us, you are that humble, happy, and friendly brother, yes, brother because you are always willing and patient to guide people through the right paths and your life is a lesson to us because we learn from your actions. You are unique.

You are the most generous, fun, and loving person every young person should cling to, your interest in the growth and the development of youths make me wonder how you make out time for people even with your busy schedules. You are passionate about a lot of things, sometimes I question why you have to do so much but then all of these sums up who you really are. No one or definition better describes the word intentionality but you. You are intentional. You are the best definition of what it means to be intentional.

The journey of feeding families and caring for them in this trying moment as we are faced with the deadly hardship, couldn’t have been possible without you pushing this goal of sustaining the poor in their lack. Many smiled again, many lived, many became hopeful because you gave them reasons to be.

Memories! Memories of men, women and children who danced to the love they received, laughter on the faces of those who couldn’t comprehend the fact that someone remembered them, the tears that flowed from the eyes of those who never expected the love extended, the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God from the poor widow. The reality you brought because you were busy thinking of the poor.

Thanks you Chief Lucky Abuah for being a gentle and kind mentor to all in the LUCKY ABUAH foundation, You are an inspiration to everyone, thanks for making available this platform of charity to our people. You remain a shining example for all of us.

It’s your birthday, Chief Lucky Blessing Odiakachukwu Abuah, a Humanitarian, a philanthropist without equal, a giver without borders. God continues to shower his blessings of love, grace, peace, health, protection, success, and everything good that you would wish for yourself and your generation would continue to reap the fruits of your goodness. Happy birthday Bullet Empire. You’re Loved.

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

Death has taken away one of the greatest son of our Igbuzor,the doyen of Ibusa Entertainment Industry, a compassionate philanthropist, and a beloved husband and father, grand father, Pa. Eddy Nwokobia born 77 years ago in Ibusa, Delta State. His journey was one of resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to serving humanity because he lost his parents at the tender age of four. From his humble beginnings in Ibusa, Delta State, Pa. Eddy Nwokobia exhibited an exceptional intellect and a passion for excellence.

All these past days, I have been trying to figure out between death and life. So far I have come to realize that depending on what God has destined our earthly time to be, we could hang around for as little as a second on the clock or if lucky for as long as our folks with longer lives. It all goes to show that we need to value life after death, a journey of no return and to cap it all the inevitability of death where human life ends.

The news of his demise that shocked the entire nation was announced on December,2023.The late entertainment guru and philanthropist who hails from Isieke-Ibusa spent decades in Ibusa town where he settled with his family. He passed away at a private hospital in Asaba. May his soul rest in peace.

As I try to write this short tribute honoring the life of a man who has rendered tremendous service to humanity, I’m still in absolute disbelief and pain over his death at 77 years. He was a highly respected community elder and leader who has spent his wealth/properties to help his community and mankind in general. The late Pa. Eddy Nwokobia was a distinguished personality. He was consummate, entrepreneur, industrious and above all faithful.

There is no single soul connected to Ibusa that has not benefitted from his goodwill gesture and wealth, either directly or indirectly, far and near. He was that sort of a generous man. His contribution to entertainment in Ibusa cannot be overstated. The Ibusa entertainment story is incomplete without the mention of Pa Eddy Nwokobia and his Isabella Theatre which invited fame to Ibusa in the consideration of many. Nonetheless, many would wonder why many who were beneficiaries of this centre rarely discuss the significance of the social development of the community. The remains of the Eddy Theatre are seen today in the conversion of a private school, obviously the reminder of what easily passes for one of Ibusa’s social heritage sites for the future generation.

The Cinema business which constituted an important aspect of the local economy in Ibusa then, the business flourished from 1970s and 80s.The cinemas business provided employment to many Ibusa youths and also served an important social function. One of the developments which came with colonial rule in Nigeria was the cinema. Ibusa town were among the first to experience motion picture entertainment in Nigeria.

Pa. Eddy Nwokobia built “Isabella Theatre”, which was the biggest youths engagement that happened in the entertainment industry of Ibusa way back in the 80s,before the emergence of Isabella Theatre, there were places like Hotel Rekado, Awele Cedar, Ibusa Town Hall, and Ogbeowele Town Hall that were used for events but the Isabella Theatre was unique being that it was a purpose-built cinema hall unlike when people trooped to Ashia-Eke market of the community to watch cinema in the open. The maiden film was a Chinese movie that featured Bruce Lee, the protagonist of Blessed Memory in his spectacular Kung Fu fight with Angela Mao. It was quite exciting, putting the Ibusa community at the forefront of the social strata in the defunct Bendel State. Eddy-Pool about the same period, introduced a discotheque in Isabella Theatre and it became the talk of the town as far as neighbouring Asaba, Okpanam,Ogwashi-Uku, Onitsha, and up to Onitsha-Ugbo. Students from boarding schools would always stray out of boarding to attend disco sessions and socialize with people from other institutions. It was the disparate desire to disco with students from other institutions of learning that earned any such outing. The popularity and patronage of Isabella Theatre by young fun seekers encouraged Eddy-Pool to open up another spot which he called “Enbo Inn”. Enbo Inn was strictly for disco sessions while Isabella Theatre catered for cinema. Often, it differentiated the ‘local boys’ from ‘city boys’ who come into town with the latest rare dance steps much to the admiration of the young ladies who were being wooed, dazzled, and ‘super-rapped’ into courtship. Isabella Theatre brought Ibusa to the highest level in the entertainment industry but not without consequences. Ibusa became a hurly-burly for fun-seekers from far and wide most especially Yuletide season.

Pa. Eddy Nwokobia is the legend of entertainment business in Ibusa. He is the man who made all that possible with the help of his wealth and exposure.He was obviously the most popular and glamorous Ibusa man of his time, respected for his personal achievements and stupendous wealth specifically. His state of art auto machine- Citroen car, one of his best of the 1980s was exotically, the car to behold. It was full of fables for the youths and adults alike who admired the suspension on motion, screaming “Eddy,” “Eddy, Eddy every time he was driving past them, especially on Isieke High Street of the community. Indeed, the hydro-pneumatic suspension which aided was a type of motor vehicle suspension system designed by Paul Mages, invented by Citroen and fitted to Citroen cars. The suspension system enables self-leveling and driver-variable ride height which in the process provides extra clearance in rough terrain.

Eddy-Pool was a rich young man at his age then and used state-of-the-art cars like Citroen which intrigued us as youths, a car that rises and increases in height when turned on. Imagine the look on our already amazed faces then. In his fleet was also a Mercedes Benz 280s stretch with the embossed registration number of MA 755 of the then Midwest State and others cars. This Isieke born Eddy-Pool was a start and living and also living large then.

His charity worked while he was alive, the late Pa. Eddy Nwokobia has made an immense financial contribution in his effort to help close and long-distance families, friends, relatives and neighbours. He was hugely involved in community work, And he did it with humility and diligence.

Pa.Eddy Nwokobia is widely described as a doyen whose hard work and selfless service to the people made him the most generous person that I have known. I could confirm his humbleness without an iota of doubt as I am a living witness to his humility and generosity.

For example when I visited him at his house last year, he took two hours of his valuable time trying to engage me in meaningful conversation.
My interaction with him did not only give me the chance to listen to him as he offered inspirational advice and prayers, but also availed me the opportunity to learn and be more God-fearing, humble and more so a better person.

You follow his footsteps, you get rewarded here and hereafter because he has lived that kind of a life. Believe me he spoke to me just exactly the way an inspirational father would talk to his son.

Little did I know that would prove to be our final meeting. Few months later I got the devastating news that the man who links the Igbuzo youths and other neighbouring communities to the global world of entertainment, our mentor and a father-figure is gone – oh death; you have taken the life of a man so rich with people, wealth and faith.

Such is the character of the man who has instilled the spirit of confidence, exposure, motivation, ambition and faith into the youths of Ibusa. He never lived a lavished life to the detriment of his children, for that he would forever be respected and admired till we meet him in heaven. May his soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.