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A Nigerian man who consistently advocated for a better country has died after battling a heart condition, leaving behind a powerful self-written obituary that has since gone viral.
Kingsley Obiekezie Aneke died on December 5, 2025, at the age of 48. Before his death, Aneke was an outspoken critic of poor governance in Nigeria, using his social media platforms to call for reforms, particularly in the healthcare sector.
In a moving post published on Facebook on December 23, Aneke announced his own death, describing how systemic failures ultimately contributed to his passing.
“If you’re reading this, it means I’ve left this world behind,” he wrote. “I’ve always hoped for a Nigeria that works for everyone, but sadly, I became a victim of the system I’ve long wished to see change.”
Aneke revealed that he had lived with a heart condition for years, managed successfully until his cardiologist relocated abroad due to the country’s deteriorating healthcare system. His condition reportedly worsened thereafter.
He recounted being admitted on November 24, 2025, to a hospital that had previously managed his condition. However, when his health became critical, doctors attempted to refer him to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), only to find that the facility was shut due to an ongoing strike, like many other public hospitals at the time.
According to Aneke, two private hospitals—Evercare Hospital, Lekki, and Duke’s Neurosurgery and Specialist Hospital—were contacted but demanded deposits exceeding ₦2 million before treatment could commence. His family eventually settled for Duke’s Neurosurgery and Specialist Hospital in Victoria Island.
“The hospital was more interested in their deposit of millions before they could even lay a finger on me,” he wrote. “They were more interested in milking my family than saving me.”
Despite his family’s financial sacrifices, Aneke said the hospital continued billing until his final moments. He died on December 5, 2025.
In his final message, Aneke also criticised individuals who, in his view, defend poor governance for tribal or political reasons, warning that the consequences affect everyone.
“Many people are dying in Nigeria daily from bad governance,” he wrote, citing poor roads, rising kidnappings, underfunded hospitals, and the continuous exodus of skilled professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.
He described private hospitals as “a death trap in critical situations” due to limited expertise, while accusing politicians of prioritising future elections over fixing the country’s healthcare system.
Aneke expressed hope that his death would serve as a wake-up call, noting that many Nigerians cannot afford the level of care he received, let alone access basic medical services.
“As I take my leave, my hope remains that Nigeria becomes a place where healthcare and opportunities are accessible to all,” he wrote. “May God guide this country to a better future.”
He concluded by urging Nigerians to prioritise regular medical checkups, healthy living, and to continue advocating for a fair and just nation.
“With love and hope for real change,” he signed off.
