“I saved what I could, but not N500k,” Folajimi responds to criticism over his wife’s death

• Akinbobola Folajimi responded to Reuben Abati’s criticism over his inability to pay a N500,000 hospital deposit
• He explained that he had saved N100K and asked whether being poor is now considered a crime in Nigeria
• His response has sparked reactions from Nigerians, with some criticising Abati and calling his comments insensitive

Akinbobola Folajimi, the grieving husband whose story sparked national outrage, has responded to media personality Reuben Abati, who publicly criticised him for not being financially prepared for his wife’s delivery.

Abati, speaking during a live broadcast, condemned Folajimi’s inability to pay a N500,000 hospital deposit, calling it financial irresponsibility. According to him, a man expecting a child should have no excuse for failing to plan ahead.

“The whole substance of this conversation is that according to Mr Folajimi, when he got to Al-Salam Convalescent Centre, as the hospital is called, he was asked to deposit N500, 000 and the man was saying, ‘Please admit my wife, I will go and look for the money.’ 

“When you impregnate a woman, you can't come at nine months, and you are saying just treat her, let me go and look for the money. There are many people who do that. They put you under pressure. Mr Folajimi behaved in an irresponsible manner,” Abati said. 

While responding to Abati, Folajimi, in a video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday, April 10, said the media personality’s words show a lack of compassion for what poor Nigerians go through daily. 

He explained that he had saved about N100,000 in anticipation of the delivery but was blindsided by the hospital's steep deposit request.

“With due respect, this is not my first child. When my wife was pregnant, we were taking care of her to the best of my ability, and I never came public or to you to ask for you to borrow me money for antenatal or to feed my children. 

“Excuse me, Sir, I saved money, but I didn't save up to N500,000.  I saved money for that day, but they asked for a N500,000 deposit, not full payment. I didn't have that. All the money that I could have gathered that day wouldn't have passed N100,000. 

“I don't know if it is an offense not to have up to N500,000 when your wife is about to give birth. I don't know if it is an offence to now live below N500,000, but you are now saying it is the ‘’highest irresponsibility'' because I don't have N500,000. So it is even a crime to be poor in Nigeria?” Folajimi queried. 

Folajimi added that after his wife’s death, the same amount the hospital demanded was eventually raised, not for saving a life, but to cover burial expenses.

His response has reignited conversations around the economic hardship Nigerians are facing. Many also argued that Abati’s comments were insensitive and out of touch with the reality most Nigerians face. 

Nigerians react as Folajimi responds to Reuben Abati

Here are some of the comments:

@it_Rutie posted:

@thomasosho posted: “The thing is everyone is blaming this man. With way the country is right now. You might have 1m in your account this moment and in one minute bills/feeding/survival fit dry person up all because the Naira has lost her value.”

@MESIGO422 posted: “Everyone is blaming this man but ask them for 2k they will swear on their lives that they haven’t eaten for 90years “ Na God go judge all of una “  Because you get yahoo boy wee you they extort money from.  Hardworking individuals would understand it’s not easy in Nigeria.

@endyy090 posted: “I see u all talking rubbish. Before Buhari and Tinubu regime, hospitals even ask for 10k deposit for emergencies. So you guys should stop blaming him cuz devil punished you people with APC.”

@NotMrNobody1960 posted: “Nigeria is not a country, imagine debating human life on national tv and that fool @ruben or whatever, thinks he knows all, doctors took oath to save lives first, Nigeria as usual, money comes first and then money again. A reasonable channel will relieve him from his position.

@GNF_001 posted: “500k is too much for an average Nigerian man to pay for delivery seriously 🤧”

@JKaduna88040 posted: “This life let be realistic situations can come more than the money you save, you can have 50m and sickness will come that will make u spend 80m this life no balance.

@omoopee_ posted: “It's deeply disappointing to see blame placed on a grieving man instead of the system that failed his wife. In a country where the minimum wage can't cover basic living expenses, expecting every citizen to have N500k on standby is unrealistic and insensitive.”

@MannyMcdon posted: “I don’t blame those people who called him poor. I blame him for recording a video of his wife & posting it online. I’m always surprised when I see people who are going through something crazy, & the 1st thing on their mind is doing content. May her soul Rest In Peace.”

‘Arrest him’: Nigerians furious over pregnant woman’s death reportedly caused by husband, pastor

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that a pregnant woman identified as Joyce Ifunayachukwu allegedly died because her husband took her to the church instead of the hospital.

Joyce was said to have died despite online donations made to help her with her Kidney transplant and pregnancy complications. 

Nigerians expressed rage on social media because Joyce allegedly died in a church where her husband took her instead of to the hospital.