By Fr. Pat Amobi Chukwuma
Anyone who lives in Russia must learn how to rush always. If you have a phobia for mosquito, then you must avoid travelling to Moscow. According to a jester, a person who comes from Nigeria is called a Nigerian while a person from Moscow is called a Mosquito. Likewise a person from Nimo is called a Nimonian.
Therefore, a patient already suffering from pneumonia runs a great risk by going to Nimo. The suffering in Nigeria is so intense, such that a Nigerian who dies and goes to hell will be burnt into ashes. If a selfish woman sells fish, then her selfishness becomes double. A person who does hiring, runs the risk of contracting hernia.
A fat man who eats fatty foods ends up in fatalism. What becomes of Miss Perpetua, if she is peppered? A person born on April Fool’s Day, is bound to be foolish. Therefore, do not blame my foolishness because I was born on 1st April. But by God’s grace I grew up into a wise fool. A hungry person must avoid travelling to Hungary. It is extremely dangerous to provoke a hungry person.
A wound is known for its painfulness. If you add salt to it, then the wound must surely burst. Adding kerosene into fire is as dangerous as going to hell at night. Petrol is highly inflammable. If you smoke or come near it, then you will experience instant hell fire. I wonder if those criminals set ablaze with tyres hung on their necks and fuel poured over them will rise again on the Resurrection Day.
There is no smoke without fire. No wonder the kite hovers around wherever smoke rises. A local legend tells us that a certain young kite bought a quantity of breadfruit and asked its mother to cook. After the cooking, the quantity reduced drastically. Hence, the young kite accused its mother of consuming some of it in the kitchen.
The mother swore that she didn’t. Angrily, the young kite locked its mother inside the house, set it on fire and flew away. When its temper cooled, it regretted its action and came back to rescue her. Unfortunately, she had been burnt into ashes. That is the reason that till today, the kite hovers over the air looking for its mother wherever fire is burning and smoke is rising.
If a child is crying and pointing its finger towards a certain direction, then, its mother or father must be there. An ant that suddenly runs out of its hole must be pursued by an invading enemy. So far, I have cleared the bush enough. Let me now embark on the cultivation.
Our country, Nigeria is globally known as the Giant of Africa. Regrettably, things have fallen apart and the centre can no longer hold. As things stand now, the ‘Gi’ has been removed and she automatically metamorphosed into the Ant of Africa. How the mighty has fallen! Few years back, regardless of our democratic and economic setbacks, Nigerians were recognized as the happiest people in the whole world. Unfortunately, today we have become the saddest people on earth.
Our democracy has turned into ‘demon-cracy’ due to electoral malpractices, corruption, bad governance, nepotism and terrorism. After sixty-five solid years of Independence, we are still crawling like a lame baby. Our economy has been battered. Our Naira is valueless. Hardship and hunger are mesmerizing the citizens. Terrorists, bandits and kidnappers are abducting and killing innocent citizens on daily basis all over the country.
Blood is flowing like flood everywhere. If you open the radio or television, sad news of murder greets your ears or eyes. Instead of hearing good news, we are confronted daily with a lot of bad news.
This increases our already High Blood Pressure. Thus, the death rate presently has quadrupled. The rate Nigerians slump and die nowadays is on the high side. Life in Nigeria today is a great risk. Our political leaders seek their own comfort while the masses perish.
Something drastic must be done to arrest the uncomfortable situation we find ourselves in in our hated country, Nigeria, today. We are already suffering like the inmates of hell. We are hungry and angry. Our lives are in danger. As much as possible, each and every one of us must devise ways of making ourselves happy in the midst of these calamities.
In a Whatsapp group, I found something very helpful to everybody in Nigeria today. It comes from an anonymous author. I quote it verbatim with little alteration:
“GREETINGS TO EVERYONE!!! Please take things easy o.
.Fuel is now N1200 per liter ooh. Cooking Gas is N1300 per kg
Put your trust in God (and not in any man oh). The rate at which people just die all of a sudden is becoming alarming.
Most Nigerians know that we are in a period of frustrations, depressions, confusion, terror, stress and the like.
All these increase the risk of High Blood Pressure which also leads to heart failure or attack. Of course, this can cause sudden death, which is now rampant!
Please, move away from being provoked easily by your children, friends, colleagues, superiors, subordinates, partners, husbands and wives.
Also, avoid reacting to things aggressively. Isolate yourself from disturbances. Avoid too much thinking.
When there is no money or food at home, just stay cool and calm down.
If you don’t attend that wedding this time because of aso-ebi, in nine months, you will attend the child naming ceremony. Don’t borrow to buy that aso-ebi!
Avoid the exchange of words with people. At home, markets, offices, etc. always check your BP. Take drugs. Follow instructions. And do exercises. Go to see your doctor immediately if you feel changes in your body, especially your chest. Stay in peace. And never fight anyone. Don’t be anxious about anything, instead pray without ceasing.
Your Health is far better than any worldly thing. Beware of transferred aggression. Stay alive for yourself. Stay alive for your family. Stay alive for your glorious tomorrow. We only have one life to live. Stay alive for me, you may help me tomorrow. Don’t die before your time. This phase will come to an end. It shall be well. Peace unto you all.”
The above long quotation is real food for thought and amicable consolation for the Nigerian poor masses in the face of hunger, anger, hardship, banditry, nepotism, kidnapping and bad governance. I also recommend that we should avoid opening those messages and videos sent with ‘Viewers discretion’ behind them; and avoid forwarding unpleasant and bloody sites.
Let us delight in good news and not in bad news. When we come across accident victims, we should help them by taking them to the nearest hospital for medical attention. Taking their pictures and sending to Whatsapp groups is not the best thing, unless for the purpose of alerting their relations or families. The cost of fuel now is inhuman. Please avoid unnecessarily travels.
Similarly, the cost of living is unimaginable. Manage whatever is available. God is not asleep. Therefore, we should pray ardently for God’s intervention in our country, Nigeria, which is in extreme distress. Do not despair. Since a black hen could lay white eggs, there is hope in hopelessness.
