Comrade Oshiomhole and the Widow

It is the nature of humans that once they pass a difficult stage in life
They forget everything about it
Most importantly, they forget to have compassion for those
Who are still grappling with difficulties they once had.

 It is no longer news that Oga Oshiomhole told a poor widow to go and die
In spite of the poor woman's plea for compassion from her governor
It is also no longer news that following multitudinous condemnation
That Governor Oshiomhole has done the one thing that is impossible
For the Nigerian variant of politician -- to acknowledge wrong and apologise

 For me, this is a very honourable path
For the Governor to invite her to tea at the Government House
(Note that the house did not collapse)
And allowed her to drink from the official teacup of Edo State
(Note that she didn't die from receiving such honour)
And then the Governor gave her son scholarship
And gave her; wait for it, TWO MILLION NAIRA!

 Hmmm!

 While we commend Oshiomhole for his change of heart
I have a few questions to ask:

 So commoners can be allowed into State House?
Why do politicians usually surround themselves with protection?
Who are they really afraid of? The people?
Why can't people ordinarily have access to their leaders?
Why do they need over-priced bullet-proof automobiles?
And heavy security, when Maiduguri needs much more?

 So they can use Government cup to drink tea and sit at the Governor's table?
So scholarship still exists in the lexicon of today's politicians?
Those who went to school on scholarship, now they are in government
They shamelessly hand out scholarships to those who catch their fancy?
And a whole TWO MILLION handed out just like that?

 Where did the money come from?
Was it in the appropriation bill?
Because our common treasury has been turned into personal accounts
For Nigerian politicians, it doesn't make it right!

 Assuming there was a functional institutionalised scholarship scheme
In place in Edo, and every other thing is working accordingly,
That widow and others like her will not be in the streets hawking.
Is it only in Nigeria that widows exist?

 While we applaud, people
We need to ask pertinent questions
Why are we being treated as slaves by these politicians
A Prime Minister recently resigned in Latvia because 
The roof of a shopping mall collapsed and killed 54 people
Is he not a politician?

 I wish we can learn from what is happening in Bangkok and Kiev right now
We can't be liberated in this country till we learn from those courageous people!
For that one widow at the Governor's table in Benin,
There are millions of others worse than her
That can never be that fortunate until we fight for our common destiny
As a united people!

Comments

Azom said…
Izuu I'm glad U asked the question on my mind. Where did the 2m come from? In saner climates he would have been probed for that. However, he did the seemingly impossible by inviting her, apologising etc. Didn't know they were humans afterall. Nice write-up by the way.
4 December 2013 at 13:45
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