I recoiled sighting the video of final breathing moment of slain husband of late Aunty Dora, former DG of NAFDAC, Dr Chike Akunyili. Even my children who like to appear unfazed by things that rattle my generation, because technology looks like answer to everything, gasped in horror. Chike’s face was too grisly to behold. That video depicts a tragic occurrence Yoruba believe would force tears out of the one who has eaten the head of tortoise.
The shooting and killing is as barbaric as the growing culture of seeking social media breaking news at accident scenes, instead of providing immediate assistance. The culture must be cancelled at all cost, even if it has to be criminalised. Evident from the video recording, as the man writhed in excruciating pain, his face hideously-indescribable, nobody came close to help, but close enough to record his final moment with voices being heard clearly round and about him. From those voices, personal recognition wasn’t in short supply. Though his driver and others were killed by the gunmen, who are being rumoured to be DSS officials, IPOB members, or even Fulani herdsmen, it was Chike’s final moment that went viral, confirming that he had a recognisable name and face that should trigger immediate help.
You say what about the crucial ombudsman role such viral recordings have been playing in recent time, especially in capturing rights denials and abuses by security men, grievous domestic abuses by spouses, and serving as very reliable evidence in bringing culprits to book and getting justice for the oppressed? The Perfect Master, Jesus, has a perfect answer to that with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Those who pose pious and form keepers of order also saw the attacked man like the growing crowds of Nigerian news seekers, and did nothing like them. Jesus says their kind are hypocrites and self-serving in their righteous indignation. The Samaritan who came and saw and did something for humanity by moving the man in Dr Chike’s situation to hospital for treatment and picking the bills, received kudos from the Master. South East is a Christian home. Chike was a Christian. Jesus, whose footsteps Christians follow, enjoins us to be our brother’s keepers, not catching cruise with their agony. We should be doers of the Word.
You ask how I knew Dr Chike was a Christian? Ok, his late wife, as NAFDAC DG, was a big sis. Journalism drew me close to her and she made a younger brother of me. Yes, Aunty Dora was the internationally-known one, but Dr. Chike, was the strong hand, steadying the “throne” from where the Nigerian Princess, charmed the world through selfless service to mankind.
We had just concluded a multiple-hour interview in her Wuse office, covering practically all aspects of her life. And Aunty Dora was a talker, who would not want to leave details out, no matter how minute. We also had a mini photo session to complement the interview. It was a relief tidying things up and leaving. Not quite long, it was Aunty Dora’s call beeping. After I left, she had to relay the highlight of the interview to her husband, since she, as a matter of self-imposed routine, discussed it with him before the tape rolled.
The husband had a correction we must make. Aunty Dora had told me in the interview that if she reincarnated, Chike would still be her choice in the new life, considering the marital bliss with the gentleman doctor! For an average husband, that should make his head bubble for the whole day and even issue unreasonable promises to the wife, out of excitement. But not Dr Chike. He saw a spiritual error in that praise and quickly asked her to correct it. Aunty Dora told me her husband reminded her about the scripture that says it is appointed unto man to die once and after that, judgment. Of course, that is the truth of the Word of God. Reincarnation in flesh isn’t Biblical. Aunty Dora saw her husband was right and quickly called me to expunge that line! Many women, even those inferior in class, and achievements, would have spurned the correction. It is either the husband is too serious about meaningless things, too spiritual for comfort, or simply, being plainly envious. But both were heavenly-minded and I hope, they are now there, by God’s mercy.
Without doubt, a terrible covenant is manifesting at a dizzying speed in Nigeria of today. The principalities, powers and altars which the country, was willed to, at birth, are now demanding too much blood, regardless of what was promised them, by whoever contracted them. It was as if the turn of the century had been pre-determined and pre-arranged to deliver the hottest tears of sorrow to Nigerians and make the country the hottest part of hell. Arguably, Dr Chike was killed in error, but that would not make anything better. The life which his own replaced is as precious to God as his.
By now, the discerning should know what is going on in the country is purely spiritual and while guns, ammunition, intelligence gathering and Tucano jets can give some measure of hope, only divine wisdom would deliver military solution and success. Until the foundation of this country is rebuilt on God and His ways which include justice to the oppressed, truth in public and private conducts and holiness in all our ways, whether a prince or a peasant, no human solution will be impactful, even if Nigeria signs military pacts with the remaining 194 countries of the world, doing the $593M Tucano deal, in the multiple.
A man of understanding would consider this: it started as election thuggery and killings, then political assassinations, claiming the likes of Bola Ige, Harry Marshal, Dikibo, et al, then religious, with Boko Haram as the face, then bandits, then unknown gunmen, then…pure madness. It is not a North and South thing. Nigerians, e fun ra (Nigerians beware).
The Nigerian State is failing. In the spirit realm, it has practically crumbled. A rebuilt is required, not tokenism. If your house is on fire, you don’t chase lizards. A new foundation is sine qua non to Nigeria’s survival. If a child is crying in a particular direction, if the father isn’t there, the mother is. The children of this country are mourning. A wise man once said nothing is a popular saying. But not when the country is hemorrhaging. Wisdom, Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, is profitable to direct.
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