#NextLevel for the special ones

TUESDAY morning, a certain Mrs Emiola called in. She commended Gibbers and went on to complain about the abject neglect psychically-challenged persons are experiencing everywhere and in everyone’s hand; government, society, politicians, candidates, policy-makers, relatives et al.

Upon enquiry, she disclosed having a child with special needs who by God’s grace, is awaiting admission into the university. She was grateful her family could meet the special needs of the special child, but worried about the many others like her own, who she has repeatedly listened to their stories of total abandonment. I promised her I would do something, at least, spatial.

There is a mystery to God’s arrangement that only those who are genuinely merciful to fellow beings, would receive mercy, this time, from God Himself, the father of all mercies, according to 2 Corinthians 1:3. Leadership has become a cult of wickedness in our clime. The operators always win because genuine children of God have a way of soiling their hands, at the entry point. They want God “to understand” why they should dine on devil’s table to get into offices, promising that once they are in, they will “change”, that is, going back to being faithful. They don’t believe their God could get them earthly positions, making them play “convenience” with the Almighty. Dearest Mummy Emiola, the real decision-makers in government have their allegiance elsewhere. Being merciful to those with special needs is a long-shot for them. If anything at all, they have bigger needs than our physically-challenged friends. Their souls heading for hell need immediate redemption.

Our leaders, without conscience, are the real human agents of the spiritual wickedness in high places. I have been to private business concerns like five-star hotels, super marts, high-brow hospitals et al, belonging to some of these fellows, with excellent provision made for easy movement for moneyed physically-challenged, loaded enough, for their expensive services. Yet these same persons in government approve and build pedestrian bridges without any provisions for those with special needs. Many glorified health centres in the name of general hospitals built by some governors also lacked what should be basic “additions” like wheel-chair walkways and interpreters, to help those challenged with communicating. But check with their private hospitals in South Africa.

What baffles is that the financial obligations of meeting the needs of our physically-challenged brothers and sisters, is next-to-nothing, when the profligacy that has come to define governance in the land, is weighed against the real value of the humanity these special ones, represents, reinforcing the conviction that the indifference to them, borders on cruelty, refined on the altar of the mammon those in government pour daily libation to, regardless of the religion they profess. That’s why uncompromising children of God, with divine assignments, must strive to displace the wicked in authority. The Word of God says the people will only rejoice when the righteous are in authority. God’s Word is infallible.

That leaves only you and I. Funny enough, some of those doing wickedly in government make attempts, in their individual capacity, at doing good. They call the face-saving tokenism; philanthropy. It is between them and their gods.

When critically considered, it would be seen that the most these special people desire, is plainly, emotional support. We, the perceived able-bodied, demonstrating we reckon with their needs, even if we can’t decree all into existence at a whistling. No, I’m not talking sympathy. It is called understanding and doing.

There is patent danger in assuming that those who are dependent one way or the other have no choices. They do, though they may be helpless at a certain point, to bring about their desires. Have we quickly forgotten how these special people wiped our Olympics shame away? Soon, the extra-gifted amongst them, would be dumping Nigeria for countries like Eritrea and by God’s grace, they always come gifted. They and their loved one also do not have to allow the crass irresponsibility in public office to fester by only wailing against it. They too, should get into the NextLevel mood with their voting strength. Perceived feeble hits can majorly dent ambitions without consideration for them.

• I’ll restore Lagos lost glory, deliver it from its stranglehold ― Jimi Agbaje

Et tu Abati?

Like a wrongly-ringed bolt from the blues, well-regarded media personality, Reuben Abati, surfaced on a familiar-but-soggy court; Buruji Kashamu’s K-leg gubernatorial ticket as running-mate. Abati, apart from being an adult, is eminently qualified to run Nigeria as president, let alone Ogun State as governor, where actors with far lesser-credentials had called the shot. So being a running mate and maybe ultimately the deputy governor, should be considered no deal at all. But something doesn’t smell right with the queue he is on. Except Abati is banking on the possibility of Kashamu finishing his mandate as governor elsewhere in the US, and he, inheriting the throne, the current game may not worth an inch of his name which he was fortunate to recover with the public, after his Aso Rock outing ended with shokoto pempe display (underwear photo-op) in EFCC custody, for bla bla.

Abati is more of credibility make-weight for the Kashamu ticket, considering that the brilliant editorial darling is obviously lacking in vote-worth and political stamina, though grassroots politicians could also see him as opportunistic for showing up when the bush meat is stewed. It is called tactical pick and I guess this time, to drag the media into the billionaire’s corner as he continues his one-battalion battle cry against the party that doesn’t want him. Why PDP at all cost for a loaded and spilling-over Kashamu, who could single-handedly found and fund a national party? Only the controversy-personified, could explain his oluwonkoko (clinging) resolve. Only Abati too, could explain this potentially career-ending resolve. But what if he had ported into politics completely as a new career? Then, the pretext should be over. So, instead of assessing Abati the professional-in-politics, the media can focus on the debutant professional politician and the reportorial sentiment Kashamu thought he would profit from, would simply vanish. A colleague had sniggered at the beautiful poster announcing the duo’s ambitions as “awada” (elaborate joke). I’m pinching myself not to add “kerikeri” (wildly so), because I don’t own tomorrow. My prayer is “e o ni ba ti o” (you won’t chase shadows), in Jesus Name.