“But the government refused to care for matters like this because it won’t fatten their obese pockets. Because it’s not a criterion to steal more money neither is it an occasion they’ll go to blow big grammars that are higher than their IQ.”

 

Nigeria is that wayward parent that cares about his business and not that of his children. This type of parent wakes up in the morning around 5 am and runs off to the market/ work without seeing his children. He comes home around 10 pm when his kids are asleep.

No healthy relationship between the parent and child. They can pass as orphans effortlessly.

This is the picture I can paint regarding the message I want to pass.

It’s a sad reality that people who work day and night, sun or rain are neglected if they breathe last while on duty.

Are we not used to the federal government and their wonderful snubbing talent?

They’ve shown it countless times but I’d like to reference that of Stephen Keshi. A coach that brought glory to a country that finally showed him that they didn’t need the glory actually.

Keshi died and he deserved a national burial but in this clime, we don’t know how to respect people especially when it’s their last respect calling. We don’t care.

It was one year he died two days ago and the wound inside my chest was peeled once more when I remembered that the government denied a man like that a federal burial.

It is one of the things in the form of being Nigerian – Nonchalance!’

Sorry I digressed.

This past week, the internet was greeted with CCTV footage of the robbery that went down in a certain Zenith bank in Owerri.

Chilling video of Zenith Bank robbery attack that left at least 5 people dead in Owerri, Imo state. pic.twitter.com/dLtbaY97RI

— Ubani Chijioke (@thandiubani) June 8, 2017

People who saw the video will applaud the police man on a mufti who engaged the rebels in an exchange of fire. The man was the hero of the day. He killed one and threatened the others but he got killed and later died in a hospital in Owerri.

Weeks later, we see on the tabloids where the wife of the police man who had spent only three days at the bank was crying and complaining saying that the Bank and the NPF abandoned her and her seven kids.

.@PoliceNG that gallant officer should not die in vain, let us have his photograph, ket #HonourSergeantChukwudiIboko for his service.

— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) June 10, 2017

They didn’t grace his burial, no financial support for the family of the man who could have kept quiet and let the robbers do their thing and go in peace. But, no, this bold fella fired away not knowing that when death comes knocking that the bank and the NPF will play deaf to his death.

If it is not saddening to you, I’m sorry you need to review your sanity. This is all shades of cruelty towards humanity.

These men stand on the road under the sun and rain. They are the first targets of robbers or kidnappers. They have families and loved ones. Ordinarily, there should be a special scheme that the family of the deceased force man will lean on when things go south.

But the government has refused to care for matters like this because it won’t fatten their obese pockets. Because it’s not a criterion to steal more money neither is it an occasion they’ll go to blow big grammars that are higher than their IQ.

My friend Hymar grew angry yesterday and ranted against the government and their nonchalance. He was of the opinion that these police men increase the amount of money they collect in check points because the government sometimes owes them or slashes their salaries without conscience.

It is sad to know and learn that these security men on uniform are actually sacrificial lambs whose lives are always on the line despite many things.

Nigeria doesn’t deserve my life.

I advise people to be careful about the sacrifices they do for Nigeria. When push comes to shove, Nigeria will disappear and lock you out in the cold after it had torn your cloth to shreds.

Be careful. Do not forget that you are on your own as a Nigerian living in Nigeria!

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Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Mark Anthony Osuchukwu is a writer who does not respect himself. He says things the way he feels. When he feels otherwise, he apologizes if you like. He could be reached on Facebook with his name or his mail @ markanthonyfoundation@gmail.com