I was
deep in thought about the impending end of the year, when I caught his sight,
as he sauntered into our living room. The gifted, cranium endowed middle aged
man, had free and unlimited access to the house as my age-long friend with whom
we share thoughts together. His achilles heels, has been that he hates being
‘’unnecessarily’’ interrupted and like his Yoruba name implies PEKINJOO—
‘’Plead unto me or…’’ and most of the time you find yourself appealing to him
to stop, with some of his sometimes ‘mudslinging invectives’ on topical issues
of discuss. Together, with some of my mischief maker friends, we call him
’Prof’, for his wisdom traits and abundant native intelligence. His narratives
are endless as they are thought-provoking.
I
promised myself as he settled down on the sofa that ’Prof’ was not going to
bamboozle me this time around, in spite of his uncanny understanding and
presentation of issues, particularly that of my country. He should be ready for
a ‘show-down!’ He started:
PROF
PEKINJOO: ‘’ That
blood runs in all our veins, is an axiom that needs no further proof. It may
well be said to be physically and scientifically undisputable, particularly,
when the assertion is given credence in an accident that happened few weeks
ago’’.
SELF: I interjected him.
’’Blood? Which accident? ‘’ Prof cut me short, as he continued.
PROF
PEKINJOO: ‘’
More-so, it is arguably becoming a norm for the four months ending the year to
be ascribed with some fabled evil connotations amongst Nigerians, indicating
that the ‘’ember months’’ come along with some ‘suspect’ inherent dangers. This
mind-set seems to be popular with people of high spiritual inclinations
especially as noticeable with increased religious programmes around the period.
Most unfortunately, others who are not spiritually savvy may not share this
view-point. However, the arguments remain contentious, but it is not the
essence of my story’’.
SELF: ‘’Ember months…which story? ‘’.
‘’Don’t we need prayers, especially, with the prevailing security challenges and
with the difficult times in this recession period? ‘’ I ruminated on this, that
Prof must be a clown to feign ignorance of happenings within the country. I
concluded that Prof had goofed this time around! And I must nail him this time.
I will go for his jugular! Unbothered, with situation around him, he continued
with his incisive and vivid descriptive style.
PROF
PEKINJOO: ‘’ The
sight of the accident was a gory one! And these days when security is on
red-alert, the loud bangs made people living within the distance of the
accident scene to first scamper for safety, which itself is unknown at such
time of an incident. Perhaps, some had thought that terrorists were again on
the prowl, before the shrieks and shouts for help drew all attention to them.
The accident scene easily sends cold shiver down one’s spine. Some couldn’t
just bear to look at the ‘’extent of damage’’ for the blood! Blood was
everywhere at the spot of the accident! Some women with their hands on their
heads and could not help but to wail and cry!
SELF: Where is Prof driving at with
this emotional bait? I wondered. Whichever way he goes, I won’t fall for it! I
boasted to myself. However, I could hardly help myself with tears coming to my
eyes with such emotional account. Prof was unperturbed! He continued.
PROF
PEKINJOO: ‘’ The
courageous men and women amongst those present, had all their hands on deck.
They had all stooped to conquer the lone enemy – an unbudgeted, but sad
occurrence; an ember month disaster! Interestingly, there was no ethnic, creed
or colour bias whatsoever, in them as they forged ahead with their humanitarian
service. Only one thing caught their resolve, but to save as many lives as
possible, that were caught ’in-between’ in this unfortunate incident!
SELF: ‘’Such an uncommon patriotic
zeal is worthy of emulation by all.’’ I managed to say, before my big brother
friend with a nod, continued.
PROF
PEKINJOO: ‘’
There lay two seemingly lifeless bodies. Other survivors were still writhing in
pain! Then, from amongst the rescuers, a lanky and tall man emerged ready to
assist the victims. He had an unmistakable Hausa accent and a wide-gapped lower
teeth dentition, but with a concealed identity. I saw him, as he first dashed
to his car, while he came back with plenty disposable hand gloves which he
freely distributed to other volunteer rescuers. His obvious demonstration of
some highly skilled medical/safety procedures distinguished him, as a
practitioner. He took it upon himself to lead and direct the rescue operation
while others obliged him for his superior skills. He was very particular on the
ways the victims should be carried and handled before being conveyed to the
awaiting vehicle (Toyota) volunteered by another, a bald Yoruba man who also
doubles as the vehicle chauffeur. According to eye witness account, the bus had
veered off the road on top speed as it ran into a pothole right in the middle
of the Highway, which caused the vehicle to somersault severally before resting
in its upturned position in the ditch down the valley! Conveying the accident
victims from the mangled bus to the waiting rescue vehicle took severally
painstaking minutes, following the lead volunteer’s specific instructions. It
was as if his own, life actually depended on that exercise which any would gladly
attest to, as being compliant even with international rescue standards. One can
only imagine how such rescue exercise would ordinarily have been done without
complying with these pertinent safety instructions. Most pathetically, the
rescue process would have ignorantly followed the usual ‘pull, push, and shove’
style that in some cases, cause permanent and irreversible damage to people! A
big relief this did not happen! Again, it has been discovered most
unfortunately, that many do not even have adequate knowledge about First Aid
treatment skills. This is sad!’’
SELF: Agreeing totally on this I
opined ‘’It is necessary for these technical/safety skills to be included in
our educational curricula’’ Prof acknowledged with another nod, before
continuing.
PROF
PEKINJOO: ‘’An
Ijaw-man fully dressed, could not now be bothered with his missing cow boy hat,
which could easily have been lost in the frenzy of the rescue activities. He
has been tasked to get help for the two bodies initially thought to be dead but
has been found by the lanky lead rescuer with the aid of his stethoscope to be
breathing, still. Hands on his mobile phone, the Ijaw man dutifully manipulated
it with unequal speed especially to justify as he volunteered this, being his
familiar terrain as a highly placed Civil servant, making calls to relevant
government agencies, corporate bodies, on health and other further management
over the emergency at hand. Many other ethnic tribes could be seen playing
important roles in the rescue operation generally. And without doubt, it could
be said that all the ethnic groups present all ‘stood up to be counted’ with
their patriotic zeal and undivided support at the accident scene.
SELF: ‘’ True patriotic Nigerians’’ I
said and ventured to speak further before Prof abruptly stood up, and with a
stern quizzical look, started out with some rhetorical statements/questions.
PROF
PEKINJOO: ‘’With
the story, you can see clearly what the unity of purpose can achieve. You can
see the miles that can be covered when ethnicity, creed or colour biases are
not the signposts of consideration. Can ‘the leaders and the led’ in our
country, learn to demonstrate at all times heroic and selfless acts of
patriotism as done by the above illustrated ’rescuers’? If you say yes! Then: Why
do our leaders amass humongous wealth with such unequal greed? Why do we
disregard law and order as replicated in our non-compliance with traffic signs
and more? Why is corruption so pervasive, tagged with so many names ‘Ten per
cent’, gratification, brown envelopes, PADDING, etc? Why do we not value
human lives whether as privileged high ranking officials of government,
corporate and private sectors or otherwise, as obtainable in other climes? Why
wait until things degenerate totally before taking action as observed with our
roads left to degenerate beyond normal before action is taken?.’’ Why would
some few elements put clogs in the wheel of progress of the entire country?
Why, why, why? ’’
SELF: This was the
question on Prof’s lips as his phone rang. He only waved to bid us bye as he
answered the caller at the other end. His attention was probably needed
elsewhere. I had not prepared myself for this explosive discuss with Prof. But,
I could not help than to agree with him in spite of my earlier stance. For
truly there had been brazen impunity, indiscipline, corruption and other vices
prevailing among men and women in the country? There had been a general lack of
genuine feeling for the pains of others unlike the acts displayed in the
unfortunate incident illustrated above. It has also become obvious that we need
to fight a battle of the common enemy, who are the few detractors that bring
Nigeria’s name to disrepute both at home and abroad! So many questions, are
begging for answers, and so many things to be put in place. I can only agree
with Prof, along with his ‘native intelligence’. He has won again. I resigned
to fate. There will be another day. A day that would solely be mine! It will
surely come. I left to attend to other things, expectant of that day!
