HEARTLESS

 

I was thinking this morning.... about how heartless we have become as a people. Like many Nigerians, I watched the short clip of Nigeria Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi giving a speech during the funeral of the late Chief of Army Staff and 10 other military officers, and didn't know what to think. The Minister while reading from a script, said 'the President wish to express his great displeasure ..... and heartless felt condolences to all the bereaved families.' While many saw the statement as a shocking grammatical blunder, I disagreed and said 'oga, no mind them. I believe you.'

I believed him because on Monday, the news headline was 'Over 100 killed in Benue as militia gangs sack four Council Wards in Katsina-Ala LGA' but no word from the government. Then on Tuesday yet another tragedy with the headlines 'Suspected herdsmen attack Jos, kill 19 persons.' Again no comment. But when on Wednesday, there was an unfortunate boat mishap between Niger and Kebbi states, the government spokesman surfaced saying 'The president offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by this tragedy.' Like seriously? Surely, it must be a heartless felt condolence.

My worry is not so much as the failure of the government, but how Nigerians are becoming heartless. Last Sunday a Nigerian soldier had flagged down a car at Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt and begged him for a lift to Ikot Abasi. On their way he shot the driver dead and stole his car. Abasi mbok! Days later, a young man at Oleh, Delta state was arrested for killing his twin brother for ritual purposes. What's going on? What have we become?

Now that both men have been arrested, I am sure they will beg for forgiveness and say to the relatives of the deceased 'Please accept my condolence, yes my heartless felt condolence.'

We must have genuine sympathy, brotherly love and a tender heart (1st Peter 3:8). It is only then we can express our heartfelt condolences rather than a heartless felt condolence.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey