Most humans acquire assets to enjoy and leave for their loved ones after their death. Some prepare long for the final call materially and spiritually. They try to mend frosty relationships and foster new ones. They acquired these assets with blood, toil, tears, and sweat. In doing so, some failed many times, succeeded a few times, and acquired the assets. No matter the little. While some failed with nothing.
As long as we live, we would acquire assets. We will all die. And while some will leave assets behind, others won’t. These assets would be inherited by our loved ones, not to be left to waste.
There is no comprehensive data of persons who die globally, their assets, the number of assets transferred to their heirs, and those wasted. However, in 2020, it was reported in Nigeria that the adult mortality rate for ages between 15 and 60 was 34.25 deaths per 100 population. The adult mortality rate increased from 25.75 deaths per 100 population in 1975 to 34.25 deaths per 100 population in 2020, growing at an average annual rate of 3.29% and 5.55% change in 2020. Meanwhile, the life expectancy in Nigeria is 55.
History recorded that some men and women prepared their final resting place. They chose where they would be buried, supervised the building, constructed the carriage, determined the programmes, and every other thing required for the final celebration of their life and time.
Some also organised their assets, gathered them, determined who gets what, what is to be done with them, who supervises or manages the assets, and distribution among others while alive. This is not out of place. They are believed to have done this because of the uncertainties in respect of the assets upon their demise. Some people do this because of their desire to just be involved. After all, it is their assets. They worked for it.
However, upon the death of the owner of the assets, what happens to the assets left behind? What do the people left with the assets do with them? I visited a community in South West, Nigeria. I noticed several properties and businesses belonging to an illustrious son of that community wasting away. It was disclosed that the children were established and well off without the assets.
In another case, a member of the family had taken over the vast assets of her deceased father’s estate for her personal use while other members of the family watched. Upon her death, her children believed all her properties, including those she ascribed to herself, belonged to her and by extension, them.
Also, some would fight among themselves, engage in near-death actions against one another over who gets what in a deceased’s assets. We are familiar with some of these cases. These are a few samples of cases that centre on asset management. Cases like these explain why some people prepare their assets and burial before their death.
An elderly man once expressed that if one looks at all these issues, one would rather prepare and do all one can just to rest in peace. What if one’s eternal rest is dependent solely on the existing peace amongst relatives left to oversee one’s properties? A lot of the dead would be buried with all the glitz and glamour without a true final rest.
He stressed further that some rancour and discord in families last for generations. Some deceased would probably not have a true final rest in perpetuity. He admitted some of the resentments were created by the deceased who never attempted any sincere redress when they were alive. Thus, no amount of final tidiness would correct the same without a redress.
He believes some tidiness, coupled with a sincere redress of all issues, could correct the wrongs. He did not rule out the inherent selfishness, greed, and mischief of humans, which can frustrate one’s genuine effort to promote peace. Nothing is bad in suing for peace with the hope that everyone would ride on it
These words of wisdom are best summed up to those who wage war or allow their deceased loved ones’ assets to waste. After they stood in awe of the moment over the lifeless body of the deceased, with eulogies, and final words in these similar phrases, rest in peace. If given the chance of a few seconds and farewell, the dead would, with soberness and regrets instead of admonition, mutter to the loved ones, “live in peace.”
Regardless of such chance, when the living live in peace, then would the dead rest in peace.
Adekola is a Legal Practitioner and Head, Probate Services, Greenwich Registrars and Data Solutions Limited. He can be reached via 08165299774 and 08150373535.
