Driving into Ikota shopping complex in Ajah area of Lagos some weeks ago, I ran into a young man, Anthony, of about 40 years old crying and making a frantic phone call with a passionate appeal to the supposed receiver of his call to have mercy and help save his bleeding and dying wife! Gripped by his very distressed look and call, I enquired more and with a most captivating display of desperation and frustration, he mumbled that he needed about N60, 000.00 to save his wife that just gave birth and was bleeding to death!
Your wife will not die! She will live and see her grandchildren! Only God understands and truly appreciates what we women undergo in the effort to raise a family and please our husbands, a well-dressed and matured woman almost crying with Anthony beseechingly said while offering him about N5, 000.00. With such indirect affirmation of the Anthony’s sincerity, I and my friend offered our own support. His display of gratitude was spectacular and most reassuring, an award winning scene of a very grateful heart!
He promised to pay back within a week upon receipt of his salary and collected my account and mobile numbers. My friend suggested that we should further help him and even make him a friend as appreciative Nigerians like him are few. To all the suggestions on subsequent assistance, I totally agreed and even added more!
Bros, shine your eyes, this is Nigeria, another friend who has been on the ‘street’ more than me quipped when I narrated my afternoon encounter. Alas as he predicted, so it turned out to be. Anthony called me two days later and after thanking me again for the help, lowered his voice and informed me that he lost his wife the previous day to which I commiserated with him.
A week later, I was in Ikeja for a function and two of the invited guests coincidentally narrated the same experience. One description perfectly fit Anthony while the other description followed his script. When I recounted what I heard in Ikeja with my two friends, they reacted differently. The one who also helped Anthony was visiting Nigeria from the UK and was too shocked; he cut short his trip and returned to the UK. He realized that he might have been severally duped in many supposed helps he offered while in Nigeria.
My more ‘streetwise’ friend laughed and demanded for a bottle of wine as payment for his earlier and future consultancy services. He invited his niece, a student in one of the universities in Lagos who further opened our eyes and ears on the current moral turpitude of our society.
She explained that many young girls now have a dedicated mobile number which they freely give to any available young/old man they encounter. On getting up to 100 male contacts, the girl will send a well scripted save our soul (SOS) message for financial assistance of any amount to all her contacts. She maintained that on average, about half of the contacts will respond with an average credit of N5, 000.00 from each of the boys/men. This will give about N250, 000 and above for fifty respondents or N500, 000 for 100.
She further explained that new recruits are strategically pursued by the girls after every round of appeal and collection which happens every three months on the average. In a year, you get about N1million to N2million, not too bad I guess, she asked and laughed! As she wanted to explain another ‘transaction’ as she interestingly describes them, her uncle demanded a second bottle of wine which I agreed but postponed to the end of the month when I receive my credit alert.
Driving home in deep bewilderment, I beckoned on God to come and help us! We are talking about our future mothers and fathers, the leaders of today and tomorrow! A situation where young men are comfortable to dupe with fake child deliveries and deaths of their wives is sad! While youths of other nations are innovating, making positive contributions, changing their society for the better, majority of our youths are innovating ways to cheat, exploit and exponentially increase our moral turpitude. God have mercy!
While we lament of the state of our dear country, actions and inactions of our government are further shocks. How do we explain soldiers killing three policemen that went to arrest a kidnap kingpin in Taraba state? How do we explain a despicable situation where our police stations and courts are markets for selling and buying of justice and injustices? Imagine a situation such as the Zamfara case where traditional and religious leaders now connive with criminals to kill, maim and destroy our society, all in pursuit of money.
The Great Wall of China conceived by Emperor Shi Huang in the 3rd century is still regarded as a construction and military defense masterpiece. Built to the admiration of most Chinese to prevent entry of Mongolians and Barbarian nomads into China, it was believed that it will enhance peace in China with the regular invaders cut off.
Interestingly, during the first 100 years after its completion, China was invaded thrice without the invaders breaking or climbing the wall. On each of the invading episodes, they bribed the guards and entered through the doors. While our leaders may be under the illusion that they are protected from the immense insecurity, deceit, unemployment, extreme poverty, absence of social trust pervasive in Nigeria, it is important that they appreciate that where there is no good character and trust, there is no security. And with no character, trust and security, there will be no sustainable business and economic development.
Franklin Ngwu
