Fairytale of Nigerian goodness

In the midst of all the dysfunctionality surrounding us in an era where the lion eats grass and the deer hunts for meat, where man has become so alienated from fellow man because of the harsh economic environment which has rendered life mean, brutish and short (average life expectancy is 54 years) it is remarkable […]

In the midst of all the dysfunctionality surrounding us in an era where the lion eats grass and the deer hunts for meat, where man has become so alienated from fellow man because of the harsh economic environment which has rendered life mean, brutish and short (average life expectancy is 54 years) it is remarkable that some still reach into the deeper recesses of their humanity to lift up others from their misery.

A commercial tricycle rider recently found overwhelming compassion and generosity in fellow Nigerians in what must count as one of the truly touching stories of 2019. Emmanuel Nweke’s wife had just been delivered of her first child by caesarian section on November 6. “It was not what we planned for. She was healthy all through the pregnancy. In fact, the highest amount we paid for ante-natal was N1,700. We did scan three times and the doctors confirmed she was fine.”

After delivery, the baby had to be transferred to a general hospital for treatment of prenatal asphyxia and neonatal jaundice while the young mother remained for post-delivery treatment at the hospital where the baby was delivered.

There was a snag, a big one. Emmanuel could not raise the N170,000 delivery fee demanded by the hospital — a trimmed down figure considering that the hospital had written off many associated charges in view of his indigence.

When the baby was adjudged fit to be reunited with his mother, that reunion was at the hospital of delivery where she was now an unwilling patient pending the settlement of her medical bills.

Confronted by a situation beyond his means, the husband wrote to non-governmental organisations, reached out to friends and family, but help was not forthcoming. Some of his friends stopped picking his calls. Who knows, they probably had bigger crosses to carry. In desperation he decided to use the same tool some other people use for destruction and disruption: social media.

His tweet post at 11:30 a.m. tersely explained to whom it may concern: “Please help me Nigerians. My wife and child have been held up in the hospital since November 6th 2019 because we are unable to settle the Medical Bills. She gave birth through C.S which we didn’t plan towards. I’m a Keke Napep driver. I’m pleading on you all to help me please.”

Money started coming into his account in trickles. He publicly acknowledged each donation and updated his information at regular intervals. He also displayed photographs of other gifts (mostly baby items) donated by total strangers. People were impressed. This was an accountable poor, not one taking advantage of other people’s goodness.

A tweeter user wrote: ”Your honesty will open doors for you. This is the first time in my life I am seeing a ‘bank statement’ for crowdfunding. Very straightforward. Others will keep people guessing but in your case it was different. I pray you get up to N2 million  to start a good business.”

Another counselled him as follows, ”Please, try and use a little part of the money to establish something solid that can bring in income later (a shop or something). God bless your family.

The trickles became a deluge. By the second day the donations had swollen to N1,170,000. All he had asked for at the beginning was N170,000.

Emmanuel promptly settled the hospital bills and displayed the payment receipt together with pictures of his young family on Twitter. He gave a detailed account of how much he had spent so far and the balance from the donations. He was full of thanks, as anyone in his place would. “We want to thank our dearest Nigerians for helping us pay our hospital bills which gave us the opportunity to go home today after 29 days at the hospital. We got more than the required amount because of your love and care and we appreciate and God bless you all.”

Beaming with smiles, the proud first-time father posted a video showing their departure from the hospital in a Keke Napep tricycle with his relieved wife cradling her bundle of joy, named Praise Chizorom, in her laps.

Emotionally, Emmanuel was coming from the lowest depths to perch on top of the alps. On November 7, on his way to see his wife at the hospital, he had been involved in an accident which left him limping and his hire purchase tricycle badly damaged.

In a series of tweets, he cried out: “I and some of the passengers sustained injuries, and the tricycle was damaged of which the owner is threatening to lock me and my wife up if the machine is not fixed from now till Sunday… The repair of the hire purchase tricycle that was damaged I have not been told the cost of … The owner of the tricycle has given me ultimatum to put his bike in order and return it else he will lock me up… Presently I am unable to do my daily job to at least provide for my young family because of my health, the bruises are still fresh and I am limping”.

Now, he is a millionaire, courtesy of the love and generosity of compatriots. Among the donors are Christians, Muslims, animists and free-thinkers from the north, east, west and south of Nigeria, and some from abroad.

Suze Orman, the author, financial advisor, motivational speaker, and television host, famously said, “True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations.”

Indeed!