Monetizing compassion

Loosely translated, it means that the knowledge of how much a person has developed enables one to understand the person’s limitations and potentials. Therefore if you know a person’s age and social status, then you should have a general idea of their character, know what to expect of them, and shouldn’t be surprised by their […]

Loosely translated, it means that the knowledge of how much a person has developed enables one to understand the person’s limitations and potentials. Therefore if you know a person’s age and social status, then you should have a general idea of their character, know what to expect of them, and shouldn’t be surprised by their thought process or lack thereof. For example, you wouldn’t expect a small child to think, talk or behave like an adult. When a king has good councillors, his reign is peaceful.  He would listen to those who have achieved success in their lives in a moral and ethical manner, and are wiser and more experienced. He would then act on this advice for the benefit of all. But what happens when the advisers and counsellors have not grown and are not so wise?
The controversy in Chibok village caused by parents of the abducted girls alleging that officials of the presidency short-changed them when disbursing an alleged N100 million cash gift from their principal is totally unnecessary. Although spokesmen for the presidency initially denied reports of any amount (let alone N100 million) being “allocated” for distribution among the Chibok guests, they have, as usual, been found to be economical with the truth. Taking into consideration their hard earned reputation for not spreading disinformation, the BBC Hausa service copiously quoted parents of the girls as saying they received money. Their spokesperson alleges that about midnight on the day in question an official in the presidency came to the hotel where they were lodging and distributed some envelopes containing varying amounts of cash. As a result of the way money was received, and the way it was shared, a community which is united in genuine grief is being distracted by monetary considerations. Surely this was not the intention? All humane governments throughout the world assist their citizens in times of distress, so in principle there is nothing wrong with the government deciding that the Chibok mothers and fathers need financial assistance to offset some of the unforeseen expenses arising from their predicament.  
The disappointing aspect of the matter is the manner in which this urgently required financial support was handled, in a most clandestine, disrespectful and unbefitting manner. In most parts of Nigeria it is the accepted norm to make cash donations to friends, relatives or colleagues who have suffered a bereavement or unfortunate circumstance. The thought behind it is to share grief by making some sort of sacrifice, as well as to help the receiver handle the expenses associated with the misfortune. To be poor and law abiding deserves respect.  While Chibok community leaders acknowledge that any well intended support for their suffering population which has lost its means of livelihood is welcome, in their opinion the approach that officials of the presidency adopted has brought reproach and dishonour to the community in the eyes of the public. They allege that the officials gave monetary gifts directly to the parents of the kidnapped girls, not to any authority, so the actual amount disbursed cannot be verified. Although presidential spokesmen initially denied any flow of cash several, parents have admitted receiving cash inside envelopes while confirming that others did not receive anything.
Unfortunately, in a totally botched process of distribution, varying amounts of cash were paid to certain people, and when the money could no longer “go round” others got nothing at all! It seems inconceivable that the simple arithmetic was not worked out before the sharing started. The manner in which the money was shared in nocturnal operations could only have been decided upon in order to frustrate accountability. This is perhaps what has led to allegations of people being short-changed and is the main reason why some observers feel that some part of the money may have been diverted by some officials to enrich themselves. While there is no evidence to suggest that this is the case, it is trite that good people don’t need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people would find a way around the law.
There is no doubt that those involved in the saga have comported themselves in the most unprofessional and un-statesmanlike manner. For a government which is vigorously pursuing a “cashless society” policy to have officials from the presidency carry millions of naira in cash placed inside envelopes and sharing them in the middle of the night is indicative of the manner in which this administration operates at the top level. No attempt whatsoever was made to foster accountability by raising some sort of voucher to cover the expenses and avoid this completely unnecessary distraction.
There is little doubt that the money could have helped the girls and their parents in much better ways than simple disbursement to individuals. The source of these government funds remains a mystery. It is paradoxical that while the administration evidently has surplus funds to give away, they have asked the National Assembly to approve a $1 Billion foreign loan to fight insurgency in all its ramifications. Sharing money to the parents may seem to suggest to sceptics that the government is attempting to cover up its helplessness in the issue and assuage discontent at its incapacity to make any meaningful headway towards securing the release of the girls. It is unimaginable that we may be facing a scenario where many of the girls may never be seen again. Instead of these knee-jerk reactions to human misery, infrastructure must be put in place to provide a social safety net to catch those who will become impoverished as a result of the increasing terrorist activities.