The columnist’s bonanza

One of my readers sent me a text on the date the article ‘Let’s Stay Positive’ was published, and drew my attention to the fact that only ‘rich’ people buy newspapers, if at all.  I noted his correction and promised to visit Motherless Babies’ homes more often.  Indeed, charity begins from one’s own extended family.  […]

One of my readers sent me a text on the date the article ‘Let’s Stay Positive’ was published, and drew my attention to the fact that only ‘rich’ people buy newspapers, if at all.  I noted his correction and promised to visit Motherless Babies’ homes more often.  Indeed, charity begins from one’s own extended family.  Some other readers only concentrated their attention on what they considered was my ‘defence’ of ‘child marriage’, a la Yariman Bakura.  I tried to explain to them that all I meant was that we should be careful in criticising other people’s cultures, as no culture is perfect, and that the theme of my writeup, is for people to get up, start something and keep hope alive; that people should not allow the negativity of our environment to hold them down psychologically.

From the responses of some beneficiaries below, I learnt first-hand, the injunctions of the Holy Books, that the only thing worth being in a hurry for in this life, is ‘DOING GOOD’.  No occasion, no platform, should be excluded from one’s schedule if the aim is to touch people’s lives.  The way I see it, is that if consider all the uncountable good that God has done to us, we would go to the bank, empty our accounts, and share everything we’ve got in an act of faith and thankfulness.  For it is God that imbues us with the strength to even work. So we should stop saying how ‘hardworking’ we are, compared to others, and stop thinking we are ‘entitled’ to being rich and strong.  It is all God’s decree, that some people are strong today and others aren’t.  But many times we begin to feel that our achievements are through our power, or worse still, our entitlements.  I believe that whatever God has given me, is in trust, and a great privilege.  Therefore, I am ready to give it all away, from time to time.  Here are some of the responses I got:

Abdulkareem –  I am very grateful.  In fact, I can’t even know how to thank you because you saved lives.  I’m a HND Building Holder since 2007 without a job and my parents and siblings are depending on me because I’m the eldest child.   For two days I didn’t put anything on their table.  I was thinking of how to get ‘Gari’ for them when I received (an alert).  May Allah bless you and reward you abundantly.  In fact I briefed my parents and they said they will continue to pray for you till the end of their lives.  However, I’m always reading your comments.

Anon – Kudos!!!  (Thanks) for being a true, selfless human worthy of emulation.  In Islam, we have a way of identifying hypocrites or hypocrisy i.e a liar; one who breaks promises and a breacher of trust.  And you know TRUST IS A BURDEN but you stood out for this singular act.  I hope our elites and politicians emulate you, since the reverse cannot be the case.  Thanks. And hope you publish our appreciation next week in the spirit of fairplay unless you want us to be called ingrates.  Keep hope alive!!

Anon – I woke up today, thinking of where to go and get something to feed my family, when I got an alert of that N5,000 from you.  May God reward you.  I was sacked from Bank PHB and I am an HND holder.  In case there is any way to assist me with a job no matter how it is…  God bless.

Anon – I just can’t believe that people like you exist in this country. May Allah reward you abundantly.  I was in dire need of money.  A big thank you.

Isah Muh’d Abdullah (Kano) – On behalf of 19 other recipients of your gift, I say MAY ALLAH IN HIS INFINITE MERCIES INCREASE YOU IN WEALTH AND GOOD HEALTH.  

Muhammad (Kaduna) – Thanks a lot! I just received my N5,000 gift from you.  May God in his infinite mercies continue to bless you.  Nagode!

Anon – May Allah’s mercy and blessings be endowed upon you and your family.  Thank you very much for your generosity towards Nigerians.  This money means a lot to me.  Thank you once again.  

Hassan Sule – Sir, I received the N5,000 you promised.  May Almighty Allah reward you.  You have touched my heart.  I am a religious reader of your column and I always get enriched.  

Anon – Jazakallahu Khair for that N5,000.  Courtesy of it, my son is riding his bicycle. Allah ya baka mai yi maka.

Mohammed Buhari – Thanks a lot for this wonderful bailout.  It came at the right time.  Hope our leaders and wealthy people can emulate you.  I will never forget it.  May Allah grant you your heart’s desires.

Habiba – Uncle Topsy.  How’s the family and your day?  Acknowledged an alert from FBN this evening. May Allah bless you more.  

Ahmad Tijjani – Thank you very much for such a wonderful gesture.  I happen to be one of your regular readers and now a beneficiary of your unique way of help.

Aliyu Bagobiri – You gave N100,000 as charity while our wicked government earmarked N10billion for Independence Day celebrations only?  Forever, you’ll continue to prosper by God’s grace.

[email protected] – May God bless you, as you put food on the table of my friend who is unemployed with children.  God will guide and protect you.

My comments:  I didn’t get over 100 texts as some suggested/feared, but the number of beneficiaries of the N5,000 columnist’s bonanza merely doubled.  Another thing; there seems to be a persecution of HND holders?  Why are they being sacked everywhere.  I hold a BSc but I don’t think it’s much different from an HND.  It’s what you do with your degree, and yourself, that matters.  The Head of Service’s disposition to this issue is not helping matters.  We need to create a level platform for people who are willing to work in this country, not to disenfranchise some people based on an unfounded ‘superiority’ of Universities over Polytechnics.  Anybody who subscribes to that yarn, does not know what education is all about. Remember, Sokoto-born Jelani Aliyu, making waves in far away General Motors, USA, attended a Polytechnic.  So why is Oronsaye validating the decisions of Nigerian banks and other companies, to lay off HND holders in the guise of trimming staff strength?  Furthermore, was it not a Nigerian University professor that I saw on Youtube last week, naked and imprisoned in a female student’s room?  

More next week.