Whither PHCN?

We chatted and even had a good laugh. Alhamdu lillahi, I said to myself as I recalled the 3 days of condolences. One couldn’t help shedding tears just by looking at Fati. Pity and compassion, sorrow, empathy, uncontrollable kinds of emotions tag the heart of anyone looking at this young widow. Surely ‘mutuwa ba’a sabo […]

We chatted and even had a good laugh. Alhamdu lillahi, I said to myself as I recalled the 3 days of condolences. One couldn’t help shedding tears just by looking at Fati. Pity and compassion, sorrow, empathy, uncontrollable kinds of emotions tag the heart of anyone looking at this young widow.

Surely ‘mutuwa ba’a sabo dake’ (death is always a stranger) and that of a healthy 13 year old, despite the knowledge that death can come anytime, it was not something a mother envisages so early in the life of her child.

‘Iya kwanakin daya debo kenan’ (that was his destiny) we consoled her. A number of their neighbors attested to Abdullahi’s love and dedication for his religion. A lot of them didn’t even know his mother or where he lived, but have seen him time and time again in company of friends saunter into their houses from any part of the street they happened to be playing football, to ask for water for ablution as soon as the call for prayer was heard.

Since the demise of his father few years back, Fati has struggled to be strong for her children, she had dogged on through trying moment with the good Lord, family and friends on her side.

So on the day when death took this gentle soul one can only imagine what grief Fati felt, what pain. It was like the embers of pain in her heart for the loss of her husband had now been stoked and Abdullahi’s loss became a fuel to this fire of pain all over again.

Tears strolled down her face uncontrollably as Hajo and I came to console her. It was like the arrival of each new visitor was a reminder of her loss.

Fati was so hurt that I was afraid she would lose her mind, perhaps because she was the one that heard his shout of anguish as the stream of electric current passed through him when he went to change the PHCN line. She was the one that watched as the strands of life were whisked off this human being, her son with whom she was sharing a bottle of coke moments ago.

‘Chilled to the bone’! I have often heard and read this expression but with the news of Abdullahi’s death, I came to understand it, for that was what I truly felt as I received the news. Wondering how his mother would feel. I felt frightened perhaps selflessly for my 15 year old twin boys and even put a new rule. Barring them from starting our generator, but had to fight, fight for my faith. ‘Qul lan yusi bana illa ma katabal Lahu lana. (‘Say, nothing befalls us except that which Allah causes us, i.e. destines for us). (Holy Qur’an). Therefore my rules don’t matter for everything is the will of Allah.

For the three days of condolence more and more people trooped in, everyone reiterated she should have faith in God, for He knows why all things happen the way they do.

The saddest moment of these days was when Abdullahi’s seat mate came to condole Fati, you could see everyone struggling with tears as her mother introduced her, telling how she had hugged her, crying at the loss of this gentle soul. This is one little girl who like his family is sure to notice a vacant space left by Abdullahi in their class.

In these three days PHCN (NEPA), as usual lived up to their name, returning and taking off light for no apparent reasons and each time we couldn’t help but remember, it is due to such that Abdullahi lost his life.

It was frightening to think what that soul went through when you remember the feeling of a slight electric shock, how was it for this soul to have full electric current run through his system sentencing him to death. Better imagined, no, better not imagined!

As the room became hot we fanned ourselves with what was available. From time to time you’d hear a hiss and someone would curse PHCN.’ I couldn’t help but wonder how the officials who from negligence of duty to corruption have wrecked and killed the PHCN. How do they sleep with so much blood on their hands, so much culpability from accidents like that of Abdullahi through which innocent souls are lost to those who put on generators and fall asleep and get killed from fumes, to families that go hungry because a business they rely on, that was a source of income had to close down, properties razed by fire, televisions explosions, fridge, freezers and other household electrical appliances burnt down.

For all these losses, noise and fumes from generating sets we now have to contend with, you the official who is negligent in his duty, who embezzles the funds, who has a hand directly or indirectly in ruining PHCN, remember a day when nemesis will catch up with you and the day of reckoning when the Almighty God will parade you and your cohorts, that day you shall have no godfather to intercede for you.

As you ponder on this, may Almighty God make you repent, amin.

Fati, in Allah’s hands we place you, the Beneficent the Merciful,

Allah yaji kan Abdullahi, yayi masa rahama, amin.

Hajiyayye Liman, 86 Katuru Road, U/sarki GRA Kaduna. [email protected]