I spoke with Ernest Azudialo of the Obijackson Foundation to express my condolences and encourage him. He is a man I deeply admire for his commitment to his community and people.
While a former Governor was paying advance school fees for his children to an International school, he built a Jesuit Loyola College in Okija so that the children of his community could access quality education.
Obijackson Foundation built a Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Okija.
Ordinarily, the Okija residents could not afford the hospital, but he built it so that his people would live.
A few days ago, at the annual distribution of rice by the Obijackson Foundation, there was a stampede, and people died.
They died because they were hungry. They died in Abuja, Ibadan and Okija because poverty has deepened nationally. The future is bleak for many.
There is renewed hopelessness as there is no clear path out of the turbulence. There is no narrative about the silver lining. There is no example of the required urgency.
As you celebrate Christmas, pause and think of that woman who survived the stampede in Abuja.
She arrived at 5am with her daughter from Nasarawa State and was injured in the e stampede yet her worry was, “What will my family eat this week, I came here to find food for the week.”
Her injury was secondary. The death of others did not matter. All she wants is food and thats what many want today: Food.
If you can act like Ernest Azudialo, share one bag of rice with five people around you. Give one woman trader or hawker 20k or more to grow her business. It will go a long way.
Let’s build a Coalition of Hope to renew our common humanity and shared prosperity so that our nation will reflect our hope of building a nation where no man or woman is oppressed.
Like Obijackson, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Emma Bishop Okonkwo, Prince Arthur Eze and many others, let’s not wait for the government.
May the souls of all those who departed this life while seeking food to survive find mercy and grace before their Creator.
Osita Chidoka
22 December 2024
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