Time to really care

Lekan Otufodunrin

“Only few people care, the rest are just curious”

The above quote by Segun Awosanya, realtor, brand consultant and popular Human rights advocate of #EndSARs fame on April 30 really made my day. Such quotes is one of the reasons I’m glad to be on Twitter despite the sometimes toxic discussions on the platform that makes one want to stay away.

The quote is really apt for the times we are going through and requires deep reflections on the need to really care and be concerned to take necessary actions instead of just being curious when things are not going well with those around us.

There may be no research to back the assertion that only few people care, as experience may differ from person to person, but what is not in doubt is that some persons are just curious and don’t give a damn how you sort yourself out of whatever challenge you are going through.

There are those who care, but can’t help you out of your situation, but they care enough to wish they can do something. They care enough to genuinely sympathise with you and try to find who may be able to assist you. They care enough to keep checking if you have been able to get help and will be happy if you do.

To the curious ones, who may even be close to you,  your dire situation is not different from the regular stories they are used to hearing about how hard life can be for many.

They don’t think twice if they can do anything about it. They tell themselves they have enough to deal with and don’t want to be bothered. You will be lucky even if they wish you get a solution.

If they call at all, they just want an update like one of the persons who responded to the tweet said.

“They are just curious to know if you actually made it. They are just curious to know how you survived it. Not that they care.” Dem no send you like the pidgin expression for people who are mindless.

There are however instances when simply curious persons don’t know what they are doing is wrong and it will take someone else to draw their attention to the bad habit of being concerned about themselves and no one else.

More than ever before, the Coronavirus pandemic which has disrupted our lives in  ways many may not easily recover from, makes its necessary for those who can and have what it takes to really care to consciously do so.

When we wished ourselves happy new year in January, no one, not even our prophets, who usually have yearly predictions, saw COVID-19 coming.

Suddenly, the government is forced to declare a lockdown, shut all schools, ban social and religious gatherings and take many drastic actions we have never experienced.

Part of the fall outs is that the poverty in the country became obvious beyond the United Nations data of the poor being those living on less than a dollar a day. Those of us who usually hurry to work early in the morning and return late in the night have come face to face with the poor and vulnerable persons in our communities.

Palliative measures by government, individuals and organizations are not able to meet the demands across the country. In the midst of the crisis, salaries are being slashed and others are losing their jobs. Many can’t feed themselves and their families.

I watched the Managing Director of Access Bank on Friday explain the difficult decisions his management team have been forced to take which will among others include reduction of staff and the reality of what is likely to happen in many private organizations became obvious to all.

So, this is the time to really care for those who will be harder hit by the fallouts of the survival strategies of organizations. Even the federal government has already decided to implement the Oransanye’ s report on the reduction of government agencies and parastatals.

To care this time will mean we do our best to know how the crisis situation is affecting people we should know about their wellbeing and even others not really close to us and helping out if we are lucky to still be able to.

There will be need for sacrifice to share the little of we may have with others who may not be as fortune.

Definitely, the world will be a better place if we have more people who care and help in one way or the other than having too many of those who are only curious and look away.