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Osun doctors embark on a seven-day warning strike

The Osun State Chapter of Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA ) on Monday ordered its members working with state government to proceed on a 7-day warning strike over unpaid salary arrears and poor working condition.

The NMA Chairman in the state, Dr Tokunbo Olajumoke gave the directive after an emergency general meeting of the association in Osogbo.

Olajumoke said the 7-day warning strike was coming after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued to the government by the association to meet its demands.

“The 7-day warning strike is to commence immediately because the 21-day ultimatum issued to the state government to look into the pending issues raised by the doctors has expired.

“Within that 7-day there will not be any form of clinical activities in all the state- owned hospitals and no doctor is allowed to treat any patient for that seven days.”

Olajumoke stressed that the warning strike was to allow the government to engage the doctors in a dialogue to look into their demands.

Other demands by the doctors are nonpayment of CONMESS salary scale, over taxation, mutilated and outstanding salaries of doctors, among others.

Reacting to the strike, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu lsamotu, appealed to the doctors to be patient with the state government , saying their requests are being looked into.

Isamotu said the government was committed to providing quality healthcare delivery for the masses as well as ensuring that the doctors get the best from the government of osun.

September 19, 2017
Police confirm murder of Islamic cleric, 16 others in Borno

The Police in Borno on Monday said that Boko Haram insurgent had killed an Islamic cleric at Kurumari village in Magumeri local government area of the state.

DSP Isuku Victor, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

Victor said that three other persons were killed when the insurgents stormed the village on Sunday.

“On September 17, at about 22:30 hours, some suspects reasonably believed to be Boko Haram terrorists attacked Kurumari village, about 14 kilometres east of Magumeri town, in Magumeri local government area.

“Four persons including the Imam of the village were reportedly killed during the attack.”

Victor disclosed that 13 other persons were also killed in multiple suicide bomb attacks at Mashemeri village in Konduga local government area of the state.

“On Monday September 18, at about 10:50 hours, two male and a female suicide bombers carried out coordinated attacks at different locations at Mashemari village in konduga Local Government Area.

“The first explosion occurred when there was echo of sporadic shooting in a farm. In the ensuing stampede, the first suicide bomber detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs).

“The other two suicide bombers detonated their explosives inside the village close to the house of the village head.

“Thirteen persons including the three suicide bombers died while sixteen other persons sustained various degrees of injuries,” he said.

Isuku said that the victims were referred to the General Hospital, Konduga for treatment.

He added that Police EOD team and Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) were deployed; adding that normalcy had been restored to the area.

September 19, 2017
Court to INEC: Serve Melaye recall papers

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make further attempt to ensure personal services of documents relating to the recall of Senator Dino Melaye on him.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba gave the directive yesterday when INEC informed the court about its ex-parte motion for substituted service. INEC said its motion was informed by its inability to serve Melaye with the petition for his recall and other list of voters, who endorsed the petition.

The court had, in a judgment on September 11, in a fundamental rights enforcement application by Melaye, said although it was not mandatory, INEC should avail the senator with the petition and list containing the signature of voters, who signed the petition, to enable the senator prepare for the recall process.

Yesterday, when lawyers to parties appeared before the court, lawyer to INEC, S. O. Ibrahim, told the court about his pending ex-parte motion for substituted service of the petition on Melaye.

Lawyer to Melaye, Nkem Okoro, also told the court that he has filed a number of applications, including one for stay of execution of the court’s judgment and also challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear INEC’s ex-parte motion.

He said his client would be back in the country between September 25 and 26 for the resumption of the Senate.

In view of the information by the lawyers, Justice Dimgba said in view of the tight schedule of the court, he was not ready to hear all the applications.

He directed INEC to make a further attempt to ensure personal service on him when he returns. He adjourned to September 28.

The judge said should INEC complain on the next date of being unable to serve Melaye personally, he would hear the ex parte motion by the election body and the applications by Melaye.

September 19, 2017
IPOB: Saraki faults South-East Govs, Army over proscription

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, says Nigerian Army’s branding of Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) as a terrorist organisation is unconstitutional.

Also unconstitutional, according to him, is the proscription of the group by the governors of South-East states.

Saraki, in a 10-point statement on Monday in Abuja, said the pronouncements by the governors and the military did not follow due process.

Read also: IPOB: Army not under Political Pressure – Buratai

He said that such declarations would not take effect because the laws had made clear provisions for taking such actions.

“I am sure the President will do the needful by initiating the right process.

“This will go a long way in demonstrating to the world that we are a country that operates by laid down process under every circumstance.

“So, those who have been hammering on this point should maintain their cool,’’ he said.

While commending the military for their efforts in restoring peace to different parts of the country and sustaining the unity, he urged it to be guided by their training in the face of provocation.

Read also: IPOB: Opposition’s plot to destabilise Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

According to Saraki, military training emphasises respect for human rights, even in war situations.

He added that given the nature of the situation in the South East, the military should have been hesitant in the use of force.

The president of the senate urged the executive not to over-stretch the military, adding that “we need to protect our military against dissipation of their fighting strength.

“This means we need to strengthen the police and equip them with the capacity to deal with civil crisis.

“That is why we in the National Assembly are already reviewing the Police Act and looking at possibility of enabling other para-military agencies to help curb civil unrest and maintenance of law and order.’’

He said that the national assembly would embark on a fact-finding investigation aimed at determining what happened during the military exercise in the South-East.

Saraki said that it was to enable it sift the facts from the fiction and determine who did what, adding that all the facts were not yet known.

He assured Nigerians that there would be no cover-up, saying that all facts would be laid bare.

He called for calm and restraint by all Nigerians to provide the right solution to the current problem rather than worsening it.

The president of the senate further urged the people of the South-East to continue to maintain peace and tranquility and go about their lawful business.

Read also: Fayose has link with IPOB funding, says Ekiti APC

He explained that if allowed to continue, the crisis would only expose innocent people to unwarranted danger.

He commended Nigerians in other parts of the country who had worked to ensure that the crisis did not spread beyond the South-East.

Saraki called for peace and stability to ensure that Nigerians, irrespective of religion, tribe and creed, remained protected and safe under the law.

“It is also important that commentators and purveyors of information on all media platforms should be conscious of the need, at all times, to maintain the unity of the country.

“Therefore, they must refrain from circulating information that has the potential for aggravating the crisis.

“We should all realise that Nigeria is all we have.

“It is therefore in our individual and collective interests not to stoke the fire of crisis and fan the embers of discord through the messages we spread.

“We must all protect and strengthen our country rather than contributing to her collapse and disintegration.

“We want to remind Nigerians that the reason for constitution review by the National Assembly was to enable us look into issues that are agitating the minds of Nigerians and creating tension among us.

“We have promised that the exercise will be continuous. We intend to keep that promise by further taking decisions that will strengthen and improve on our structures,’’ he said.

Saraki assured that the national assembly would on resumption, play its constitutional role by addressing all issues agitating the minds of Nigerians.

He called on political, religious and traditional leaders to continue to engage with the people on the need to maintain peace.

September 18, 2017
PENGASSAN to FG – ‘settle marketers debts to avert mass sack’

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( PENGASSAN ) on Sunday called on the Federal Government to settle all debts allegedly owed oil marketers to engender growth of the oil and gas industry and develop the nation’s economy.

The union made the call against the backdrop of threat by the marketers to embark on massive retrenchment of their employees if the government refused to pay the over N720 billion subsidy arrears.

Mr Fortune Obi, National Public Relations Officer, PENGASSAN in a statement said the debts were the outstanding subsidy owed on the importation of petroleum products, accrued interest on loans from banks and exchange rate differential.

The union said the debts resulted in halt in the importation of refined petroleum products leaving only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) doing the business.

PENGASSAN appealed to government to pay the debts owed the marketers to speed growth and attract more investment in the downstream sector.

“The government should try as much as possible to verify the authenticity of the claims by the oil marketers and ensure quick settlement of the genuine debts.

“The government should try to separate the genuine claims by the importers from spurious ones and pay them because we will not like to be engulfed in the mistakes of the past where briefcase marketers milked the nation through dubious subsidy claims.

“A situation where the workers in the industry bear the inability of the government to honour its obligations as part of the importation deal will be unfair and unacceptable to our Association. This is against the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration major policy of job creation.

“As a responsible trade union, as much as we will support any move by the government to end subsidy regime and spurious claims by the marketers, we are also canvassing for the payment of debts that can hinder the growth of the downstream sector and attract investments into the sector,” PENGASSAN said.

The union noted that in the last five years about 70 per cent of the workforce in the downstream sector, especially the marketing sub sector have been thrown into the “over-bloated labour market.”

September 18, 2017
Nigerian wins 2017 UNHCR Refugees Award

A Nigerian, Mr Zannah Mustapha, the Director, Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School, has won the UN High Commission for Refugees ( UNHCR ) 2017 Nansen Refugees Award.

Mustapha, the first Nigerian Laureate of the award, will be unveiled on Monday in Abuja.

UNHCR and the Norwegian Refugees Council said on Monday that Mustapha was chosen as the winner of the award for his humanitarian works in championing the rights of children.

They noted that Mustapha’s NGO not only provides education for children but also caters to the needs of orphans, widows and abandoned children affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, thereby bringing succour to them.

In a statement issued in Geneva on Monday, Mr Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said: “Education is one of the most powerful tools for helping refugee children overcome the horrors of violence and forced displacement.

“It empowers young people, equips them with skills and works to counter exploitation and recruitment by armed groups.

“Conflict can leave children with physical and emotional scars that are deep and lasting as it forces them from their homes, exposes them to unspeakable atrocities and often rips apart their families.

“The work Mustapha and his team are doing is of the utmost importance, helping to foster peaceful coexistence and rebuild communities in North-Eastern Nigeria.

“With this award, we honour his vision and services,’’ Grandi said.

Speaking with NAN in Abuja, Mr Jose-Antonio Canhandula, UNHCR Representative to Nigeria, said that Mustapha was recoginsed for his efforts in championing the rights of children.

“In addition to his education work, Mustapha has demonstrated commitment to helping all parts of the society affected by the conflict which includes setting up cooperatives for widows and supporting nearly 600 women in Maiduguri.

“The UNHCR recognises his role as a mediator between the government and the insurgents for the release of the 82 chibok girls and the 21 young women held captive by Boko Haram for two years,’’ Canhandula said.

In a separate statement, issued by the Norwegian Refugees Council, its Secretary-General, Mr Jan Egeland, said that the recognition of Mustapha’s brave works highlighted the importance of education for the future of Nigeria.

“Schools lie at the heart of a society and destroying them crushes the chance of Nigeria’s next generation succeeding,’’ Egeland said.

In his reaction to the award, Mustapha told NAN in Abuja that he felt humbled and honoured to be “listed among great icons’’ in the world for his humanitarian works in the North-East.

He said that the award would give impetus to his humanitarian works as his vision is for the activities of his foundation to serve as a template for peaceful reconciliation in the North-East and other parts of the country.

He said that in just a decade since its inception, the school had recorded tremendous success, which gives him the assurance that peaceful reconciliation through education and integration is achievable.

Mustapha told NAN that founded his NGO in 2007 to provide free education, meals, uniforms and healthcare to children and orphans among others, in an effort to engender peace and reconciliation.

“We started with 36 students and have graduated more 1,000 students; enrolled 626 in 2017, more than half of whom are girls, including 186 IDPs with 5,000 on the waiting list.

“These children include children from both the military and the Boko Haram and they have grown to see themselves as one.

“If it continues like this, then we are sure of peaceful reconciliation and an end to the insurgency,’’ Mustapha said.

NAN reports that the 2017 Nansen Refugees Award will be presented to Mustapha on Oct. 2, in Geneva.

The UNHCR Nansen Refugees award was established in 1954 and awarded annually to an individual, group or organization in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced and stateless persons.

The award includes a commonwealth medal and monetary prize of 100,000 dollars donated by the governments of Norway and Switzerland to begin a project in consultation with UNHCR, to complement the laureate’s existing work.

September 18, 2017
How my search for greener pastures in Oman landed me in hell, says lady returnee

Driven by unemployment, a Nigerian lady recently went to Asian country, Oman, in search of greener pastures. But she returned with a tale of woes, GBENGA ADERANTI reports.

THERE was innocent and trusting; two attributes many would consider noble for a 26-year-old lady. But Adetutu was also naive, a weakness that was exploited by some people to subject her to untold hardship in a foreign land (Oman). Now she is living in fear of her tormentors.

On the surface, Adetutu looks every bit a happy lady. But deep inside her, she rages with anger at the terrible experience she had in Oman, the Middle East country where she had gone in search of job.

Jobless and without hope of getting a job any time soon, she had jumped at a touted employment opportunity in Oman because she needed to take care of not just herself but also her baby. So, it was like a prayer answered when she was told of an employment opportunity in the land of the Arabs.

Today, she looks back at her short stay in the country with regrets. It was nothing but a journey to hell. Narrating her ugly experience in a chat with our correspondent, the Mass Communication graduate from one of the polytechnics in the South West said: “I was looking for a job when one of my neighbours told me that his sister from Egypt sent him a message on WhatsApp that her agent had asked if she had any lady that would like to work as a housemaid in Oman.

“When the guy talked to me about it, I decided to tell my boyfriend about it. He asked me what it would cost me to get to Oman, and I told him that I was told the agent wanted the sum of N200,000, which my boyfriend paid twice.”

It was when she got to Oman that the reality dawned on her that she had been swindled.

“What the agent told me was not what I met there,” she said.

“Before I left Nigeria, he told me that I would be taken care of and I would be free. But to my surprise, when I got there, it was far from that.

“On the day we got there, because we were three girls that travelled from Nigeria, we were taken to the Middle East Sophisticated Project Manpower office where we stayed for three days before sponsors from different places came around to pick us one by one for what we were there for (house help).”

Signs that she was in a big mess started unfolding when her supposed host rudely impounded her phone and international passport and became very hostile.

She said: “As soon as I got to my sponsor’s house, they collected my mobile phone and my international passport and told me that I would not be able to communicate with my family members for two years, and if I must, then I would have to recharge their phone to call my mum only.”

If the reception she got from her host was rude, the job she did the days that followed was demeaning. “I woke up daily around 5 am and would not sleep until 11 pm or midnight as I would still be busy performing all manner of house chores. I was never offered breakfast until about 4 pm. Many times, I would have to steal bread from the fridge and take it to the bathroom to eat.

“Later, I told them to take me to the office; that I didn’t like to work with them, because they never allowed us to go out for anything. Their house was like a prison. All the gates were always locked.”

Reprieve came her way when her hosts could no longer cope with her nagging and rebellious attitude. Adetutu was sent back to the agents’ office where she met other Nigerians with tales similar to hers.

While her phone had been seized by her sponsors, she was fortunate to see some other girls who still had theirs. “I made use of someone’s phone to start communicating with my boyfriend, to intimate him with the situation over there,” she said, adding that it is much better to serve as a housemaid in Nigeria than to do so in Oman.

Adetutu’s hope of returning to Nigeria got a boost when her boyfriend decided to send her a ticket. But her bid to return met a brick wall.

“When I told them at the office that I was going back home, a guy in the office, an Egyptian named Sahid, said that if I insisted on going back home, I would not be paid my salary for three weeks, which was about N15,000. In short, I was not given my salary and my phone.

Adetutu left for Oman with high expectations but returned flattened and devastated. She returned to Nigeria without a dime to show for her toil, but she would consider herself luckier than some other girls that travelled with her in that she was not sexually abused.

Among the unlucky girls was one whose journey to Oman Adetutu said was facilitated by an Alhaja, who on getting to Oman worked for a Nigerian couple as a housemaid.

Adetutu said: “The girl in question was turned into a sex machine by her male employer. To make matters worse, the male employer in question was always collecting her used menstrual pad for unknown reasons. And when the Alhaja who facilitated her journey to Oman was contacted in Nigeria, the elderly woman said there was no big deal in the way the Nigerian girl was being treated.

“That is the height of wickedness. As a Yoruba woman, she should know that the used pads collected from her were being used for rituals.”

Adetutu is sad that the ‘agents’ who are responsible for this heinous act still roam the streets of Nigeria free, swindling many innocent ladies in the name of giving them employment in Oman and other Middle East countries.

Adetutu said while she has forgiven those people, it is worrisome that some parents still patronise them by supporting their female children to embark on this satanic trip in the name of looking for jobs abroad.

She also blamed many radio presenters, especially in Ibadan, who out of ignorance, allow the “criminals to use their air time to advertise this modern slavery. I just decided to open up because there are many ladies and parents out there who still encourage their children to patronise these criminals.

September 16, 2017
Politicians responsible for South East crisis – Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army yesterday accused unnamed politicians of engineering a crisis of confidence between its personnel and the people of the South East for selfish reasons.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-Gen. Sani Usman, called the development sad and unfortunate.

“It is so sad and unfortunate that a particular group of people, for political expediency and mischief, are trying to set the military and Nigerian society against each other,” Usman said in a statement in Abuja.

He was reacting to the face-off between the army and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Abia.

The army spokesman, however, maintained that the face-off notwithstanding, the army would go ahead to conduct its “Operation Python Dance II,” due to commence yesterday.

“It will commence on 15 September, 2017. The troops have been conducting themselves professionally within the ambit of rules of engagement. And code of conduct and where there are noted infractions, appropriate measures will be taken,” he said.

Usman described the face-off between the army and members of IPOB in Abia State as an isolated issue which was being blown out of proportion by some people.

His words: “These isolated incidents, instigated by miscreants and mischief makers, therefore, should not be taken as something that should jeopardise the military exercise going on in that place.

“It is really sad and unfortunate that people will not find time to ask question about the essence and activities involved in respect of exercise Egwu Eke II before jumping into conclusion.

“The exercise is taking part in the entire South East and Cross River. Why should we have problem in one state – Abia?”

He said there was “no reported problem in Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Cross River states.”

The army spokesman called for understanding, saying there “is need for all of us to be more responsible, exercise understanding about the issues at hand, support and encourage the military to perform its legitimate duty.

“The exercise we are having has been scheduled since last year – 2016. It is not targeted at any segment of the Nigerian society.

“As a matter of fact, it was because of the encouraging feedback that we have about the conduct of exercise Python Dance I in 2016 that brought the idea of having another exercise.

“And being a responsible organisation, people said Python Dance seems to be something awkward, so, why don’t you call it in the native language of those people so that they can understand it just like you have exercise Harbin Kunama?

“We have had exercises in other parts of the country.

“As soon as we are done with exercise Egwu Eke II, we are embarking on exercise Crocodile Smile II which is also a scheduled training exercise in the circle of the Nigerian army training year, 2017.

“And this time around, beyond the South South Zone, it will be extended to the South West zone, involving 2 Division, 6 Division and 81 Division,” he stated.

He argued that Egwu Eke was not an operation but a training exercise intended to sharpen the skills of those involved.

September 16, 2017
United Nation International Day of Charity

By Moses Emorinken

…what do you see?

When you fix your gaze upon the indigents and less privileged, what do you see? Do you see a people requiring your pity or you see the fierce urgency for you to grow (financially, materially and otherwise) in order to be the change you want to see in the world?

Prima facie, you might think all they require is your unrestrained show of sympathy and the giving of alms and hand-outs. Yes they do require these things and more, however, that is not all you can do. They do not perpetually require your pity or periodic pittance, but that you grow, evolve and manifest into the full stature of your potential and latent possibilities. By doing so, you will not only have and possess enough to make substantial contributions to assuage their plight but your story and presence will automatically give them the opportunity and permission to do the same.

Also Read: UN seeks more investment in women, peace in Nigeria

As we mark the United Nations’ ( UN ) International Day of Charity whose prime focus is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity related activities all over the world for individuals, charitable, philanthropic and volunteer organizations for their own purposes on the local, national, regional and international level, it is also imperative that we realise that charity is the rent we pay for our stay on this terraqueous globe we call earth. The moment we cease to pay our rent (charity), we lost our essence, our usefulness – our raison d’être; the landlord (God, Creator, Nature etc.) will kick us out with or without quit notice.

Every year, charities all over the world help to save and improve people’s lives, fighting disease, protecting children, and giving hope to thousands of people. To honour the significant effort that a good number charities do, in 2012 the United Nations decided to designate the 5th of September, an annual International Day of Charity as an official day of recognition and celebration. The reason the date was chosen is because it is the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa. It memorializes the assiduous and untiring work that Mother Teresa did by devoting her entire life to charity.

This is not the time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilising drug gradualism; this is the time for us to lift our people from the dark and desolate valleys of poverty to the sunlit path of material prosperity. It would be a fatal blunder for us as a people to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the extent to which our contributions to humanity can echo through time.

Statistically, the percentage of those living below the poverty line in our dear country averages between (55% – 67%); this is a staggering number. For far too long, a significant portion of Nigerians live on the lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. These statistics gives credence to fact that individuals, private organisations, non-governmental organisations and the government needs to intensify effort and synergise to combat and defeat extreme poverty in the country.

Contemplating how to begin your charity journey? You can start exactly where you are with what you have. As simple as ensuring that one or two pupils from indigent families get notebooks, pens and pencils will go a long way to alleviate their sundry worries even as schools resume.

Also, reaching out to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs), destitute living under the bridges, to the children living in the slum, and those in the remand and orphanage homes etc., will also go a long way. Let us as much as we can reach out to them today regardless of how little we have – even our widow’s might would be appreciated.

If you do your charity to get a social recognition or for political reasons, be rest assured that it would be tantamount to a show and a bauble; a theatrical calisthenics to which posterity will never be impressed by or with.

Reach out and touch a life with all sincerity and altruistic intensions.

Finally, remember that the choices and actions you take today will ripple through time, and has the ability to alter fates and destinies; so much literally rests in our hands.

Contact Moses Emorinken

Twitter: @memorinken

Instagram: @memorinken

Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

September 5, 2017
Life, Marilyn and Megabytes

By Moses Emorinken

Recently, the rate at which I consume data for mobile and laptop have been incredibly alarming. It did not hit me until I remembered some good times I had with my little buddy (of blessed memory) – her name was Marilyn.

Marilyn was six years old. She had a unique way of conceptualising and understanding life around her; she was clearly years ahead of her biological age. Children like herself are often referred to as precocious or child geniuses because of their native understanding of the world around them. Hers was not a cognitive exploit based on mathematics, physics, music etc., her genius was in empathy and communication.

Every time you see her, she would always be in the company of at least one other child and holding an android phone belonging to either her parents or siblings. All she did was download games on the phone. God help you that her ever-itching tiny hands are able to clench and claw on your phone…believe me you would sweat when she is done with your mobile data.

Apart from her understandable penchant for downloading games, she had an amazing way of connecting with people. If you were sad, she always found a way to give you a happy nudge. Her smiles and faith in life and tomorrow was so infectious that both young and old literally look forward to an interaction with her.

This article is not so much about Marilyn, but about the incredibly simple enduring lessons I learnt from a tiny six-year-old girl.

Each time she sees me, the first thing she says is – “Uncle Moses, please give me your phone…I want to play game.” In politely requesting for my phone, she would sheepishly prune and contour her face to be long and sympathetic, her fingers twisted together, and her body swaying from side to side. My reply to her after my first “data running experience” was always the same – “go and get a phone and I will share some data with you to download your game”.

She would hastily dash out and return in seconds with a family member’s phone. Then I would share my data and she downloads her game. After downloading the game, she would still drag me by the hand and ask that I play the game with her, tell her a story, or teach her how to ride a bicycle. She wanted me to play ten-ten, suwe, monopoly, watch cartoons with her and all other fun activities. She practically wanted me to share my time with her, but I was more interested in other things – sport, business and career. I never created time to share of myself with her; all I did was to share my megabytes with her.

Regardless of the number of times I said no to her, she kept coming back and asking for the same things. This she did consistently for months.

One sunny morning my bright atmosphere suddenly turns stale and gloomy as I got a call. The person on the other end of the line was sobbing and talking inaudibly; I struggled to make out what the person was saying. It was Marilyn’s mom. Marilyn had just fainted and was rushed to the hospital. Like some children out there, Marilyn suffered from Sickle Cell Anaemia. It was no fault of hers. Her parents made a grave mistake in their romantic and matrimonial plans; they did not think it necessary to confirm their genotypes to see its compatibility. It was after she was born that her parents found out that they were both AS.

Marilyn lay straight on the hospital bed receiving several injections and transfusions. She was a fighter. After a few days, she started to respond to the treatment and could only utter a few words. This attack seemed like the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Before now, anytime she had similar attack, in a day or two, she would have started to disturb everyone in the hospital that the doctors would literally beg her parents to take her home. Unfortunately, this is her tenth day in the hospital ward, and all she could mumble to me was – Uncle Moses, how are you?

Warm tears dropped uncontrollably from my already bloodshot eyes. As I moved closer to her bed side – my entire being collapsed. I immediately sat on the bare ground beside her bed and slowly stroked her lush hair.

She said to me, please can you share data with me so that I can download games. She couldn’t even lift a plastic spoon as a result of the excruciating pains she felt in her bones, not to talk of a phone. I gave a nod letting her know I obliged her. As I dipped my shaky right hand into my pocket to give her the phone, the doctor on duty walked in with two nurses to carry out their routine checks and treatment; everyone in the room including myself were asked to excuse them. As I stood up to leave she tapped me and said (quite audibly though) “If only you shared part of your life with me like you share your data?”.

Her utterance threw everyone in the room (including the doctor and nurses) into a state of bewilderment. Some of us started shedding tears, while some simply walked out of the room as though they just took the Holy Communion. That was my epiphany into the simplest understanding of how precious life is.

By the evening of that same day, Marilyn was gone. As I walked into the room and saw her lifeless, listless and speechless body covered with cloth, her words rang and still rings in my consciousness “If only you shared part of your life with me like you share your data?”.

A lot of us live our lives like we have a thousand years to breathe. This is not an article based on pessimism or tragedy, but a clarion call to begin to share your life – your greatness, your talents, your gifts, your time, in fact, yourself, with your world.

Too often we don’t realise what we have until it is gone. Too often we wait too late to say I’m sorry, I was wrong. Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones we hold dearest to our hearts and we allow foolish things to tear our lives apart. Please make sure you let people know how much they mean to you. Take that time to say the words before your time is through.

Be sure that you appreciate everything you have, and be thankful for the little things in life that mean a lot.

I once heard the lamentation of a man who said:

“spring time is past, summer is gone, and winter is here. But the song I meant to sing remains unsung; the books i intended to write remain unwritten. For I have spent my best hours stringing and unstringing my instrument; writing, re-writing and cancelling my articles. I was waiting for the right season, just the perfect time…but it never came!”

Start today to pay closer attention to not just your business, career, sport or maybe megabytes like I did, but on the simple and tiny moments (bytes) in your timeline that you have to touch and impart a life. Let it be said of you that you left this tiny, terraqueous globe we call earth better than you met it.

Twitter: @memorinken

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Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

August 21, 2017