By Francis Ewherido
While growing up in my part of Bendel State (Delta State), if we encountered difficulty, we would say, “no how, no how, ogoro(frog) must jump,” meaning we’ll find a way to overcome the challenge. As we get close to Christmas, the saying came flooding back into my memory. Christmas is around the corner and there is a likelihood that many Christians would not be able to afford Christmas rice and chicken. For these families, the question that keeps agitating my mind is, somehow, somehow, ogoro suppose jump so (will these families still be able to eat Christmas rice and chicken)? It’s going to be tough but not impossible for some.
Christmas is a time for sharing. For givers, instead of giving one person a full bag of rice. Share it further, make it 25kg or 12.5kg bags where possible. That way more people will be able to eat Christmas rice. I am talking about cases where charity is the reason for giving. Companies are driven by other factors like appreciating their clients, but what I suggested above (reducing the quantity of rice per person) can also apply if they want to engage in charity. At difficult times like this, churches should go beyond the spiritual essence of Christmas and also pay attention to taking care of the less privileged and vulnerable in their midst. It is a time for giving to the less privileged, not making demands on them. The “haves” should look out for the “have nots.” We are in very difficult times and no love is greater than this.
In those days, neighbours used to cook and share food with their neighbours on Christmas day. I don’t know what it’s like these days. I get the feeling that the culture is dying for some reasons. One, there is trust deficit now unlike when I was growing up. Two, the society has become more stratified. Rich people tend to live in the same neighbourhoods, the same applies to the poor. Why would you bother your rich neighbour in his fenced and gated house with Christmas food? Has he even eaten the one he cooked. The man might even be fighting a battle with weight.
On the other hand, families in poor neighbourhoods are looking for money to feed their children and might not even have anything to spare. But there are cases where some very rich people live in a predominantly poor neighbourhood. I plead with such people to put smiles on the faces of as many of their less financially endowed neighbours as they can.
Some people might be wondering why I am focusing on food, rice, chicken on Christmas day. Is that what the season is about? No, but in Matthew and Luke Gospels, it was reported that Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Thereafter he was hungry and the devil tempted him three times. The first one was that if Jesus really claims to be the son of God, he should turn the stones into bread and eat to quench his hunger. Jesus’s response was that “man shall not live on bread alone, but…” When we were in the university, my friends would quote this verse, then we’ll add, “but Jesus didn’t say you should live without bread (food), because if you do, you will die.” So, Christmas is not about food, but people must eat and be alive here on earth to celebrate the essence of Christmas.
What is the essence of Christmas? Christmas is the day set aside by SOME Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ. These Christians believe that the birth of Christ signifies a new beginning. Jesus is the only begotten son of God that he sent to the world to redeem it from doom. That is why Jesus is the Christ, the saviour and redeemer for Christians. The Nigerian constitution guarantees all Nigerians freedom of worship and association. You are constitutionally allowed to profess your beliefs and worship whoever you believe in. That is why I am only referring to Christians who see Jesus as their redeemer. I find people who denigrate other people’s beliefs as very irritating.
For instance, some Christians have chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25. They did not tell you Christ was born on that day because there is no record of the exact date. I shut up a young friend recently. He argued that Jesus was not born on December 25. I asked him if those who celebrate the birth of Christ said it is biblically written that Jesus was born on December 25. Like others did, please pick your own date and let others have peace to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of worship.
You would have noticed that I said Jesus Christ is the Mesiah and Redeemer of Christians, not the world. I am respecting people with other beliefs. Some religions do not believe He is the Saviour of the world. I don’t want to impose on people what they do not believe in, so I also expect you to respect my Christian and denominational beliefs. Let God be the judge at the end of time. The last time I checked, God has not outsourced the responsibility of the last judgement to you. So, maintain your lane; I am maintaining mine. Some people’s favourite pastime is to judge others and condemn their beliefs. Who are you and who made you a judge? Merry Christmas to all those celebrating on December 25 and a fruitful New Year to you all.
DEATH OF OKUAMA LEADERS
Last week, I read that the Urhobo Progress Union, America, visited the Okuama IDP camp in Ewu and donated two cows and various food items. I was very happy because that meant a Merry Christmas for the displaced Okuama people in the camp. But my joy was short-lived when I heard about the death of the Okuama community President General, Pa James Oghoroko, in the Nigerian military detention. Shortly after, the news of the death of 81-Year-Old Dennis Okugbaye, Okuama community treasurer, broke. He was reported to have died in the same circumstances as the Okuama PG after being in military detention for about four months. Now the fate of the other community leaders still in detention is uncertain.
It is saddening. This chain of events was triggered by the alleged killing of 17 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army by the Forcados river bank, Okuama. I was one of those who asked the security agencies to get to the bottom of the matter and bring the perpetrators to book. This is because the lives of our officers and soldiers matter. So far, the findings of the panel of inquiry have not been made known, adding to the anxiousness of the interested parties.
Since the death of the two community leaders, the army has not made any statement. The silence on the findings of the panel of enquiry and the death of the community leaders are unnerving. People need to know the details of what happened. I feel the Okuama leaders should be prosecuted in a law court if the authorities have evidence linking them to the killing of the soldiers is established. In the alternative. They should be set free. Okuama has suffered and been traumatised enough. The lives of Okuama people also matter!
