“What you are, we were. What we are you will be.” Statement on a sign in an Italian cave in the 13th century
Unfortunately, that was not the end of it. Later, I discovered that the social media was flooded with similar cruel jokes by Nigerian youth and even a few adults. That, to me was heart-breaking. Has politics in Nigeria descended so low that people would make jests of an old man who slipped while performing an official national duty? It was certainly not Nigeria’s finest hour.
Does that mean he should not be criticised? No. It means that our dissent must be civil language; not because of the man; but, because of the office. What was supposed to be, at most, one hour ’s visit for a minor pain turned into four months admission plus surgery for prostate cancer. I ended on a wheel chair for several months. Only rigorous physio-therapy sessions got me walking again – but not like before.
As one of the few exceptionally lucky few, I pray that most of the misguided youths who laughed at President Tinubu will live to be 70. They will discover that “agba soro da or it is tough to be old.” That was a lesson I learnt from one of my sages when I was still in the earlyNow 80, barely able to walk and climb staircases, I realise now that the joke wasonme.Oldageisno joke. You live for doctors and chemists; and your body aches all the time. And, God forbid you should stumble and fall.