I received the news with so much shock and disbelief particualrly because I didn't have enough time to hope for survivors, it was immediately revealed to me that there were none! It was one of those moments that you go from oh my God!! then No It can't be..... after going through all these emotions myself, I now feel sheepish to admit that I clung unto a new prayer which said "oh God I just pray that I don't know anyone on that flight" However, as if I was being totally ignored the manifest came out and the list of people I knew felt endless I couldn't bear to peak at my Facebook page lest I become laden with grief. Now days after the sorrow is still rife, the sorrow is no longer on the increasing number of casualties or more frustrating the loved ones we happen to know directly or indirectly, but a sorrow directed at our feeling of helplessness, especially when the resolve to make it right is weakened by the thought of the challenges that flood to our minds immediately we dare to think about a "disaster" free country.
My friend was upset for many reasons after the crash, like all of us she was also in the dilemma of who to blame, she criticised me for putting up a picture of the crying President on my profile, saying "It is heart breaking and that ***** is shedding Crocodile tears" she further went ahead to acknowledge that in a different plot, 20 people died in Bauchi...... but then what I found more thought provoking was the following:
"So tell me, how do you live by LUCK? the day you did not go to church and your church is bombed you say you are lucky Thank God, because you changed your flight from evening to morning and it crashed you are lucky. You miss your flight, then you are lucky? You did not go to the market on the day it was bombed, then it is testimony time. How long can we be lucky?
It is this same question I have been asking myself subconciously, at the risk of sounding like a staunch believer of science I wonder.... I feel heavy in my heart to say the words but I wonder how many more innocent lives will have to be sacrificed before we get it right. My friend thinks Luck isn't enough, I share this sentiment but I would also like to ask, will it be justifiable to simply blame it on fate and the inevitability of Death?
Again my heart goes out to all the grieving families, may God in his infinite mercy grant you the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss
Well said Pina. The grief is enormous. This pain is too much. Our solution I am convinviced does not lie in d hands of any human Govt! May God intervene soon.
ReplyDeletePina I like this 'My friend thinks Luck isn't enough, I share this sentiment but I would also like to ask, will it be justifiable to simply blame it on fate and the inevitability of Death?' Because that is what our lives have been reduced to in Nigeria, a life of 'Chance' if it happens, too bad, if it doesn't then we "thank God". I am so pained right now, and although I don't know anyone involved in the crash, I just keep thinking it could be me or any of my family, because that is the route we use frequently. Also I keep wondering what the last moments were for the victims especially the children. And if its true the plane had mechanical faults a few weeks back and no one did anything about it then it is truly a SHAME!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you guys, Infact one the horrors for me also is the challenge of trying to block out what those passengers must have felt before the plane exploded, parents travelling with kids especially, I do not even want to picture their agony......
ReplyDeleteGod knows best!
There is no dilemma as to where to lay the blame- the system that continues to shortchange its people by subverting rules to their personal gain takes all the blame. The dilemma is HOW to move from where we are to where we ought to be with minimal further blood shed and chaos. Something has to give, the system can't continue like this. I am still upset because the crying president is more concerned with changing of names of universities and not a review in standard and quality of education while we are still in mourning. I know exactly where to lay the blame!
ReplyDeleteThumps up! Just said it as it is
Where does one start from? How can we not be one step closer to a solution than we were a decade ago?
ReplyDeleteUpon hearing the story of the Anyene family, a most troublesome question came to mind: how does one comfort a family that lowers 9 (nine) coffins into the ground, and does all nine on the same day? It's almost inconceivable. But that very well would be a family's harsh reality if those bodies are found.
The next question (all of us ask(ed))was, "could it have been prevented?" Yes! It could and should have been avoided. That plane was not air worthy, but still some people chose to gamble on people's lives. "Let's make a quick bucks," they said. And just like that the decision to kill 163 people was sealed with an instruction driven by greed.
I want those "involved" directly and indirectly to know that on that day, June 3, 2012, they took something precious away from people. In other words, they stole. They stole their joy. They stole their last moments. They stole their right to one last phone call to a loved one. They stole their right to say goodbye. They stole their right to one last hug. They simply stole from each and every one of them- toddler to adult, their right to live.
We watch, pained and angry, as our President cried. I personally wondered, has he gone on Facebook to search out the names of the lost ones to at least have an idea of what they once looked like? Yes, I did that and I'm sure a few of us did so too. It stirs something within you. It brings the situation to life; it changes mere names on a list to actual people, a few, who up until Saturday night (hours before the incident) posted "Lmao" to a comment on Facebook. Honestly, after seeing such, you'd never want a recurrence, ever.
Franky, I don't think Jonathan has done what any idiot will not do- declare 3 days of mourning, raise the flag halfway, cry in public... please!!! It's all too scripted. Always the easy way out. *Sigh*...
What will be more painful is if all the stories we have been hearing about Dana management is true, and if so people will have to be persecuted for manslaughter at the least. I don't know why but everyone seems to know lots of people on this flight and it happened when confidence in local air travel was reaching an all time high.
ReplyDeleteI have personally been contemplating recently (even before this accident) if what we say is luck is truly luck and finding it hard to come to a conclusion although my believe is tending towards saying there is no such thing as luck.
Just like all your other posts, this is again is a good one. I think you should also look up 'THE MAKING OF A PLANE CRASH http://nblo.gs/ytcra' and i am sure you will find it a good read.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what i find mind boggling is the fact that as a people we find it easier to pick up placards when the government increases fuel prices and shut down everything in the country for a year. Labor and The Save Nigeria Group found a good reason to bring everything to standstill because of either refusal to increase minimum wage or fuel increase. Doctors, Lawyers, Lectures and every group find it easier to go on strike for what they feel is right. How come every one is silent and going about our normal duties when this great tragedy has happened? We are all turning to God to save us, but we need to save ourselves first.
For how long will Nigerians sit and watch our governents kill us all. It is bad enough we who are alive are killed daily by the rising corruption but what about those who have gone. Nigerians die daily and we all are sitting in the comfort zones of our religion. When will the killings of innocent Nigerians stop. Today if it is not bomb blasts, Unknown gunmen, road accidents, armed robbers, fake or incompetent doctors and even collapsing buildings, the list is endless, i wonder what next. It is time we as Nigerians realise that the collective is better than the single person. For how long will we continue to lose talents, our future(Children)and be silent about it.
I pray God grant the families that have lost friends, close ones, family, loved ones in the plane crash and other mishaps in the past year in Nigeria. But i ask WHICH WAY NIGERIANS?
Thanks Titi read it already! It is important that we share some responsibility in the blame game. The old cliche says "Rome wasn't built in a day" this should apply to what happens when we take things (no matter how lttle) for granted.
ReplyDelete