Top Stories

ATTAHIRU: Death, Thou Too Shall Die!

The death last Friday evening of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten others, in an ill-fated flight in Kaduna, Kaduna State has once again thrown Nigeria into mourning. Though death has become the usual meal on Nigeria’s menu, General Attahiru’s death, as well as those on his entourage, shocked Nigerians to the marrows.

The deaths of these soldiers seem to be speaking to Nigerians in riddles. However, like every human being, the moment we leave the cemetery, the life that we felt was not worth living upon sighting the dead lying still, is suddenly mollified and we continue to assume our individual mortality.

As the holy writ counseled, moments like this present eternal lessons of our human existence and should be more desired.

When we see the dead lying inside their lonely coffin rest homes, we should substitute ourselves for them. In other words, the question to ask is, what if I was the one inside that coffin? Most of the atrocities in high and low places are committed because we assume our immortality and magisterially divine that our own death is farther down the alley. “It will not happen to me in Jesus name” or “May Allah forbid!” are the words that come out of our subconscious whenever we see our friends, colleagues and fellow travelers on life’s lonely road being lowered into the sepulcher. But why should Allah, Jesus forbid a process that is the culmination of our humanity?

Except for human beings whose bodies are dead to death; who have witnessed enough dead in a lifetime and almost see themselves as dead, a death beside us should awake us to the need to live right and prepare for the last day. Life is too worthless and unworthy of the glories and beatification that we unnecessarily accord it.

While I agree that life will be meaningless without all those fleeting icings that we mistakenly take for life’s cake itself, we should remember that, like General Attahiru and our brothers who paid the supreme price on Friday, we will die our own deaths at the intersection when the final whistle is blown.

I extend my condolences to the families of the bereaved.

 

 

Dr. Festus Adedayo, a Scholar, Author and Journalist writes

admin

Recent Posts

IGP Steps In: FCID to Investigate Death of Man Detained Over N220,000 Debt

  The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 35-year-old man, Jimoh…

14 hours ago

Red Sea Tragedy: US Pilots Shot Down in ‘Friendly Fire’ Mishap

Two US Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea early Sunday in “an…

14 hours ago

FG Lifts Five-Year Ban on Mining in Zamfara, Eyes Economic Boost

The Federal Government has officially lifted the five-year ban on mining activities in Zamfara State,…

18 hours ago

Death Toll Rises to 22 in Anambra Stampede, As Police Begin Investigation

  The death toll from a tragic stampede in Anambra State has risen to 22,…

18 hours ago

NNPCL Refutes Shutdown Claims: Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed media reports suggesting that the…

2 days ago

Grim Friday: Man, Wife, Grandson Perish in Ibadan Fire

  A devastating house fire in the Ori-Eru area of Idikan, Ibadan, Oyo State, has…

2 days ago