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IN DEFENSE OF THE HOPELESS BEGGARS


By Adegbite Taoheed

Tossing out my toes has widen and deepen my experience on who and who are the beggars in Nigeria. Not to ridicule any, after all , they are part of the societal existence. If not clear, read “Beggars strike “. Of course, a developed society has not who to thank, but their generosity and kindness to the needy. Through wholesome to the beggars, God shower blessing upon which a society thrives. And if otherwise, the need for beggars to be declared wanted is requisite .

But who are those ?

This pertinent question piloted my mind with different thoughts. Unarguably, our notion on beggars is whoever found in rags and the physically challenged part of the society. Mostly the lame! But does this belief apt to satisfy the questionnaire?. Of course not. Some able-bodied are out there begging for alms while the physically challenged are on the field, struggling. What an ironical life !

The despicable situation of our dear society makes knowing who give alms for God’s sake and who are the supposed receiver dubious. Axiomatically, religious scriptures would have a clarification on this. Probably, with categories of whom can be blessed to attract divine boon. Though, some do show-off to please someone. “My Pastor or Imam must see me giving out alms”. After all, only God judges. The evils surrounding giving out and receiving tithe these days call for solitude symposium due to its solicitude. Some has vowed never to give out again. Not greediness, but negative experience serves them most as impetus and lesson.

If you won’t call it a phony, is it to talk about beggars turning to animals as a ritual means for the giver? What of the disguised money ritualist amidst beggars? These and other experiences made giving out tithe to beggars on the street a tapestry garment for the holy givers to put on.

It took lesser time to get greedy me into the midst of naive. For an able-bodied beggar, I do fall victim of giving out alms to a drunkard unknowingly. How? If not in the mosque, I doubt you won’t double your effort, strengthen your lyrics and add more honey to your sweet and coated parole as a beggar elsewhere. Though, as they’ve always said, It’s once a deceitful randy can get one seduced. Glaringly, that’s olden days, but now, homo sapiens has reinvigorated the evils in its “belle”.

Not quite long that I had an encounter with a drunkard in a mosque after ‘asri’ prayer . His anthem is always capitalised on job and his wife. Either his job got expiated or his wife is in labour room. Even at times, both is welcomed, but it depends on how attentive the people in the mosques were. I became worried on why had he decided to marry many wives and also got angered with his wicked employers in apostrophe. But the day came at last. After this same tricky exercise and we were all out of the mosque, this man got taken over by the spirit of alcohol and fell into a muddy gutter. Since the day the air has blown and  opened the anus of the cock,  I do believe, all cats are grey in the dark.

Those “agberos” are cunningly amazing at times. Probably he has for once fell victim, no one can tell, but his approach to a well dressed, handsome and roughly 28years of age guy was funny indeed. He (the guy) whom I will like to call “an elite beggar” due to his vocal parol, appeared before us at a motor park with the hope that he was also a traveler. But suddenly, he moved a bit closer

“Excuse me brother, please I need your assistance on something sir”,he said gently.

“what’s that ooooo” the nearby “agbero” inquired

” I came to see my sister in this town but I got stranded and unfortunately I couldn’t  locate her because I lost her address and I am out of energy on my phone battery ” he explained

“Kaiii, all at a time, okay. Then what do you want me to do for you?” I asked ,decided not to argue.

“Please I need some amount of money to get back to my hometown”

Along the line, luckily enough  for him. I am also traveling to that same place. As the “agbero” signalled me to volunteer to help him by paying for his transport fare,  I did so. Sheerly, his facial reaction could spell a sense of being disappointed. As he started stunting and stammering to protest against my offer, the “agbero”, never tired being the umpire, suddenly intervened.

“O’boy, whats your problem, “shebi” he don say him go pay the transport fare” – he asked like an insiquitor.

“enh, ehn!,not really the transport fare, though it’s part of it , but …” he was confused.

” But what? ,na money you need “abi”? I know your kind.

 “Omo” if you no leave here, I go deal with you. See me see beggar in an ironed dress ” agbero said angrily

As the guy left us in peace, perhaps someone has warned him not to fight “agbero”, I inquired whether my good man (Agbero) had known him from somewhere before. He explained that some people had turned that to a job. In just a week, one can earn beyond worker’s minimum wages. So they would wake up in the morning, set out their feet on a mission to beg for alms leaving wife and children at home. And their ward amongst its peer would be like, “My daddy will soon be back from work”.Which work please? Pitifully, not a person who has fallen to their trap would ever want to help if detected at last because, such national nonsense has done no good than harm to the supposed, deserved and condition-made entitled alms receiver.

Never can they be blamed. Not really their fault in all circumstances, but the societal ailments of our dear society. The problem that circumcised the workaholic of able-bodied. Isn’t that enough to leave ones vocal mouth without paroling the expectance of the lame?

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