By: Muneer Yaqub
In all honesty, nothing gladdens my heart than finding myself an agent of positive change. Bringing joy and smiles to faces of sorrow, and agony. Alterating the mischief of the less privileged and the underdogs in the environment. Lending my voice to the voiceless oppressed, victims of a negligent society.
And in this strong spirit it was that I wrote sometimes ago, advocating for the physically challenged; the disabled students in my University here in Sokoto, whose welfare were being taken for granted.
I condemned the barricades suddenly placed by our Students’ Union on one of our walkways, as a sheer indifference to the well-being of these special people. Therein I also craved indulgence to the absence of such infrastructures on campus, that could make life much easier for them; and make them feel some sense of belonging around other students.
I also remember saying something about the new Bridge, whose construction was facilitated by the past SU administration; and which was named after its financer, Mr. Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of UBA Bank. I said it was, in my sincere view, “somewhat anti-physically-challenged.”
Then I went to bed, hoping that someday, someone somewhere will put an end to the suffering of these cherished colleagues of mine.
Perhaps God heard their cries. Perhaps it was hightime they started smiling, as they limp and wheel around campus, hitch-free. Perhaps their prayers were answered, finally. In any case, I received a phone call.
It was the past SU President, Comrade Idris Maibasira, on the line. He had called to inform me about the statements of some UBA officials who had come to meet him a while ago. That, somehow, my plight about our disabled colleagues had reached the ears of their Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu, with regards to the bridge he had donated.
At first, I was stunned; because I couldn’t remember drafting a letter, let alone sending one to anyone. But then, he insisted my name was said to be on it. Yet, all I had written in that regard was only a paragraph, somewhere in “Broken: Jatau Bridge Barricades.” And how that found its way, from my facebook wall where I had posted it, to Mr. Elumelu up there, has remained a bone of contention.
Anyway, I was assured that the issue has been considered, and presently being looked into; and that proper steps would be taken on it, accordingly.
Yet again, after having said this some days back, while celebrating the victory of the “broken Jatau barricades” (finally ordered by the students’ legislative arm), in honor of the disabled, I feel highly delighted to again say it here: “The people spoke, my pen stroke; barriers broke.”
What could be more delightful and exciting than making a positive impact on one’s society, with the little one has? When, by one’s hand, the agonies and pains of the less privileged are being wiped away, could anything be more heartwarming?
I thank the UBA and its chairman for hearkening to the voice of the needy, the disabled; despite blaring through a youngish, epileptic pen. A pen that has sought to, and will continue to intensify the voices of the voiceless. And I wish to see a pro-physically-challenged Tony Elumelu Bridge very soon.
Meanwhile, as my pen speaks and the authority hear, it is my wish to, with the little I have, continue to put smiles on the faces of the disabled and the less privileged. If you so wish, join me.