By: Imo Etimudo
Thursday, February 21 was a day two banana hawkers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State made my day. Miss Edidiong Okokon and her mother, Mrs Okokon spoke to me as if they knew me before. So, I could not pass them even when I was on an official assignment. What captured my attention was not the attractive bunches of banana. Yes I love bananas. It was the quality of English Language that came out of their mouths.
One said, “Brother, I feel that those of you in government should be bothered about the image of our nation especially before the international community.” I’m not in government but it was not necessary to explain to her. So many things came to my mind. Banana hawkers talking about international community? Then my journalistic instincts came alive. Gregarious me, I got all the information I considered relevant!
These two banana sellers are mother and daughter. The mother is a holder of the NCE. She is living with disability, and defied that to train the daughter to acquire same NCE. Neither the mother nor the daughter, the handicapped or the fit, is employed. To support a motor cyclist husband and father, they resorted to the banana business. Hence, from their residence at Ikpe Annang, Essien Udim local government area, they come daily to Uyo to do business.
Sensing that they appeared unhappy, I tempted them, or thought I did so, but I was pleasantly surprised. I asked them whether they will still go and cast their ballot on Saturday. Both mother and daughter answered in agreement.
Again Edidiong’s good command of the English Language came to play. Hear her: “That is my civic responsibility, and nothing can dissuade me from performing it, or disenfranchising myself.” I heard her well, except that I felt the English was spoken in a wrong classroom, or office.
How many of those who will be “elected” tomorrow and two weeks later can speak this strong? I have watched many of them murder the National Anthem. Most of them cannot sing beyond the first stanza. Hmmmm, sad comic relief!
Then the mother, Mrs Okokon, added. “It’s just that when we finish doing this- that appears to be the end till another election year. We always keep our own side of the contract but our leaders fail successfully. I pray that this time around, we will have someone to save Nigeria.” I don’t fabricate words; I recorded almost everything they said!
As we departed, shortly after taking pictures and collecting the mother’s phone number, I asked myself, “Who will save Nigeria?”
Etimudoh a journalist writes from Uyo
