I read up to a point without checking who the OP was, as soon as I read a particular line, I said only yuzedo used to write like this, so leaving d write up I went to check who the new kid in the block was, only to find out it is the "banana iceland" man yuzedo himself and not an impersonator. If you do not know yuzedo, then you are new to nairaland

With respect to the write up, its a reality call for those of us who chant every friday or sunday to the almighty while leaving the small roles we can play here.

yuzedo:
Not Every Time "Flex", Sometimes "Epp" - Ongoing Case 17/10/2016

Under the Town Planning Bridge linking Ilupeju to Anthony Village, a bag of bones held tautly together by a thin layer of diseased skin lies awaiting an inevitable death.
Our bag of bones is what remains of a man, nay, boy, who despite his visceral state is surprisingly lucid, and as “cheerful” as his unfortunate state should typically allow.
He is my newest friend, and his name is Musa.

---

I made his acquaintance on Thursday, when whilst driving to work I spotted the human heap tucked in an obscure spot under said bridge, sleeping.
Have you ever slept for 24-hours because you had no choice? A certain period in 1998, I was sleeping for 24-hours, because consciousness meant INTENSE PAIN having just suffered a certain physical trauma. Twice a day, around mid-day and again at 8-pm, I would try to, and successfully muster enough strength to open my eyes for 2-minutes at the very most, to observe life – apparently proceeding without me; and to acknowledge my family’s presence, before being forced to relapse into an unconsciousness besieged by frightful, fiery dreams that were still a thousand times more bearable than the overwhelming anguish of a once-familiar consciousness we all take for granted.
Musa currently lives this reality – too weak to even beg.
On the day I made his acquaintance after buying him a hot meal, I was forced to return home because he desperately needed clothes. I brought back three shirts, two trousers, and a pair of shorts. I promised to try and get Lagos State Officials to come and rescue him. On Friday, passing my friend, he was wearing at least two sets of the three I had obliged him.
I was weak.
Na cold make man wear three cloth for inside sun!!!
How he even managed to put them on unassisted beats me; this bag of bones (Calling him a "bag of bones" is understating a physical condition akin to Kevin Carter's Pulitzer-winning depiction of victims in the 1993 Sudanese Crisis) needed me to pull him up to a sitting position when he wants to eat. Can you imagine finding a lone bottle of water after a 10-day trek in Sahara Desert but not having the basic energy to unscrew the plastic cap, so you die of dehydration? Our man had almost lost his teeth trying to open the coca-cola I bought, when I returned and effortlessly turned the cap. Nwanne, to open coke easy until your body no strong.
Sorry for all the details, but a pathetic situation requires full disclosure!
This thing has me thinking. What is Religion? – Not fornicating? Not worshipping juju?? Fam, did Jesus die for you to attend church where you do nothing but beg him for more favors
No.
Now, let me narrate the concluding part of this story, and hopefully justify my reason for sharing with the world what I had planned would be one of many little secrets;
I felt guilty the entire weekend. Being in utter comfort on the Island, I continued to think about my new friend at the mercy of the elements. I half-hoped the State Government’s Social Welfare Taskforce would have picked him up for rehabilitation by Monday, but nope, Musa was still under the bridge, half-dead, but still lucid enough to remember me.
I gave him his food, and held a bitter-sweet conversation with the man who now wore what up till Thursday were my shirts. I asked his most pressing needs, at least until rescue came, and he was content with food, really. Ah! My warm room and duvet weren’t enough comfort during last night’s downpour, how much more, a sick man out in the open?! I promised him an old Quilt, but I’d bring it tomorrow on my way to work.
“Bring it today. PLEASE!!” He implored, eyes darting around desperately. “I beg. Today!!”, he repeated, eyes streaming, teeth gnashed in frantic hope.
It seemed mentioning the previously-unforeseen prospect of bodily warmth had galvanized awareness of his nightly suffering – and the reality of 24-hours being an eternity in such conditions!!
I was forced to immediately enlist my mother’s help in driving down to Town Planning with said Quilt, if only to quell his growing fear that I was leaving without redeeming my promise of same.
Instead of fruits, he requested milk, and as he drank, he asked for prayers. Ah! I couldn’t possibly open my sinner-mouth to invoke the Almighty, so I made a mental note to outsource that task to others more equipped.
Looking everywhere but at me, Musa continued emotionally;
“You don spend money plenty on-top my head, na God go bless you. If I die now, na God go reward you for wetin you do for me. I happy, God go bless you anywhere you go.”
Sigh.
A 20-year old; articulating his untimely death as though an old man at the twilight of a fulfilled existence… a child, blessing an “adult”, in Africa. Because of ordinary hunger??!!
Musa’s life is probably the opportunity cost of a bottle of champagne… I mean, isn’t this worse than Schindler’s List where a single lapel pin was enough to save the life of at least another Jew??
An Ancestor once told me – Wearing Ralph Lauren is all well and good, but abeg, wear Ralph Lauren and feed a widow. Wear your Gucci head-to-toe, but nwanne, encourage an orphan. You are human to be human. The poor will ALWAYS be with us/you – so that there is always an opportunity to give, and do more than just exist. “The only thing you truly get to keep is what you give away.”
[s]… and then the Ancestor disappeared like Mufasa in the clouds.[/s]
PLEASE, if you know any official who can mobilize on this case, do your bit and call the person. Musa isn't going anywhere unless someone makes a moves.
And for whichever Government Official or Private Individual that takes it upon him/herself to intervene, I leave the Talmud Quote, “He who saves one life, saves the world entire.”
Not every time "flex", sometimes lets "epp".
Arigato!

oluwabishop:
I'd tweet this story at the handles of various related Lagos government officials / agencies. Let's hope it piques their interest

I'd like you to mention me in every of your tweet about this,,,, I'll like to retweet to my followers. @horllarbanjie on twitter.
You can start with @Gidi_traffic, they will surely tweet at the relevant authorities to take it up..

...and my fellow christians will pass dis man with their tithes and give it to their flamboyant pastors....

martineinstein:
...and my fellow christians will pass dis man with their tithes and give it to their flamboyant pastors....

And they think I will go to hell whilst they lounge in Heaven..

Suprised to notice tears roll down my cheeks as I read this. You are not only a good writer but also a good person. I wish our youths can devote their excess energy to this kind of charity instead of the tribal and religious war they embark on daily. You are obviously igbo and the young helpless Musa most likely is not from your tribe yet he is human and needs help.
May the Almighty God bless you for this great work.

What state is he from? Lagos State should give him food and health checkup and return him to his state. After all his state representatives probably denied Lagos State's request for tax relief. So let their states take care of them. Lagos also has indigenes in need.

Very sad... but then the wicked abo.ki elites would ignore many of people like this even in their state. I am very sure Musa was not born in lagos. He must have been transported from far north to lagos to come and beg. Begging is an occupation in the north. A little boy fell on the ground around lekki area while Knocking on people's window in traffic. He was saved by the traffic light because if the green light had come on, he would have been hit.

Their mothers sit in a corner and push them out to beg. U will also see them in CMS, stadium bus stop, they are everywhere begging. You see an adolescent girl carrying a baby who is probably her brother/sister and using the baby to gain sympathy. Yet their evil hausa elites are stealing money meant for this people day and night. I hav always said it, the average common hausa /Fulani person lives like IDPs. That's why the IDP camps in the north are over crowded. The same hausa elites still divert foods and money for IDPS to their pocket.

The lagos state govt must do something about this people. They are getting too much. Every state should have a camp for handicap and ill people so that people can always go their to help in any little way. Even churches and mosques must be made to contribute in helping these people. Flooding the roads, bridges and begging is not the best way. That guy can be kidnapped by ritualist. If useless area boys can steal money from him, how much more ritualist. Abo.ki people no try abeg

A lesson to learn.

May whatever you serve bless you chief sweetus yuzedo.

I'm beginning to hate religious people nowadays. We preach God but our hearts are far from Him

where is the bag and where is the bone

yuzedo:
Will try and get a picture or three tomorrow if it'll advance his cause, but I REFUSE to believe there are NO responsible people in the Social Welfare Department of Lagos State Government. Nope, impossible!

@Ify, he can't walk... Probably too weak to. Cursory inspection suggests muscle atrophy from severe malnutrition, but I'll leave proper diagnosis to a Medical Professional.

Nice job Yuzedo the banana island boy,well done.

So touching.. #bless us oh Lord that we may be a source of joy to others..

He's not our responsibility.

Only the strong survive in Nigeria. If he's not strong enough to survive, then he's better off dead.

That's just the unpalatable fact of life in that country.

Guys how can we all help him? Can someone talk to asap . I want everyo e heere to contributr at 100 to help. Am willing to give 1k ir more.

baby124:
What state is he from? Lagos State should give him food and health checkup and return him to his state. After all his state representatives probably denied Lagos State's request for tax relief. So let their states take care of them. Lagos also has indigenes in need.

wicked tot from an evil mind. He is a Nigerian and that alone should save him.

fyneboi79:
wicked tot from an evil mind. He is a Nigerian and that alone should save him.

He has a state that collect allocation to feed and take care of him. Lagos does not have the funds to take care of other states responsibilities. Like I care what you think of my mind. Rubbish

Tweet and retreat this to LASG twitter handles. Ambo is an attention LovePeddler and he will jump on the opportunity to look good

baby124:
What state is he from? Lagos State should give him food and health checkup and return him to his state. After all his state representatives probably denied Lagos State's request for tax relief. So let their states take care of them. Lagos also has indigenes in need.

seriously? are you for real or has hatred and tribalism really eaten that deep into your brain? please take your silly talk somewhere else.

God bless you yuzedo.

Thanks!

This thing has me thinking. What is Religion? – Not fornicating? Not worshipping juju?? Fam, did Jesus die for you to attend church where you do nothing but beg him for more favors

No.



So touched with this piece.

May God reward you and help us all to love ourselves.

Someone should draw the attention of the money miss road below-

https://www.nairaland.com/3416395/check-out-e-money-chilling-office

Jaydotcom:
This thing has me thinking. What is Religion? – Not fornicating? Not worshipping juju?? Fam, did Jesus die for you to attend church where you do nothing but beg him for more favors

No.



So touched with this piece.

May God reward you and help us all to love ourselves.

This got me too. At the end, it's our humanity that'll save us all, not Religion. God help us.

Nihilist:
He's not our responsibility.

Only the strong survive in Nigeria. If he's not strong enough to survive, then he's better off dead.

That's just the unpalatable fact of life in that country.

If oyinbo people think like this and don't give us financial & other aids, we black people will be all dead.
No wonder the oyinbos are continuously on top of us.
Can we think before we talk please?

So bad

seguno2:


If oyinbo people think like this and don't give us financial & other aids, we black people will be all dead.
No wonder the oyinbos are continuously on top of us.
Can we think before we talk please?

There's no need to be upset, it is what it is.

The Government should have a social programme for these kind of cases, that's what you pay taxes for.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian system aided by the general populace isn't setup to cater to fellows like this..so we have a situation where one dude us buying him coke and tangerine.

Guess what, OP isn't going to but him Coke forever. A day is going to come(if it hasn't already) when the OP is convinced he's done his best and will walk away...

Then what next?

It's sad but it's a fact. Nigeria is a jungle and only the strong can survive. The weak will die.

Nihilist:
There's no need to be upset, it is what it is.

The Government should have a social programme for these kind of cases, that's what you pay taxes for.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian system aided by the general populace isn't setup to cater to fellows like this..so we have a situation where one dude us buying him coke and tangerine.

Guess what, OP isn't going to but him Coke forever. A day is going to come(if it hasn't already) when the OP is convinced he's done his best and will walk away...

Then what next?

It's sad but it's a fact. Nigeria is a jungle and only the strong can survive. The weak will die.

Thanks for telling us what we already know.
Do you like that our country is a jungle?
If you don't, what are you doing about it?
What can you do about it?

May God have mercy on us all












Help will be rendered to him soon by God's grace n God bless you, OP

CuteSOLJA:
where is the bag and where is the bone

Haba bro. Are you that blind not to see it yourself
Where is your sense of empathy?
Nor be everything be joke.

yuzedo:
Not Every Time "Flex", Sometimes "Epp" - Ongoing Case 17/10/2016


Under the Town Planning Bridge linking Ilupeju to Anthony Village, a bag of bones held tautly together by a thin layer of diseased skin lies awaiting an inevitable death.

Our bag of bones is what remains of a man, nay, boy, who despite his visceral state is surprisingly lucid, and as “cheerful” as his unfortunate state should typically allow.

He is my newest friend, and his name is Musa.

---

I made his acquaintance on Thursday, when whilst driving to work I spotted the human heap tucked in an obscure spot under said bridge, sleeping.

Have you ever slept for 24-hours because you had no choice? A certain period in 1998, I was sleeping for 24-hours, because consciousness meant INTENSE PAIN having just suffered a certain physical trauma. Twice a day, around mid-day and again at 8-pm, I would try to, and successfully muster enough strength to open my eyes for 2-minutes at the very most, to observe life – apparently proceeding without me; and to acknowledge my family’s presence, before being forced to relapse into an unconsciousness besieged by frightful, fiery dreams that were still a thousand times more bearable than the overwhelming anguish of a once-familiar consciousness we all take for granted.

Musa currently lives this reality – too weak to even beg.

On the day I made his acquaintance after buying him a hot meal, I was forced to return home because he desperately needed clothes. I brought back three shirts, two trousers, and a pair of shorts. I promised to try and get Lagos State Officials to come and rescue him. On Friday, passing my friend, he was wearing at least two sets of the three I had obliged him.

I was weak.

Na cold make man wear three cloth for inside sun!!!

How he even managed to put them on unassisted beats me; this bag of bones (Calling him a "bag of bones" is understating a physical condition akin to Kevin Carter's Pulitzer-winning depiction of victims in the 1993 Sudanese Crisis) needed me to pull him up to a sitting position when he wants to eat. Can you imagine finding a lone bottle of water after a 10-day trek in Sahara Desert but not having the basic energy to unscrew the plastic cap, so you die of dehydration? Our man had almost lost his teeth trying to open the coca-cola I bought, when I returned and effortlessly turned the cap. Nwanne, to open coke easy until your body no strong.

Sorry for all the details, but a pathetic situation requires full disclosure!

This thing has me thinking. What is Religion? – Not fornicating? Not worshipping juju?? Fam, did Jesus die for you to attend church where you do nothing but beg him for more favors

No.

Now, let me narrate the concluding part of this story, and hopefully justify my reason for sharing with the world what I had planned would be one of many little secrets;

I felt guilty the entire weekend. Being in utter comfort on the Island, I continued to think about my new friend at the mercy of the elements. I half-hoped the State Government’s Social Welfare Taskforce would have picked him up for rehabilitation by Monday, but nope, Musa was still under the bridge, half-dead, but still lucid enough to remember me.

I gave him his food, and held a bitter-sweet conversation with the man who now wore what up till Thursday were my shirts. I asked his most pressing needs, at least until rescue came, and he was content with food, really. Ah! My warm room and duvet weren’t enough comfort during last night’s downpour, how much more, a sick man out in the open?! I promised him an old Quilt, but I’d bring it tomorrow on my way to work.

“Bring it today. PLEASE!!” He implored, eyes darting around desperately. “I beg. Today!!”, he repeated, eyes streaming, teeth gnashed in frantic hope.

It seemed mentioning the previously-unforeseen prospect of bodily warmth had galvanized awareness of his nightly suffering – and the reality of 24-hours being an eternity in such conditions!!

I was forced to immediately enlist my mother’s help in driving down to Town Planning with said Quilt, if only to quell his growing fear that I was leaving without redeeming my promise of same.

Instead of fruits, he requested milk, and as he drank, he asked for prayers. Ah! I couldn’t possibly open my sinner-mouth to invoke the Almighty, so I made a mental note to outsource that task to others more equipped.

Looking everywhere but at me, Musa continued emotionally;

“You don spend money plenty on-top my head, na God go bless you. If I die now, na God go reward you for wetin you do for me. I happy, God go bless you anywhere you go.”

Sigh.

A 20-year old; articulating his untimely death as though an old man at the twilight of a fulfilled existence… a child, blessing an “adult”, in Africa. Because of ordinary hunger??!!

Musa’s life is probably the opportunity cost of a bottle of champagne… I mean, isn’t this worse than Schindler’s List where a single lapel pin was enough to save the life of at least another Jew??

An Ancestor once told me – Wearing Ralph Lauren is all well and good, but abeg, wear Ralph Lauren and feed a widow. Wear your Gucci head-to-toe, but nwanne, encourage an orphan. You are human to be human. The poor will ALWAYS be with us/you – so that there is always an opportunity to give, and do more than just exist. “The only thing you truly get to keep is what you give away.”

[s]… and then the Ancestor disappeared like Mufasa in the clouds.[/s]

PLEASE, if you know any official who can mobilize on this case, do your bit and call the person. Musa isn't going anywhere unless someone makes a moves.

And for whichever Government Official or Private Individual that takes it upon him/herself to intervene, I leave the Talmud Quote, “He who saves one life, saves the world entire.”

Not every time "flex", sometimes lets "epp".

Arigato!

chief sweetus oyegeyege, chief sweetus Oyoyo. I was talking with my mom about you just last week how you've been off nairaland for a long time. we all missed you. how is your banana Iceland manshun? your wife Rita Dominic has been cheating on you with Ramsey nouah oooo

seguno2:


Thanks for telling us what we already know.
Do you like that our country is a jungle?
If you don't, what are you doing about it?
What can you do about it?

Nothing. I can't do anything. I don't intend to do anything either.

I can only accept what is. Which is why I made my original statement.

Kudos, and excellnt write-up too...

The one probable solution to helping Musa, is leaving him be!

Anything else from my point of view is prolonging his suffering.

Musa won't be d first neither would he be the last!

Some hediots are going on about yuzedo's mansion and marriage affairs in view of this disheartening piece the op bloke just shared.

Goes to really show u, that no one cares.