When I heard of the death of DSP Alamieyeseigha, I began to think about what will be going through his mind those last moments before his death. Here is a man who most likely couldn’t travel abroad for treatment because he is a wanted man outside the shores of this country and couldn’t get good treatment here because almost 8years as governor he didn’t build a single hospital that can save lives. Like the story of the rich man and Lazarus, he can’t come back to warn his brothers(and sisters) but if given the opportunity he will tell them “all is vanity” and I guess those will be his last words.
Alamieyeseigha was loved in Bayelsa mostly as a result of our normal sickness of low expectation and I see people saying things like don’t speak bad about the dead. Unfortunately he will be remembered for what he really is. In trying to write this piece, I attempted a Google search on Alamieyeseigha and saw suggestions like “Alamieyeseigha disguise” “Alamieyeseigha dressed like a woman” and “Alamieyeseigha escape from London” among others. His place in Nigeria’s history is certainly not pretty and God may forgive his soul as I see many people write on social media but history will not be that kind to him.
Albert Nobel who invented dynamite woke up one morning to see his obituary in the news papers. A French news paper wrote “Le marchand de la mort est mort,” meaning “the merchant of death is dead.” he was described as a man “who became rich by finding ways to kill people faster than ever before.” This made Nobel worry about how the world will remember him after death and he began to dedicate his life to foster world peace. A year before he died,he signed his last will and testament, which set aside majority of his vast estate to establish five Nobel prizes including one for the pursuit of peace. The world no longer remembers Albert Nobel as “the merchant of death.” He is remembered today as the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Our politicians are too shallow in thought to use the death of Alamieyeseigha to ask themselves that thought provoking question on how they will be remembered in Nigeria’s history. All those who have held or are still holding positions of public trust must ask themselves this question. What will Nigerians be writing on social media about you when you die? What will the younger generation tell their unborn or young children about you? we all must ask ourselves this question again and again. The legacy you leave behind can be a burden or a precious gift to your loved once. Billy Graham once said “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” the legacy of DSP Alamieyeseigha is there for all to see but what about us? Albert Nobel showed us that the living can still do something about their legacy but not the dead.
Bemdoo hulugh is an active citizen and he writes from Makurdi
You can also interact with him on twitter @bumy04
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