A PENNY FOR AN EYE

It’s a wet, cold Friday afternoon for me in Abuja, but no matter what the weather is in Lagos, it won’t matter to young Samuel Adedigba. He feels nothing, but pains, hurt and discomfort. This is because someone, a representative of the underworld, tried to pluck Samuel’s eye, with his mouthful of teeth.

Sometime in February, Samuel was the only pupil in his school bus, about to drop him off at home in Ikorodu. However, his bus was hijacked by kidnappers (working for a ritualist ring), who then tried to make away with him on a bike. While being trailed, they tried to remove their priced item from Samuel – his left eye. This, they tried to do with their mouth, as the bike was still on the move.

This short movie scene, as it seems on your mind, is true, and has left Samuel in this state:

After surgery at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the wound got infected, and doctors are scared of touching the eye, so as not to lose it. Now, he has to get plastic surgery to fix the lid, and correct some nerves that has stop working.

Samuel Adedigba just turned 6 in June, and as at 10:25am when I called his uncle, the eye was already secreting fluid, and they couldn’t access specialists, as doctors were reportedly on strike.

Samuel needs N5,000,000 (5 million naira only) for plastic surgery in the United States of America. The parents have been able to offset the bills for his initial surgery at LUTH via extended family. However, they are out of sorts regards raising the money for the plastic surgery.

 Please find below, the doctor's report:

The family and I thus, pleading on well-meaning Nigerians to support Samuel to save his eye, by donating your widow’s mite to cover for the cost of his surgery. Kindly pay your few hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands to his mother’s (current) account:

Adedigba, Adeyinka Modupe, Guaranty Trust Bank - 0130159185

If you will like to speak with the mother, and offer moral support too:

08178101276 | 08055354578 | 07092277438

He’s not been able to see doctors at LUTH today and the mother is a bundle of tears already. While they try to get attention to get the eye cleaned, and fluid removed, kindly put him in your prayers too, even as you dip in to your little and plenty, to support the family in saving Samuel’s eye.

Samuel cannot thank you well enough. The parents are too emotional to say anything, and I’m too angst at the ritualists, to be able to thank you well. But our deepest prayers, are that God in his infinite mercies, would continue to bless you, and replenish you bountifully.

A Letter To My Father

Dear Dad,

I know you are doing very well.

Lois Kolo loves the fact that she sees you more often now, not like those days when work took you away from us for longer.

Sadly, it's not husband's day today, but Father's Day. To compound issues, I'm not home, so we can't play FIFA 2012 on my laptop, watch FIFA Confederations Cup together, or throw banters at our football teams (I hate it that you left Liverpool for Arsenal).

You've tried to be a very good father in our lives, but all we ever wanted was a father. A figure who's life reflects upon our paths as we grow. How can I forget the forced siestas, and the 10pm curfew, so that we don't stay out late, even though I was the only one breaking the rule.

You made our house Kolo, Kolo & Co., like a drama/comedy ensemble. Don't worry, even though I feel you gagged me in some of my poetry, you did a good job, and I love you all the way.

I couldn't have asked for more of a father, except that I turned out an Oliver Twist. Thus, like you always TOLD us to be our best always, I'd arrogantly throw the challenge back at you daddy, to be the best father you can be, to us. We dissipate a lot of energy loving you, and all we want back, is your love. Nothing more.

Today, we Evelyn Fatima Kolo, Kolo Kenneth Kadiri, Jesse Kolo and Rachel Kolo celebrate you. And lest you forget, Kolo Gloria is the extra you asked for. We love you, and pray that you stay around for longer and see all your grandchildren.

Happy Father's Day!