As is my custom whenever I go home, I went out this morning to stroll round.
As I was strolling, I noticed many fine houses being eating by weed. Grasses sprouting everywhere. Creaks on the walls.
So I asked.
They pointed out at this house and say; it belongs to De Mike, they point at another and say, it belongs to Pa Anthony. He was one on the richest in our community.
And I ask, why are their houses in ruin?
They answer with sadness; hmmm! Their children are abroad and have not been home since after their father’s burial 15 years ago. They don’t even contribute to community development projects.
But when they die, they want to be buried at home? Their friends will mobilize money for them to urgently renovate the house, grade roads leading to the country home they have abandoned.
But what is a 60 year old man still doing in township? We Labour to train our children, send them abroad only for them to abandon home.
Apart from my village, I also noticed this trend in Mbaise. Ahiazu Mbaise, is a neighboring community to mine and I was appalled to see graves abandoned, old fine cars, evidence that Daddy was a rich man, littered the compounds I visited.
But why are we wasting our productive life time in the service of a multinational company, Federal/State Civil Service and only come home to the village in a coffin? We do not bring our children home, to be one with the ancestors, so that they will always come home to pour libations for us, clean our graves, maintain the mansions we spent our youthful useful years building.
Another thing to be done, we must be careful at what age we send our children to abroad. A child should not be sent to abroad before first degree. If you must, such must be made to come home every summer.
Honestly, I remember the 1st Generation Igbo business men, whose names were “national anthem” of richness in Igbo land, immortalized by songs(Peoples Club) and wonder, where are their children who went abroad?
