I am not quite sure why but I only found the time to get necessary information about Saturday's building collapse which occurred in Uyo on Sunday morning.
It is really saddening that human beings had to depart in this manner on Saturday morning. Although the actual count of the deceased is not known to me, it really doesn't matter to me whether it will stand at 50, 100 or 200 at the end of the day, the loss of one life would have had the same effect. It was preventable and I'm afraid nothing will most likely be done to adequately investigate the case and people will walk away because of the peculiar status of those involved. May the souls of the departed rest in peace and may God greatly comfort their families and friends
It's nothing new for disaster to befall us in Nigeria and nothing significant gets done. There have been building collapses and security operations which led to massive loss of lives. The collapse in Lagos a few years ago which was linked to an unidentified flying object remains without any justice done as certain powerful interested individuals got involved along the way. Governor Udom seems to know Apostle Weeks who is the general overseer of the Reigners Bible Church quite well; I am not sure the former will sanction any intensive scrutiny of what led to the collapse and subsequent loss of life. That is my fear.
I'm certain many of the church members are devastated and will simply want to just move on with their lives but the truth is, that structure which collapsed doesn't look like it should have left the foundation laying stage not to talk of supporting huge metal beams. I think this must be a form of criminal activity against the state which ought to be appropriately investigated like if it was Abubakar Shekau involved.
To some, the 42years old apostle should be left alone but I'm afraid that he, alongside those responsible for planning and executing the construction should be asked serious questions so that justice can be served where indicated and future occurrences prevented.
Some have used this unfortunate event to query the God served by those who passed away for failing to rescue them while some others have rejoiced because it didn't fit into their primitive ethnoreligious settings. The truth is that those who remain alive are most likely not better or more worthy than the fallen. It's not because of what we think we possess or know so there's an urgent need to be humble and modest in the face of all these and how we live our lives in general. We are not better than all of those who died in past air crashes, terrorist attacks, ethnoreligious clashes or 'simple' sociopolitical protests. We are first humans before we are religious, racial, tribal, political or gods.
The images from Uyo are indeed gory, I don't know how people share them all over social media. It is important that a thorough investigation is done and the law applied irrespective of sentiments.
There was a plane crash the other day in Colombia which practically wiped out a football team from Brazil. The support directed towards that team since that dark day has been remarkable and I think Christian assemblies in the land should borrow from this template and show solidarity irrespective of the theological lines of separation. I'm not sure this incident from Saturday was a talking and/or prayer point in most churches especially those distant from AkwaIbom state. I think it should be.
It should not matter if disaster happens in a church, mosque, club, school, market, court or legislative chamber; as long as it's human beings with neurones and vessels involved, we all should reach out as human beings. At other moments, our reaching out could be to prevent disasters. We should not be found aiding corruption and cutting corners; we should not keep silent in the face of evil whilst waiting for another to speak for us.
May God see the families of the departed and the good AkwaIbom people through this trying period.
Amen.
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