visited Sadiq Usman, the 4 year-old boy whose eyes was
plucked out by suspected ritualists. The Airtel boss narrates
his experience after the cut and also revealed that plans are
being finalized to establish a foundation in Sadiq Usman's
name.
Emeka Oparah writes below..
Even the strongest of men with the strangest of hearts will
sober up on meeting Sadiq Usman, the 4-year-old angel,
whose eyes were plucked by suspected ritualists in Zaria last
month.
Well, that was my situation as I arrived the rusty village of
Bula area of Jushi in the outskirts of Zaria, Kaduna State,
where little Sadiq lives with his parents, a younger sister and
an older brother, who I'm told, had refused leave the hospital
insisting the doctors took one of his eyes to replace his
brother's. Touching.
Even before I met him face to face, my courage failed me
and tears, anger, sadness, name it, overwhelmed me. He's
been home for two weeks since his discharge from ABU
Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Now, I wish I was able to meet Mrs.
Ibru, his nurse at the hospital, who kept giving me update on
his progress during those frightful early days of his ordeal.
Such a very gracious woman!
My brother and friend, Mallam Bello Moh'd Abdullahi
Nasarawa (I call him Mallam Abdullahi), who first brought
Sadiq's plight to public attention, was obviously stronger than
me, may be because he's visited Sadiq while he was in
hospital. A man of steel, though, with a warm and genial
disposition.
Anyway, it took a while, but eventually Sadiq warmed up to
me with the help of his father, Usman Isah Bebeji, who's
become a sort of security guard for the justifiably frightened
kid, since his horrible experience.
Playful, cheerful, gentle, funny-even with his eyes still
bandaged-Sadiq is a sweet boy. He loved my beard, and kept
rubbing it. He didn't like the crowd that gathered around us
and so clung to me…and I clung to him, soaked in my own
tears. Chai! I kept imagining what I would have done, if it
was my only son, Tito, who was so brutally dealt with. God
forbid, but I doubt that I would have survived it.
Well, what else can I say. I'm so glad I made it to Zaria to
see my boy. I'm glad I met him the way I met him:happy,
hopeful and adapting to his new condition. I, however,
couldn't stop cursing his attackers under my breathe that
almighty God deal them a bad hand. They may have
succeeded in stealing his eyes, but they can't take away
Sadiq Abubakar's dreams and vision. And that was the
essence of my visit.
Mallam Abdullahi and I have taken it upon ourselves to make
Sadiq our own and Nigeria's Malala-a future Children's Rights
Advocate! That he didn't lose his life in the course of the
evil attack testifies to God's abiding love and certainly a
grand plan to take the otherwise unknown Sadiq to global
limelight and acclaim. He still needs expert medical attention
and now must be sent to some of the best schools, where
his condition will not be a limitation.
The government of Kaduna State, ably led by Mallam Nasir
El-Rufai, has already pledged a scholarship to university
level. The Emir of Zauzau has visited and made promises
too. Other kind-hearted Nigerians have pledged support and
some have even given some cash. Now, we want to bring
these all together. The Sadiq Usman Foundation will be an
everlasting platform for the education, medical treatment,
local and international exposure and humanitarian activities.
Between Mallam Abdullahi and me, and with the support of
his father and the special grace of God, effort is in high gear
to finalize the establishment of the Sadiq Usman Foundation
(SUF). So, for those who have ideas, finance and other forms
of support, please get prepared for the launch of the
foundation. You will be apprised of the details and how to
make your contributions. God bless you as you make up your
mind about how and what to give.
By the way, I took time to retrace the footsteps of Sadiq and
those who tried to mess up his life that fateful day (they
have failed woefully, though), and I found that it happened
within a 500 meter radius, close to his home. Vigilance is
absolutely crucial nowadays, with the hardship being
experienced by some of us. Desperate people are resorting
to dubious, luciferous means of getting by. Cases of
kidnapping, ritual killing and such like are rampant. In Zaria, I
was told such are on the increase. Let's keep an eye on our
kids, especially, because they are vulnerable.
May almighty God arrest the perpetrators of this heinous
crime against a poor, innocent child and turn his pains into
mighty gains as he grows in knowledge, wisdom and good
health. Sadiq will be a source of pride and happiness to his
family and Nigeria. I look forward to the day he will make his
first appearance at our National Assembly to talk about Child
Rights as an advocate and from there we shall see him at
the United Nations.
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