Why do bad news travel so fast, spreading like harmattan fire? Why are people’s fingers so proficient in typing and sharing bad news than they would with good news? Why do some people crave to be the first to break bad news than goodnews? I have taken time to ruminate over it, honestly it beats my imagination. Is it our nature? Just being human?
The death of an APC Chieftain, Dr. CAIRO OJOUGOH on Wednesday 7th February 2024 was an unfortunate one, not even himself expected it. Hale and hearty, full of life, sitting in the comfort of his home, watching the Nigeria/ South Africa semi final match. He was reported dead after letting out a loud shout immediately South Africa scored their penalty kick. Was it what killed him? Certainly not!
Football does not kill, it is a beautiful game, full of excitement. Its power to take life very much deactivated. It can only give joy and happiness.
The storyline sold of him dying of cardiac arrest because of the penalty kick of South Africans sold like scarce dollars at various social media platforms. He was having BP according to source which got out of control.
That match wasn’t what killed him. What then killed him? You may ask.
Many years ago something happened which he wasn’t aware of. It was so hidden from the eyes and mind of men. Even his parents didn’t know about it. Same was applicable to many other things about his life which he equally didn’t know but inadvertently saw them happen, both the good, the bad and the urgly. Each and every one of us doesn’t know of such hidden things about our life too, always an unknown thing to mortals. Destiny! It unfolds by day. Nobody has the privilege of peeping into ones destiny to know how it would end.
Death killed him, as was destined at the beginning of time for all humans. How , where and when it will happen, very much off the radar of human knowledge. Nobody knows!
Many who had worse BP and other health related cases watched same football but neither slumped nor had heart attack.
Right from birth the date, time, and the means through which his soul would be transfigured to the maker had already been determined. Did I hear you say fatalism or determinism? I wouldn’t know. But one thing I know, undeniably too is the immutable nature of God.
He lives in eternity, his infinite mind is beyond human measures and comprehension. Only him knew that Dr. Cairo would die on the 7th of Feb 2024 during the Nigeria/ South Africa semi final match ,during the penalty kick which will make him shout loud and thereafter transfigured.
God knew, not only that much, but much more about him and us equally. Only him would say with accuracy how, where and when one would die.
Show me the blue print of how one would probably die, the circumstances, the where , the how and I would believe the storyline of the match being the cause of his death ; If the blue print one has about how he would die matches with the circumstances that surrounded his glorious exit.
No nobody knows how, where and when one will die. This means there is no evidence that would either validate or oppose the way someone dies. However it happens, believing that it is the will of God helps one to heal and brings closure fast; rather than journeying in an unending speculations of if he knew he wouldn’t have watched the match. It rather makes the death very pitiable and unconsolable.
May his gentle soul rest in peace and to the bereaved, grace to bear such a huge lose.
Dr. Cairo by human assessment lived most part of his life on the stage of partisan politics. He left his marks, raised armies of loyalists, impacted on lives and probably stepped equally on toes. The curtain of his stage has fallen. To some it fell to soon. The truth is, it will always be too soon. Even at 103 years, it will still be too soon, with its pains and emotional rumblings for the bereaved.
His time was up and the curtain of his stage fell. Did he get some standing ovation while on his life stage? Was he very artistically dramatic while he performed on the stage of life ? Cracking ribs of many with good humour? Was he a star to have watched by his fans and spectators? His time was up and he went to answer the call of his commander.
It could have been anybody. Nobody knows when, where and how. It comes, like a whirlwind, sweeping off, leaving nothing but tears on the cheek of the bereaved while the deceased becomes blank about activities here on earth
Dwelling on what killed him, what triggered what killed him etc would be some sort of emotional burden on the grieving hearts. He died when his time was up. Our concern should rather be his placement before the commander not what killed him. Pray for the peaceful repose of his soul rather.
May his gentle soul rest in peace!
You may be the next! It doesn’t come with a siren! It doesn’t honk, getting ready at all times remains the all time strategy. He has gone! His chapters closed here, to be opened before his commander for his stewardship account in eternity.
According to Elizabeth Kubler, It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we begin to live each day to the fullest as if it was the only one we had. This should be our strategy! Time ticks!!
Life is a one way street. No matter how many detours one takes none of them leads back. We continue to march prepared, since the end is unknown and can suddenly show up.
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh was born September 8th, 1959, in Ika South, Delta State, a fine distinguished personality in Nigeria politics. From the Agbor tribe, a high chief of Ndi Anioma and Agbor Kingdom. Trained as a medical doctor but played partisan politics as a career, creating amazing impact at all levels. He will surely be missed.
May his burial be peaceful! Amen!
Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com
