To One Living And To Other Dead… Happy Birthday
Today’s my son’s birthday, the very first and the strength of my youth. He clocked 9 today. I was happy for today; he was happy too looking towards today.
However, my happiness was cut short by the sad news of the alleged gruesome murder of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr by an alleged group of cult students in his school. My son, Uchechukwu Divine Ochei and late Sylvester Oromoni Jnr share the same birthday. I didn’t know until his dad told me over the phone.
Sylvester Oromoni Snr., Chairman, Delta State Taskforce On Environment is a man I have come to know and cherish – simple, soft talker, hard looking but lovely, astute politician, consummate businessman and patriotic Nigerian. Like every futuristic father, he had sent his love son to the Dowen College at Lekki in Lagos, to study. Little did he know that he had only sent his son to a conclave of heartless deadly junior cultists.
The little Oromoni like every innocent child that faces bullies at school, was overwhelmed by fear that he kept mute even in the midst of terror. He was threatened to join a cult group by his seniors, he refused and he was forced. He was not only beaten and all manners of unimaginable things done to him, he was forced to drink poisonous substance.
All these happened in a well known prestigious private school and the management could only claim he sustained injuries while playing football. What is the size of the school’s football pitch and was he practicing for the World Cup? Only the school owners can answer to these questions at the appropriate time.
They left the family to feel the pain of a dying love son. He went to school hale and hearty; but was brought back to the parents horribly disjointed and violated. What a world!
I have no strength to write to wish my son a happy birthday today. I lost my strength for sweet words for my very diokpa of the others in the house. Honestly, there is no free word to paint his day and make it colourful for him.
But I will always find strength to dedicate lengths of my dirge to the innocent and naive Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. May be if he was not unjustly cut down, I may have one day seen him. The father is a close friend and like a father too. We were already grooming a relationship that could later connect families. And it would have been a fun one being that he shares an annual event (birth anniversary) with my son. Twelve and nine could have made a good match in friendship.
To you my boy Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, may your killers receive the bitter taste of their own pills. He who kills by the sword must surely die by the sword, age not withstanding. When I heard your dad cried over the phone while narrating the ordeal you went through to me, I too cried. I felt the pain of a father, not just any how father but a responsible and well cherished father. A father does not rate his love for his children, but I was made to understand that your father loved you so much. He did, to the extent that he named you after his own name – Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. He never pretended over his love for you or missed any opportunity to celebrate you and show you how important you are. For this, he was ready to go to any length to give you the best. And that was how Dowen College came to his mind, but not knowing that devils had put on the human skin to separate you from his love.
God knows best. He will avenge for you because vengeance belongs to Him. All we ask is justice for Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.
Happy birthday fathers’ pets and delights. Congratulations to my son Uchechukwu Divine Ochei. And Congratulations to late Sylvester Oromoni Jnr as we await justice for you.
#Patrick Nweike Ochei
