THE GAP

Getting a whopping Five Hundred Million as part of his inheritance did not come as a surprise to Kingu at all, in fact he expected more but the birth of the last male child of the third wife, who came in just two years ago before their father was bedridden by the stroke that eventually took his life, changed the whole figure for the whole family members (he calculated at least Eight Hundred Million in cash, four to five houses, at least three cars and other landed properties for himself alone). But as it is, he had to settle for what he got, after all, but for the single fact that he is one among the "lucky few" to come from the loins of "Ogolo" (as his father was fondly called by friends and all who knew him), he could possibly be like Shiran his fathers driver. The fifteen male children started the tussle for the control of the key resources and the companies their father (a man that only two or three of them know intimately) left behind immediately after the days of mourning elapsed. 

The first wife, being his mother, took the lion share by virtue of having Eight 'legitimate' and oldest kids, the other two wives got fair shares based on same ratings while the three concubines who came with their children (who were undeniably Ogolos' because all his seeds have his big-flat nose trademark) had to take what was given them because they had no right of contest as stated by tradition because the late "Warrior King of Ikurunfi" bears no allegiance to any religion, as he is a staunch believer in culture and tradition. Thus, the dust settled and since his death five years ago, not a single fracas has been heard in the once buzzy compound because only the first wife stayed back as she is the only one from the same locality with her late husband and most of her stakes are within the community.

A month ago, Tutti got a call from her old boyfriend who abandoned her after the death of his father because she was no longer his "class and level" requesting for a loan of "even if I can get One hundred thousand which I will pay back next week, you know I have more than that just that I am low on cash now". She sat mouth ajar in the middle of her boutique wondering if she was dreaming or actually receiving this call from Kingu, the same guy everyone expected her to have had at least two kids for by now, the same Kingu she thought was going to boost her business maybe she'll be flying Dubai, UK or USA on business, the same Kingu that called her to break up on the phone only after he was out of town to squander his fortune. At first she thought he was mocking her, then the second and third call came, the latest sounding more desperate than the previous. What could have happened she thought and in confusion she rushed to her advisor.

As I was pondering on this story, it occurred to me that we have a lot of this same case everywhere in our society. Literally, metaphorically and figuratively.  We have elders who have either refused to teach the young generation the intricacies and dignity of labor, integrity, patience and steadfastness or have raised a generation who are not interested in the enterprise of the elderly thereby creating a huge gap both on creativity, technique and productivity. You see the generations dying with their wealth of experience, knowledge and wisdom without imparting or leaving behind any portion except the rewards of those virtues and those rewards they learn't and cultivated over the years. They even seldom teach that without those virtues, the rewards will not stand the test of time because they are mere products of someone's efforts, sweats and labor, and I personally believe the rewards die with the laborer hence the short life span of most possessions left behind by those who labored for them.

Bearing in mind that each generation brings its own resources, people, wisdom and knowledge, it will do the new generation much more good if the good things of the former are kept, maintained/sustained so as to not only bridge the gap but set a continuity especially in our private lives first then the Government. If the other parts of the world don't see the need for the ancient landmarks being properly positioned and maintained, Nigeria and Africa cannot go into the league of 'Developed Nations' if this very gap is not bridged.

N.B: The above story is fiction and is in no way related to anyone leaving or dead. 

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