Eleven years ago in the city of Kaduna, Nigeria, a dreadful religious violence engulfed the entire state. Various religious bodies left the town in search of safe heaven, even Pastors and Imams flew when the crisis grew beyond comprehension.
But there were two couples who stayed behind, in spite of the fear, agony and hatred that filled the air, they were not moved. They stayed back to help the injured, they stayed back to preach peace, they stayed back to guide the misguided youths. Yes they were Christians, and truly they had a church but they made their home for all. Irrespective of the religion dispute, they gave the last moments of their lives to help when it mattered most.
Painfully they couldn’t live for long; death was coming so fast, yet still they didn’t run. Their Church was burnt, their property scattered and finally they were burnt alive. These couples were Mr Austine and Mrs Josephine Moses.
The parents of the Nigerian Super Eagle’s soccer guru, Victor Moses. Young Moses narrowly escaped death; he was out playing soccer, when the cold hand of death took his parents away. He was just eleven years old and with so much excitement from the football pitch he came back home only to meet his parents in ashes. He was taken to London by his uncle the next week after the incident to seek asylum. Victor couldn’t even get time to take the any pictures of his parents with him, due to the violence. He found himself in Croydon, England knowing nobody and having been taken in by a foster family.
He didn’t give up; he left the memory of his past behind him at such a tender age and started playing football again. He was spotted by Crystal Palace who got him into a top local school. With his excellent display of skills he made the English under 16, 17, 19 and 21 teams scoring eleven goals for England. From there he moved to Wigan Athletics and now Chelsea.
On Sunday February 10th 2013, Victor Moses will be standing up in line singing the national anthem of the country that failed him when it mattered most, he would be putting all his effort to bring smiles to the faces of over 160 million Nigerians who knew nothing about the pain he went through to survive. He will do his best to bring to a country that couldn’t defend his parents, a nations cup it last touched nineteen years ago.
This is the story of a man who was betrayed by his country but yet couldn’t betray his country. This is a story of man who lost all due to the inability of some groups of people to live together. This is the story of a man who has tasted the bitter pill left by our various religious violence and inability to tolerate one another.
Just like Victor, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have lost their lives, future and hope just because two groups couldn’t say, I am sorry first. Hopes has been shattered, dreams killed and futures wasted due to our bizarre hunger for each other’s blood.
Yes the government has failed, but should we fail our country? The government steals our funds and still turns us against one another, yet we can’t be reasonable and think for once. Every part of our lives is dominated by greed, hatred, selfishness and nepotism. When we all could join hands together to make a better future.
Let’s take a clue from Moses, although I am not sure if I could do that. But it is a lesson, a very big one from a man who is drunk with patriotism, a man who sees himself as the pillar of his country, a man who above all things remembers Nigeria and not the federal government of Nigeria.
Yes he came back, in spite of all this. He came back, not to contest for political position or seek for appointment. He came back, not for revenge but for love. He doesn’t need a national honour, he doesn’t need to join the leagues of unpatriotic thieves who have dominated our national medallion. In our hearts he is a hero, in our soul he is hope. Let all Nigerians remember him, for he took nothing from us but this time he is given to us all.
Adekoya Boladale is a political scientist and wrote via adekoyaboladale@gmail.com
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We give praise to God for everything. If you read the story of Joseph the dreamer in the bible you would see he went thru hardship to fulfil his destiny by God. He was sold to slavery by his brother,went to prison and so much more. The point is everything happens for a reason. If his parents had not died he might have been in Nigeria by now . He might not have been discovered here. God gives and takes. What happened to his parents was tragic but I believe he was a destined child and nothing was going to stop him from his destiny. The country did not betray him, but people who have died while they are still alive. Those lacking the word of God. He is one to be proud of so let's leave this report. God has blessed him and paid him for the pain he endured.
ReplyDeleteGood talk. Let us love ourselves and stop stealing and killing each other.
ReplyDeleteHmnn...I am touched.He is a true patriot!
ReplyDeleteOlolade
Nice comment...but the problem is that if they find his has nobody the will plan to eliminate him..bad government wicked country
ReplyDeleteWow!!!! Only a man of the Spirit can do do this. Love, indeed cover a multitude of sin .
ReplyDeleteNice research work Ade,God who sees in secret will reward d young man. For dos evil blood testy monsters,hell fire is waiting for dem all n their sponsors.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to find people like moses that despite the pain he went through, he still remain loyal to his country. I think is a lesson for us all to emulate. Thanks
ReplyDeleteMoses case is one in a million. Many like him never survive. I thank God for him. Soon when God's kingdom start to rule all over the world evil doers will be brought to justice.
ReplyDeleteHow come nobody wrote abt Moses' state of origin?Which part of the country is Moses from?
ReplyDeleteI felt like crying, this type of heart is very scarce. He deserves a national award.
ReplyDeleteBoladale, I am in tears as I read your support for your brother Moses. I wish 10% of Nigerians can see life in your pespective, and preach for LOVE and FORGIVENESS for one another, and taken quene from Victor's examplary life. Victor is a TRUE SON of his PARENTS. The Love his parents believed and died for, is what he is giving. We can ONLY give what we have. if ONLY NIGERIANS can embrace LOVE as the Victor took after his Parents,Nigeria will be a better place for all of us. I pray for GOD's help. Amen.
ReplyDeleteIts all well and good for everyone to revel in the wonderful story of Victor Moses the Patriot! However, the saddest tragedy of it all would dawn on us all when after all said and done and the AFCON is over, will any of the murderous vandals and thier evil offsprings remember the story when misguided fundamentalist hate induced by ingrained spirit of terrorism take over their blood thirsty minds and they violently pursue their next victim? Let's not deceive ourselves, it would take much more than the story of Moses to change the mind of a sucide bomber!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 11:26am, what has his tribe/state of origin got to do with him. He is Nigerian, thats all that needs to be known.
ReplyDeletedespite d pains he had then, d love of his country was above all. He knew that God is beautiful in every situation. God bless him. I'm deeply touch.
ReplyDeletehmm...i lack word ova d countries Nigerian...VICTOR God wil bless u abondantly!
ReplyDeleteThis is the most touching story i've read on this website.
ReplyDeleteits very touching.... i pray God opens our inner mind to comprehend the implication.
I can remember a friend of mine, when he left Nigeria, he told us "I am not coming back, not for anything" This friend of mine, went to one of the best school around, the parent are averagely okay. Just because of no good job to tie down, he left thinking Nigeria failed him.
ReplyDeleteWhen i read this story about Moses, then i believe that he is not named Moses for fun....He is to lead the Super eagle out of their captivity just like the Biblical Moses. In spite of the comfort and popularity associated with playing for the English team, he chooses Nigeria....He is just a blessed child and God bless him the more...Amen.
Bode wrote from Dubai.
I read this story with tear-filled eyes. He is truly a VICTOR and a MOSES of our time. God bless him for his patriotism.
ReplyDeleteAmen to all our prayers for victor moses.He is indeed a victorous child.I am AFCON belongs to Nigeria this time,just bcos of Moses.There is no reward for good deeds other than good.Good bless Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteGod let ur will be done over this country....thats what to say
ReplyDeleteTears filled my eyes as i read this story and i'm speechless. What a large heart he has God bless him.
ReplyDeleteThis is AGAPE LOVE for his country, LOVE without Dissimulation. A PATRIOTISM. He (Moses) Deserves National Award
ReplyDeleteGod let ur well be done in the life of moses Ameh
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered about who this Victor Moses is as the tournament progressed; but I need not wonder any more-thanks to your article. He is a true Patriot! I have no doubt that his example will inspire many more to follow...because Love is the most powerful force on earth given to us by God; Love conquers all!
ReplyDeleteIt is only God that will forgive these Northern people, they have shared innocent blood, they have wasted good people of Nigeria. What else can i say it is only God that will forgive you people
ReplyDeleteThis is a touching one, I have my eyes heavy of tears already, but all i can say to the Guy who is the victor, the moses and hero of our time, is that, God will reward him adequately. These are the kinds of people who should be given national awards and not those thieves and rogs who are being honored after doing bad thing instead of being jailed and killed.(egbe eye leye n wo too) but surely the bible says,let him who is just continue to be just, he who is uujust to be unjust still and he who is wicked continue to be wicked, i come quickly and my reward is with me (not before or after me) to give to everyone according to his/her deeds. Frm a fellow patrotic naija
ReplyDeleteMoses has done his part to our great Country, what will be said about you? I hope our leaders do read things like this and if not, you children or relations of those at the helms of affairs in this Country should please furnish them with this story otherwise posterity will not fogive you, you, yes you......Ay
ReplyDeleteMay God guid and protect u against enemies since He hv given u d heart to remember ur country and nw ur hv making us proud by lifting d AFCON 4 our country may God bless u abundantly and abundantly Amen and Amen.
ReplyDeleteDis is a terrible n horrific lie abt victor mosses. Moses parents r still alife, n dey whr nver in kaduna,as a pure edo man his parents had lived n still livin in edo state capital benin city.dey whr nver involved in any of such horrible story.
ReplyDeletehmmm,from grass to grace,God never sleep nor slumber.
ReplyDelete