SPECIAL FEATURE: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING: The story of Mr. John Aniobi, the blind retiree
The story of Mr. John Aniobi, the blind retiree
Mr. Aniobi worked as a school teacher in the service of Osun state for thirty-five years. He retired in 2016 on level 14 step 11. His last duty post was Iwara. Iwara is in Atakumosa West Local Government of Osun State.
At retirement, he had an ailment which resulted in blindness.
For six years, the blind retiree couldn’t make ends meet. His entitlements were not paid and being blind he couldn’t struggle for daily bread.
Poor John took to begging, chaperoned by a little girl of about eight years old. Market women and passers by looked on the ex-teacher with pity. His former students and their parents watched their former teacher begging on the streets.
This went on until one Michael Akinropo posted a short video of the begging ex-teacher on Facebook on May 31st 2022.
I ventured to ascertain the authenticity of the story by calling somebody close to Iwara.
On confirmation, yours truly immediately forwarded the video to Hon. Folorunsho Bamisayemi the Osun State Commissioner for Education. I had expected to wait about a month to remind the Honorable Commissioner.
But alas, Hon Oladoyin Bamisayemi, five days later, informed me that Mr. John Aniobi had been paid his entitlements in full.
His message to me read in part, “The man was paid his pension entitlements fully yesterday along with others. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.” Old John received a bond of 8.3 million Naira along with 161 others.
HONORABLE FOLORUNSHO OLADOYIN (BAMISAYEMI)
Osun State Commissioner for Education
My contact told me it was all dance and jubilation in the market and streets when the news broke.
According to a reliable source, the benefiting blind retiree described the development as the best thing that has ever happened to him. He said the Governor has rekindled his lost hope.
John Aniobi described the gesture as a great relief to him and his family in view of what they have passed through since he retired from active service. According to him, the payment of the arrears of his pension and gratuity in full will in no small measure go a long way for him to begin a new life of prosperity and abundance.
While praising God, Aniobi said, “As I return all the Glory to God, I also express my deepest gratitude to the State Government for making this to happen during my lifetime and I appeal to the Governor to look into others so that they too can have their entitlements.
There are lessons to learn from this.
People in position of power often are immune from certain things happening around us. It is important to speak out and make it known to them. Thank you to Mr Michael Akinropo Morakinyo who put it on Social Media.
The Commissioner for Education Honorable Folorunsho Oladoyin Bamishayemi must also be commended for taking immediate action. This is what governance should be about.
His recommendations would have been useless if the Governor didn’t give an immediate approval.
John Aniobi spoke up. He did not give up and rot away. He kept hope alive and kept struggling to survive. If he had just sat at home and pined away, he would have died a wretched man.
Nobody beyond Iwara would have known his plight.
Aniobi became the face of hope. The other 161 beneficiaries who had similar cases got attention because the government took a look at Aniobi’s case.
When you see something, say something. You might be saving not just a life, but many lives.
My gratitude goes to Mr. Michael Morakinyo and Honorable Bamishayemi.
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| Femi Ladapo (Femolad) writes from Ibadan Nigeria |
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