The Rich Do Not Need Your Gift

Posted on April 24, 2021

DON EBUBEOGU

Chief Obiaja was happy to welcome Sir Austin Udeze to his house on the eve of his planned trip to Anambra for the burial ceremony of his late mom. Sir Austin Udeze is a very busy and stupendously rich businessman man. Sacrificing his time for social visits is usually cherished by his peers. This particular visit is not different.

Sir Udeze came to excuse himself from the burial ceremony of Chief Obiaja’s mom. He came with a carton of Black Star Red wine which he bought at the cost of N52,000 from Chukwurah Onyekachi.

Sir Austin Udeze explained that he cannot attend the burial having visited Anambra twice in the last 5 weeks for other burials. He pleaded for understanding and wished Chief Obiaja well.

“I have a Peacock Nwabufo brought from Ghana the last time he visited. Let’s use it to have a taste of this new Red Wine you have recommended a couple of times”, Chief Obiaja suggested. “And do not worry, I have more wines for the burial. I don’t need to take this home”, he concluded.

Chief Obiaja arrived in Anambra the next day and met 17 cows brought to him by friends and acquaintances. He was surprised because most of his friends in Lagos don’t usually give this kind of gifts. On inquiry, he was told that the names of the donors and their addresses have been given to Obinna his cousin. It was Obinna that told him that 11 of the cows came from Onitsha while the rest are from Aba and Asaba. Non came from his wealthy friends in Lagos.

He glanced at the list and the first name he saw was Ukpaka Na Asia. Ukpaka is a trader at BridgeHead Onitsha. Chief Obiaja was shocked. Why will Ukpaka give him a cow whereas he gave Ukpaka’s father N25,000 two months ago when he buried his father (Ukpaka’s granddad). “What does Ukpaka want from me this time”, he queried.

Other names like Chyko, Barry Man, Ikonso and others are young men who are trading at Onitsha and who have no business giving him cows for his mom’s burial. He saw this as unmerited favour. They should have given these cows to the Church Catechist who buried his old parents that died 1 week apart from COVID complications 3 weeks ago.

The list contains other names (known and unknown to him). He turned again, took a look at the cow barn and frowned. He knows he doesn’t need the cows. He contracted all the foodies to Madam Big Ben who will also take care of the 4 cows needed for the foods. These unexpected ones are a complete waste of money and occupied the space left for the car park.

The burial lived up to its hype. It was a gathering of men of “timber and calibre”. Chief Obiaja is a generous man. The town respects him a lot based on the number of successful families that can trace their fortune to him. Rich men volunteered their time and offered their services throughout the burial. They ensured people were attended to with utmost respect.

Chief Obiaja refused to sit at the condolence table throughout the burial. He was more concerned about the welfare of the visitors. Making sure that food and drinks were not lacking at the nook and cranny of the house.

It was Chief Obiaja’s senior brother (Ononenyi) who was busy collecting envelopes, cow ropes and checks from people. His bread has been buttered by his Chi. The death of their mom has provided another opportunity for him to become rich again. In as much as he didn’t contribute a penny to the burial, he had it on good authority that gifts presented to the table belong to the family and not to Chief Obiaja alone. And as the head of the family, this is another opportunity of riding on the fame of Chief Obiaja to get rich again.

Twice, Ndi Umunna called Chief Obiaja to come and take care of the mountain of envelopes containing cash and checks and take note of the people bringing them. Chief Obiaja cares less about those gifts. His interest lies in taking care of the visitors and giving the mum a memorable burial.

Chief Obiaja demonstrated a high degree of CLASS CONTENTMENT by shunning the gifts and not showing any interest in who brings what. As for him, burials are not business. His mom deserves his sweat and not a “community support program”.

2 days after the burial, Obinna informed Chief Obiaja that the cows should be sold because nobody will be feeding them when he returns to Lagos. Chief Obiaja reluctantly agreed.

Most of the traders contacted to buy the cows offered N65,000 whereas the least of the cows from the donors was bought at N190,000. The biggest, which came from Okey Benz, costs him N275,000.

Chief Obiaja directed Obinna to take the proceeds from the cows to their Nnaochie, Chief Okeke who has been down with stroke.
Obinna took N160,000 from the money as consented by Chief Obiaja and gave the rest to Chief Okeke.

Emelda, the latest born again Christian in Chief Okeke’s household, objected to the use of the money and whispered to her father and siblings that Chief Obiaja is a ritualist who killed his mum and now plan to kill their father. She suggested that they take the money to her Pastor to reveal the true intentions of Chief Obiaja.

The Pastor agreed with Emelda and revealed that any man who can gift such amount of money without prompting should be feared and his money rejected. He directed them to sow the money into his ministry so that whatever evil plans Chief Obiaja have against them shall be returned to him in multiple folds.

This morning, while Chief Obiaja was enjoying Black Star with Sir Austin Udeze, he remembered the cows and was surprised Chief Okeke didn’t acknowledge the money he gave to him. It was his call to Obinna that revealed why Chief Okeke didn’t bother to call.

Sir Austin Udeze, a man of immense experience and wisdom, after listening to the lamentation of his friend advised him as follows:

1. Don’t give money to people who have an entitlement mentality like Obinna your cousin, who is idle in the village and yet cannot feed the cows.
2. Don’t give your uncles money in perpetuity. Unsolicited assistance is usually misunderstood. Help their kids to be successful enough to take care of them.
3. Don’t give people life cows during burials and other functions, they lose their values immediately after the ceremonies.
4. Live your life according to the dictates of your conscience. Don’t be influenced by what people say.

Ukpaka Na Asia is dedicating his house at Trans Nkisi tomorrow. Chief Obiaja, who was duly invited and expected to come from Lagos, has sent his best wishes with a carton of Black Star.

Ukpaka expected a life cow. The empty plot adjacent to his house was specifically cleared to serve as Cow barn. But he forgot that men like Chief Obiaja don’t give to impress and that the poor can only give fowl to each other and not a cow.