The best way to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day

 

St. Valentine’s Day otherwise known as Lovers Day has come a long way. According to History.com, the Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realising the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Still others insist that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl—possibly his jailor’s daughter—who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.

Nigerians are not left out of celebration of Valentine’s Day which is observed annually every February 14. Many young people choose to ‘hang out’ with loved ones, exchanging gifts and indulging in ‘sexcapades’. Old couples and friends are not left out, they likewise go out to have nice time, perhaps candle lit dinner, exchange of gifts and renewal of marital vows, or friendship. Red is colour of celebration today and you’re likely going to see many people dress with a touch of red to mark the day. For me, though St. Valentine’s Day is worthy of being celebrated; unfortunately, the whole essence has been forgotten and replaced with carnality.

Do we show love or kindness to one another again? It’s now a rarity. In our rat race to acquire wealth, ill-gotten wealth, and relish in luxurious lifestyle, the society has become atomised, caring less for one another. Political leaders care less for the security and welfare of citizens though it is a prerequisite which is constitutionally endorsed in section 14(2)(b) of our grundnorm. What today’s crop of political leaders indulge and luxuriate in is personal aggrandisement. They ask us to tighten our belts while they loosen theirs, due to their pot bellies. If our leaders love us, they wouldn’t steal from us. They wouldn’t plunder and pilfer out commonwealth. A former Accountant General of the Federation was alleged to embezzle over N100 billion. Is that act of love?

Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation formerly Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development   was established in August 2019 to cater to the needs of millions of vulnerable people. The poor and the needy. Unfortunately, the managers of the multibillion naira budgets of the ministry resort to helping themselves rather than the vulnerable Nigerians. Billions of naira was looted and mismanaged by the ministers and coordinators of the ministry. Thanks to the anticorruption agencies, some of the embezzled funds have been recovered. In the latest Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, Nigeria scored 25 over 100 and ranked 145 out of 180 countries surveyed in 2023. Again, I ask, is corruption how to show love and care to the needy? But for corruption, Nigeria should have been a developed country in the league of Europe and America.

God rest the beautiful soul of Dr. Herbert Wigwe who died with his wife and son in a copter crash in US last week. News has it that he just moved into a multi-billion edifice in Queens Drive in Ikoyi, Lagos. An estimate says the residence is worth N10 billion. Wow! An individual living in such opulence in the midst of grinding penury around him? He died at the age of 58. Sad! How I wish much of that resources spent on that mansion was deployed to charity? Perhaps he does that without media hype while alive. The appeal here is for the wealthy and rich people among us to do more for the poor and the needy. We need more Foundations such as Rockefeller, MacArthur, T.Y Danjuma and Dangote to mention but a few. The world needs more acts of charity. There is too much misery and deprivation around us for few individuals to relish in stinking opulence. Each time I see people showing off at parties, ‘spraying’ cash on the celebrants and musicians as is our culture here, I ask myself if there are no poor persons in the families and clans of these super rich spendthrift guys whom they can help lift out of poverty and penury. 

Our religious worship centres, be it churches, mosques and shrines should have a rethink and engage more in welfare and charity. This is not the time to compete in planting churches that church members are taxed to build. Church membership is dwindling as congregants become disillusioned about the whole essence of Christianity. In many churches, offering and tithes are emphasized. The General Overseer lives in opulence while church members are emaciated. Church leaders who are acquiring private jets in the name of global evangelism would do well to rethink and spare more resources to assist the poor in their midst. Nothing is wrong if religious worship centres build world class schools and hospitals and offered free or highly subsidized services to members and non-members of their centres. That’s a better act of kindness and love than inordinate acquisition of material wealth for the comfort and convenience of the leaders of the religious worship centres.

I have argued on some radio and television programmes that Nigeria labour unions are not established to carry out ‘aluta’ or protests alone. They collect check off dues and this runs into millions or billions of naira. Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress as well as their affiliate unions can also establish schools, hospitals, and provide other social amenities that will positively impact societies. These services can be offered free or at highly subsidized amount either to their members or the generality of the society.

Lest someone says it is easier said than done, at a personal level, I am committed to sponsorship of education of not only my children but also those of my siblings and other extended family members. I have monthly support to few uncles, cousins and friends despite my lean resources. If all of us spare resources to assist others, it will make life better for all. And for those who do not have money, you can at least check on loved ones either physically or virtually and offer words of encouragement and emotional support.

In April 1985 some American musicians came together to sing a song titled “We are the world” to raise money for charity. The first verse of the song was sang by Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Kenny Rogers and it  goes thus:

“There comes a time when we heed a certain call

When the world must come together as one

There are people dying

Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life

The greatest gift of all”

Happy Valentine’s Day folks, let’s show acts of kindness and love today because,” We are the World”.