Senior Citizens

It is a serious issue how African senior citizens end up their lives. These are people who have spent the productive part of their years serving their father land. Even those who are not educated, has contributed their wealth of knowledge to the development of mankind. African society, Nigerians as a case study needs to disabuse their mind from the belief that their aged ones just need to be fed and die in the village or family house.

As much as we enjoy what life has to offer, so also our elderly ones should not be sidelined. Many of them even in advanced countries are confined to an apartment to live a solitary life which they do not deserve. From statistics, it has been noted one of the need of these senior citizens anywhere in the world is companionship. This gives them a sense of relevance. But this they lack because their children do not find their contributions and views to issues interesting.

Their weaknesses and all that is associated with their old age their children cannot tolerate let alone relatives. In developing countries, they don’t have access to anything free not even health treatment. Bad as it may seems, there is no changes visible as the society does not see it as a serious issue. All diseases associated with old age kill these legends faster because of the erroneous believe that they are bound to suffer it. This only means they are being sent to their graves earlier than God’s plan.

The governments of these developing counties are not helping matters in anyway as these senior citizens gratuity, benefits and pensions are not paid after many years of meritorious service. It is shameful to see old men and women stage riot and disturb the flow of vehicles all because they want to collect what is due to them. The most sadden of this matter is that some of them die in the exercise. What a disastrous way to end ones life in a country where politicians embezzle billions of money and their salaries are paid before time.

Even those who have never worked with any government establishment have nothing of the government to enjoy. As no facilities or infrastructure do reach them. If Kings and other traditional rulers can be owed salaries, then the retirees has no end to their struggles. Today, senior citizens are not exempted from these sufferings as no provision is made for them and the one they made for themselves are not within their reach. All hands must be on  desk to correct this problems as surely we all are going to be old one day and may come to experience what we fail to correct.

                                     obaajidara@yahoo.com