Yesterday as I sat in my
office, I happened to take a look outside to see the people walking by from one
office to the other. A particular crowd struck me.
I work in the court and it
is not strange to see young men dressed in green shorts and shirts (or women in
green dresses) walking by; inmates of the Nigerian Prisons, I mean.
What struck me though was how
peculiar this crowd was. They were a group of young men, about 15 in number,
aged between 21 and 33. They were escorted by the prison warders, and a number
of middle aged women (clad in wrappers, blouses and headties). It became clear
to me that these women are the mothers of the young men who obviously were
charged for a criminal offence. I did not see anyone who could pass for the
fathers of these young men.
Now I’m not trying to
compare mothers and fathers; by no means. What struck me was the commitment of
these women to their sons. They were not ashamed to walk with their sons even
though so many “wondering” eyes must have been on them. Of course society
judges you once you’re seen in that green outfit…. But these mothers did not
mind. They walked with their sons, talking to them and encouraging them.
Just last week, we
celebrated yet another mothers’ day and many people made comments asking why there
are so many mothers’ day celebrations. My view? We do not even celebrate our
mothers enough.
A mother generally will stay
committed to her child, no matter how bad or good that child is. If the child
is a menace, she will cry and pray that the child “receives sense” and changes
from those bad ways. She will scold, flog, and do anything to change that child;
and if the child is good, she will strive to make the child better.
As I looked at the young
men, as they were escorted back to the vehicle that brought them to court, and
as I looked at the mothers, I knew that if it were possible, they would take
the place of their sons.
That is the power of “Mother”;
and that is why most people will testify that their mothers are the best in the
whole wide world.
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