Opinion: Mrs Abimbola Fashola Being Responsible is an Habit By Wale Olaleye

Soon after I put up a post yesterday on the passing of one of the people that allegedly attended Justice Oguntade’s birthday in London, I got a call from a very prominent Nigerian.

Apparently, he too was at the birhday ceremony and wanted to verify the fact of my post, which I answered in the affirmative.

Then, he became worried, not for himself because as far as he was concerned, he’d survived the first 14 days observation period without any symptoms but because of the many others especially, given the careless disposition of a majority of those at the birthday.

He recalled that for an event graced by over 500 people at a time of a pandemic of this magnitude and drawn from all over the world, it was only okay to worry.

His main concern stemmed from how guests shook hands, hugged, pecked and….no, sorry, nobody smooched. That was just some weird distraction playing up in my head. E ma binu. Sorry.

Anyway, he posited that with such a careless habit of many people, he was worried how many of them would have been infected and who in turn would have infected others.

But he was quick to point out someone, who, by way of personal discipline, chose to be different.

“I remember your brother’s wife refused to get close to anyone or shake hands. In fact, she was serious about it, so much that some people felt she was too dramatic about it.”

I asked which of my brothers and he said, “Fashola, I mean Dame Abimbola”.

Thus, last night before I slept, I called BRF, first to see how he was doing and also shared the story with him.

“Yes, she maintained a reasonable distance and refused to get carried away. Besides, she’s locked herself up in isolation since she came back for over 14 days and she is doing fine so far”, he said, confirming the story.

How more responsible can anyone get at a time like this? I’m impressed, beyond words. Examples of personal discipline like this are instructive at this time.

The bible in Deuteronomy 30:19, says, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

Please, the choices before us now is one of life and death, to be determined largely by personal discipline and responsibility. Your indiscretion could put a thousand people in trouble. Choose to be responsible and disciplined, please.

The rule of the game is simple. Stay safe by staying at home, that way, you’re saving several others. E se o.

This too shall pass. Amen🙏