alexzanda's o.p.i.

WHY NOT CALL OUR FRIEND?

There's a disturbing existence in my country Nigeria that breeds hypocrisy in the use of the word "FRIEND."

A radio station in Lagos disrupted its regular programme, yesterday evening, to announce an eye witness report of an on-going robbery at a flyover bridge between Lagos Island and Funso Williams Avenue. The announcer cautioned road users of the incident and hoped that the proper authorities would be alerted by the announcement. Whether the station was going to call the police about the incident, or not, it was not clear.

This stirred some disturbing interest in me.

How is it when things like this happen, no one wants to call the most publicized "friends" of the people?

At the point of incidents that require assistance, it has been told that people with mobile phones, scroll through their contacts to call family members or friends. But why are people not known to call the police? And please, when I talk about people, I mean the everyday, ordinary people on the streets.

Ask most Nigerians, and they can't tell you what the police emergency number is or any other emergency number for that matter.  Even Lagosians, with the effort of the Governor and his cabinet on security within Lagos, they don’t have the numbers for the police.  And if they do, there is the reluctance to call their numbers; a reluctance to call a “friend?”

I once heard an African proverb which goes thus:

"No matter the distance, the house of a friend is never far for frequent visits."

So the question is: why are they our friends?

For the sake of an adjournment on this matter, if they cannot be our friend in need, how are they our friends indeed?  hmm...!@#$%^&**?