Chigozie NwabunwanneLove is something apparently undefinable, it is beautiful and is strongly glued to human existence. The closest definition of love is the profound affection and care towards something, someone, or anything. For some certain groups in Christendom, a date is picked to celebrate love, friendship and admiration. It is called St. Valentine’s Day. The name comes from a clergyman who was martyred for preaching about the Christian faith on the 14th of February 269 AD thus, the name and date.
In this year 2024, the bone of contention is not the celebration of love but how we do that. From experience, we write love letters to our lovers and accept in return. We also prepare the favorite meal of our lovers to welcome them home.
It’s quite evident that there is nothing to celebrate this month in our beloved nation, Nigeria.
What is there to celebrate? The inflation? The food scarcity?
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With a bag of rice close to N70,000 and minimum wage not up to N50,000. One tends to question the essence of the celebration of love in our country. It’s a known fact that many Nigerian families cannot afford to eat adequately this month. Even the Nigerian celebration diet, rice and stew, now cost so much to prepare, minding less about our children’s favorite meal, noodles, and pasta whose prices have gone as high as the Kilimanjaro.
The Governments at different levels are also doing there possible best to show the populace love by gaging them through the regulation of social media.
As you walk down the market today to buy foodstuff for your Valentine’s Day meal, as you go to buy a beautiful love card for your beautiful or handsome lover, endeavor to remember that there are beggars in the streets, orphans in the orphanages to show love; families that are starving; people displaced from their homes because of wars caused by the absurdity of world politics; people who cannot express themselves and most especially, yourself. Show love to all and always understand that there is no specific day, month, or year to celebrate love because every day of your life is worth celebrating.
As you put on that fancy, beautiful and expensive red attire, touch your chest and pledge to love your fellow human, your country, your planet and your God.
Happy Valentine’s day!
