The 5.5 Million Naira Birthday Gift, By Francis Nwokike

It is surprising how things can turn around and hate turn to love just by giving out money.

Could this be because there is real hunger in the land or just because we love money so much and ready to sell our birthright just for a few thousands?

It was a very busy day in the office, I got home late, took a warm bath, prepared myself dinner and tuned to Channels television.

Done with my meal, next was to read some social media updates on Nigeria presidents speech in the UN meeting.

Do you know what I saw on my timeline?

Nwanyi Afikpo (The Mula lady) was about to share N5.5M on social media.

Wow, sound very interesting.

Well, I was aware of the money cos she already gave a hint about it and that it was a gift from a donor to be shared amongst her social media followers in celebration of his 55th birthday.


She wanted to share the mula (money) last week but the attack on IPOB members by the military damped her spirit.

She wrote..

"My country people, due to what is happening to my people in Abia state now, we will postpone our parrying, gifting and mularing programs till next week. I have been saddened since I found out what is actually going on there. My spirit is very low at the moment.

5.5 MILLION NAIRA: This mula was given to me to share to you in celebration of the birthday of the donor, which will also be physically celebrated for one week between the 21st of September to 29th; in a venue to be announced later. So it's best we start the sharing from the 21st of September and end it on the 29th. Again, the giant who donated this large sum will be made known to you before I start dolling it out."

Nice right?

Sharing is loving.

Giving is even more loving.

BUT the giver should be of great concern.

God gives and so does the devil.

God gives with nothing attached but the devil gives you with one hand and collect double from you with the other.


I was so saddened when I found out whom the donor was.

Guess who of all people.

Rochas Okorocha (The Executive governor of Imo state?)

Now, that is not the real gist that changed my mood.

Ofcourse, who doesn't want free money, some few folks anyway, but am I interested in a gift from Rochas, HELL NO.

This is my main gist

Over the years, I have read condemnable comments against the Imo state governor, seen actions by his government against the good people of Imo state.

A lot of social media commenters has labeled the governor unprintable names and always saying he has never been on the side of his people and that whatever he does is for his personal gains.

Those same people are the ones dying to get hold of his money on Nwanyi Afikpo's wall.

I know this write up may cause me to get blocked by this lady that I admire her courage, good heart and overwhelming generosity but I have to say this cos if I don't, my spirit will not allow me to rest.

I'm very angry that the same governor that owes his workers, teachers and asking pensioners to take a pay cut is giving away millions in celebration of his birthday.

If he is willing to share a whooping #5.5M to people on social media, how much do you think will be expended on his friends and for his birthday proper?

I don't know the kind of leaders we have in Nigeria.

Can we ever change?

The kind of wishes the governor was receiving on Nwanyi Afikpos timeline was mind boggling.

One begins to wonder, is it the same Rochas they speak against they are cheering?

Is it that the donor has automatically become the opposite of what they say he was just because he gave them some money?

Just few weeks back, social media was full of angered individuals, writing against the killing of a young boy and others in a market demolition instructed by the same governor.

This is now the new trend of many south east governors.

Confiscating people's property and ancient markets/centres, turning it to government property then [skimmishly] sell to their families and friends in the name of development.

If he sort to develop the area, why not demolish the market and raise a more modern market for his people?

Or don't we need modern markets in the city?

Why sending them away?


The same governor few years back asked pensioners to take a percentage of there pension and sign that the government no longer owe them.

This is the same person spending millions on his birthday.

When are we ever gonna get it right in Nigeria?

In developed countries, birthdays of there leaders are celebrated for them by their people who wants to give back to there leaders for doing great things and changing their lives through there purposeful leadership.

Here, it is the other way. They take our money, intimidate us, do whatever they like with the money and doll out peanuts to their followers.

You question them, you become a target and an enemy.

I have this serious warning to the young generation.

If you continue selling your birthright, don't come on social media to cry that the government did this or that, don't come on social media and cry marginalization.

You are helping your leaders to marginalize you.

You tell them to there face things are OK and go to there back to speak against them, that's cowardice.

Speak up when you can, tell them the truth when the opportunity arise.

Reject there gifts and tell them to use it to impact your life's through infrastructure building and paying of your parents salary and allowances.

I want to give it to those that rejected the offer outrightly upon finding out whom the donor was.

They gave me hope.

Ofcourse, they need the money, but there conscience will not accept it.

We should learn to stand by the truth.

We should learn to speak up when things are wrong.

To our future.