What in the world would lead a man
who many thought had everything going for him, commit suicide?
When I heard that story many things
ran through my head and I remembered Tee Billz and the story that made the
rounds many weeks back on how he wanted to commit suicide but for the timely
intervention of some friends who held him back from jumping over a reported
bridge.
When many heard Tee Billz’s attempt
at suicide, a lot of debated statements were heard and read on all the social
media platforms. Some people attributed Tee Billz action to ‘depression’ but
many others laughed it off saying ‘depression’ was not a “Nigerian thing”. Sadly
the reality is here and so many eyes are beginning to get “opened” that depression
is indeed not just an ‘oyibo’ thing but Nigerian and the world at large thing.
Many attempts at suicide are made on
a daily basis all over the world. Nevertheless, it has become common and on the
upsurge in Nigeria today. Thanks to not just the harsh economic weather, the
lack of love for brethren and the many ‘show-offs’ on social media are also
contributive factors to the upsurge as not many people can withstand the
pressures.
Just yesterday, one of such attempts
however fell through as a promising young man with a close knit family and
according to very reliable sources has a good financial backing given his
family background. He was said to be a happy, jolly fellow who was always the
joy of every party and had nearly everything going for him including a good
paying job, social life, family and more. As a matter of fact, he was envied by
many. By the way, wife has a great paying job as well. Not even a health issue.
So the mind-boggling question is “why
did he commit suicide”?
A close friend of mine who is also a
friend to the ‘suicide guy’ narrated that he was actually in his (my friend’s)
office the day before but had to leave him behind in the office to meet up with
an appointment even as the ‘suicide guy’ stayed back given that they both work
in the same establishment but different units. Unknown to my friend that was
the last time he would see his friend and colleague alive.
The confusing part of the story is
that he never gave anyone the impression that he was depressed or going through
a ‘thingy’ that needed sorting out by suicide neither was there any inkling to
shooting himself. Worse of all, he had
to go shoot himself in front of a Priest! Why? Nobody knows as at the time of
writing this. However, the guy must have had a good reason, known only to him,
for doing it in
front of a Priest. Nonetheless,
there is no justification for shooting himself let alone in front of a Priest.
Even though many stories are buzzing
in the air about the reasons behind the suicide, I still don’t think ‘suicide’ was
the only way out. Even if he owed the Central bank of Nigeria millions, still
was no ‘good enough’ reason to commit suicide. This life is sweet inspite of
the numerous challenges jare!
Objectively, one would expect that
the young man should have thought about his wife, daughter and some beloved
members of his close and extended family who look up to him for one thing or
the other, tangible or intangible. If he thought about all that and more, he
would have sought out other means of getting out of whatever trouble he found
himself and yet still be alive today.
Well the guy thought otherwise.
So my sincere prayers go out to his
family and also that God would grant him eternal rest.
I decided to with-hold his real
names here because the family is still trying to get their heads around this ‘real-life’
drama put together by their son, husband and father. And for all those who may
be doubting the credibility of this story, please don’t kid yourself that ‘it’s
a script out of a movie’ because it is not but as real as the pain you’d feel if
you pinched your nose hard right now.
I wish it was a movie as well but it’s
not as it happened right here in Lagos.
And to everyone out there going through
one challenge or the other. Please do not make suicide an option to the list of
means-of-getting-out.
There’s still a lot to live for.
