Spare me your bread crumbs.

The donor

Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf gives 15 sacks of rice a day to people at his home.

This picture on the BBC web site reminded me of my NYSC days in Kpaki, a dot somewhere in Niger State. This hamlet, full of the most wonderful and poorly treated people you will ever meet, had in their midst a mini god. This guy- a politician of some sort - whom I later learnt almost got to the top of his profession, was the main man in the village. While everyone else lacked – he had it all. Every morning, the early worms’ folks lined up in front of his gate for their daily handout. They never got past it, they weren’t worthy.

He fed the village (to his credit. He didn’t have to) with the same ole, same ole grub. He gave them enough to make them want to come back each day for more. I wondered why they never tried to do more for themselves. I never asked. They all appeared to be submissive and at the same time very grateful.

It was a trait I discovered was fairly common amongst my brethren up north. It is slowly becoming the ‘way’ down south.

It’s a crumbs and table story.