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Author: Enyia Eugene A
Posted to the web: 1/7/2006 4:59:32 PM

At youth, our prayers is to become old with gray hairs one day. It is a thing of joy for children to see their aged parents beside them in time of ceremonies like wedding, coronations, swearing in for political positions etc. Parents are always earger to witness the growth of their children both physically and in terms of position in the society. Many people try as much as they can to acquire wealth, train their children, and preper eventually for old age. This is because during this peiod, the bones are no longer strong to engage in any physical activity neither is the brain actiive to carry out intellectual assignments. Therefore, the old age is a period of total rest until death strikes.Nevertheless, man proposes, and forces beyond his powers disposes. Hence, many people achieve less before the onset of old age. Many have trained their children, acquired wealth but due to such deseasters like early death of children through auto accidents and such related problems lead to their hopelessness in time of old age.In many countries, those who do not have children to take care of them during old age are taken care of by the government of that country. Rest Houses are built in different locations and appropriate body created to take care of them. They do not lack nor are they neglected . They are not embarresed neither are they allowed to think about what they will eat or wear. In such countries, life for old people is a thing of joy.Contrary to this, the situation in Nigeria is painful, regret, shame, abandonment and other associated embarressment for the old who have fallen victim of natural deasesters as enunciated above. In Nigeria , the old who have no children are neglected, ababdoned and even those who served in governments for over thirty five years before retirement face these urgly situations. In all the state in Nigeria, the sorry situation of old men and women are the same. it is more shameful in Abuja FCT where many retired men can not have a home neither do they have food to eat. The poor living of the old who do not have family to fall back on is quite alarming.It is time for our government to set up a Commision for the aged. A commision that will build Old men Rest House across the country. A commission to resettle all old men who for one reason or the other can not fend for themselves . It is painful to see a great capital like Abuja flooded with huts filled up in areas like Kugbo housing old men who have no place to live.It is my wish that old men and women will have a cause to laugh in Nigeria one day because the government of the Federal Republic will remember them .