By Tawfiq Abdullah
Joseph Blankson’s story is similar to one of those epical stories from Hollywood. I must admit his altruistic act fascinates and humbles me as it does to many others. He leaves me wondering that we still have courageous and selfless men around us.
Joseph Blankson’s story is similar to one of those epical stories from Hollywood. I must admit his altruistic act fascinates and humbles me as it does to many others. He leaves me wondering that we still have courageous and selfless men around us.
Joseph Blankson was an everyday Nigerian until Saturday 4 August 2018, when the boat he was traveling in capsized. As a vigorous and adept swimmer, the 36 years old man dived into the water without taking a second thought to save the other 23 passengers traveling with him. Blackson saved 13 of the travelers, one at a time. He was about protecting the 14th person when he got drowned, giving way to fatigue and lung collapse. Other people around came to save the remaining 10 passengers that the benevolent Jo Blankson could not reach to bring out of the water safely. Nobody eventually died in this accident, except Blankson.
Since the news of this extraordinary act of love for fellow men broke, the social media have been agog. There has been a general call for a national recognition of Blankson who died while saving others and support for the family he left behind because he was the sole breadwinner for the family before he passed on.
Apart from the Nigerian public, Blankson’s story had attracted the attention of prominent Nigerians.
The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki noted Blankson’s heroic deed and twitted, “Every now and then we hear amazing stories of Nigerian heroes. Joseph Blankson gave his life to save 13 people. I salute this Nigerian hero who by his last great act, showed us, once again, that we have remarkable people across this nation. His memory will be writ in gold.”
Senator Saraki’s intention to recognize the late hero is admirable and resonates the craving of the Nigerian people.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also registered his appreciation of Blankson’s gallantry and twitted, “Joseph Blankson is a true Nigerian hero who met his tragic end in his quest to rescue others when the boat he was in capsized. He successfully saved 13 people before he got exhausted and drowned. Joseph is a reminder that all Nigerian lives matter. May he find rest among the saints.”
Vice President’s Atiku’s expression that “all Nigerian lives matter” is laudable, particularly at this time when human lives have lost value and sanctity in our country following the unprecedented scale they are being taken away with less concern from the political leadership.
Governor Nyesom Wike had swiftly responded to Blankson's tragic departure by giving employment to his wife in the civil service of Rivers State and set up an endowment fund for the children he left behind. Wike also contributed to the burial of the tragic hero.
Nothing less than this is expected from Governor Wike because the incident happened in his state and the deceased is from there.
The silence from Aso Rock is disturbing once again. I am yet to see President Buhari's public statement about Blankson's heroic feat, and there has not been any public statement from any prominent figure of the federal executive government.
Granted the president is on leave to the UK, which I do not consider a good enough reason not to sympathize with Blankson’s family, his communication team must be able to take the initiative to issue a public statement sympathizing with this poor family on behalf of the president. The omission of small acts of kindness like this does not go unnoticed in a democracy because it is regarded as a government of the people.
In a democracy, the leadership must not only celebrate with the people at important, joyous occasions but also mourn with the people during noteworthy tragic moments like Blankson's great but sad exit.
As a people, we can learn from Blankson's gallantry. We need more of Blanksons to move our country forward.
Earlier this year, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika had said to the assembly of graduating college students of Covenant University that changes in a polity are not led by a crowd but a few. She suggested that a few as 20 young committed, and purpose-driven youths can reform this country and rescue it from the abyss of hopelessness. It is youths and leaders of Blankson’s character that can deliver the change we need in this Nigeria.
Blankson acted on impulse. He did not wait to think of race, ethnicity, tribe, religion, political differences between him and the victims of the boat mishap. His action was reflexive and innate; one of a truly kind man, selfless being, and leader.
This is the kind of men and women that deserve to be in leadership at all levels of government in our country. They are those men that would have a noble purpose in government, equipped with the dexterity to rescue the people as Blankson did, and that would not mind sacrificing everything, even their lives to make sure Nigeria succeeds and gains prominence in the league of nations. These are people like Blankson, who would not mind sacrificing their lives for others to survive.
While we wait for actions from the Buhari-led federal executive council to recognize and reward Blankson, it is worthy to remember that his heroic action is a challenge to all of us as Nigerians. I sincerely hope we would not wait in vain as in the case of Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh.
Currently, our country is suffering from leadership laxities. Nigeria needs Blanksons indeed.
© Tawfiq Abdullah
Facebook: Tawfiq Ola Abdullah
Instagram: tawfiqolaabdullah
Twitter: @AbdullahTawfiq
Linkedin: Tawfiq Abdullah
About Me
I am a marketer, communicator, and blogger. I worked extensively in the private sector as a business executive and organizational communicator, precisely in sales training. I bagged a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and English from Olabisi Onabanjo University, a Chartered Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), an MBA from the Lagos State University. I am an associate of NIMN and currently living in Lafayette, Louisiana where I am about to defend my Master’s thesis to bag the MS Communication degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
