Call me chicken heated tag me a coward or over emotional, I care less you know.

When the story of our little boy, Farid Oyeleke, a four year old boy, who was bedridden as a result of cancer of the blood, or malignant lymphoblastic lymphoma, came to the fore, National Pilot was so sure that help would sooner than expected come his way and so we went all out to share our front page between him and Mariam Yusuf believing that help would come.

Alas! Help for Farid never came and the little boy died. I wept my heart out when the grandmother tearful called to give me the distress information.

What the little boy needed was N15 million for his treatment in India or USA. Farid, whose father, Oyebode and mother, Sutra as well as the entire Oyeleke family members in Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria, spent all their resources on medical bills in various hospitals, pleaded with the federal, state governments, NGOs, international bodies and individuals to assist the family to raise the money.

The family was initially just able to raise only N500,000 which was too meager for the need, however, the money raised rose to about a quarter of that amount and in view of the urgency, Food was rushed to India with the amount collected where he was being treated but needed more money to make his treatment meaningful.

In the family's appeal to the Federal, Kwara and other states' government, Nigerians, public and private establishments, as well as organizations, Non Governmental Organizations and international agencies for assistance to save Farid's life, the father said, "I do not have the means to cater for the expenses. 1 am just a farmer and people know how difficult economic situation is in the country. I do not have the money arid I do not even have the means to raise the money on my own.

Thereafter, Air France an international airline gave Farid and an accompany parent free tickets to India but in spite of our little effort to get help for the little boy, nothing came forth.

The desperate grandmother even sent SOS message to the public, which read in part, "We appealed for N15 million but we were able to get about a quarter of that amount and in view of the urgency, Farid was rushed to India with the amount collected.

"Farid is being treated in India but needs more money to make his treatment meaningful. He has age on his side and we are hopeful that he will come out of this medical problem. Farid's treatment will keep him in India between 6 months to 1 year", nothing came out of it.

I still feel bad, I hurt and lament what all the wealth and riches in this country are being used for if they are not put at the disposal of those who are in precarious health and pecuniary situations like Farid and Mariam Yusuf. I wonder what the rich and wealthy would tell God when they leave this world and had to give account of how they used the blessings of God (Allah) bestowed on them. My bible says the wretched, have nots would not ceased from the world but that we are blessed because of these have nots. What them would you say when -asked to give account of how you spent your wealth?

I know very well that there are people in this country and indeed in Kwara state that could easily dole out N20 million without it having any effect on their wealth or status but because the donation or contributions would not be announced, they refused to do anything.

During the SOS sent out for Mariam, a prominent public officer gave out N100,000 and begged not to be named with a promise to do more (we're still on her case) but apart from that those that sent and contributed their widows mites were poor salary earners like me, some staffers of KWASUBEB and a serving corps member with Radio Kwara.

A number of National Pilot staffers did something from their stipends while several rich and powerful people wait for us to come cup in hand.

Farid died because we couldn't raise enough money for his medicals. He died because Nigerians finds it difficulty giving if it's not to be song praised or announced. Farid died because some of us are not rich enough to help this boy even when we cared very much!

The paternal grandmother of the little child couldn't control her tears as she shared Farid's experience with me on the phone but was despite her sorrow consoling me when I broke down in tears. Some accused me of being too emotional and felt I should have held myself together, couldn't, I am but human that's all'l felt the boy wouldn't have died if help had come. Farid died but who else because of Shylocks who derived pleasure from accumulating wealth and feel that the poor should not live?

When I needed to pay my daughter's law school fees, I almost sold all I had but for the timely intervention of my shepherd and another elder in my church, who gave me the loan without any string attached and those who gave me cheques to ease her stay in school.