Amina and Lola

brought to you courtesy OneVoteNigeria

Amina, a twenty-five year old single mum was driving her six-year-old son, Ahmed, to school.

They were late, and Amina was beginning to think she should have canceled school today. There was always so much to do, and Amina, a night-duty nurse at Maitama hospital, had recently worked extra shifts.

She was tired. The rain was intense which added to her tension and she began to think of turning back.

"Mum!" Ahmed cried. "Look!" Just ahead, a car had lost control. As Amina hit the brakes, the other car spun wildly rolled over, then crashed sideways into a street light pole.

Amina pulled over and threw open her door. Thank goodness she was a nurse - she might be able to help these unfortunate passengers.

Then she paused. What about Ahmed? She couldn't take him with her. Little boys shouldn't see scenes like the one she anticipated. But was it safe to leave him alone? What if their car were hit from behind?

For a brief moment Amina considered going on her way. Someone else was sure to come along. No! "Ahmed, honey, promise me you'll stay in the car!"

"I will, Mummy," he said as she ran, slipping and sliding toward the crash site. It was worse than she'd feared. Two girls of university age are in the car. One, Amara, the light skinned on the passenger side, was dead, killed on impact.

The driver, Lola, however was still breathing. She was unconscious and pinned in the wreckage. Amina quickly applied pressure to the wound in the teenager's head while her practiced eye cataloged the other injuries. A broken leg, maybe two, along with probable internal bleeding. But if help came soon, the girl would live.

Amina managed to get her to her own car, and she drove faster than she had ever driven to Wuse General Hospital. Her practice told her that Lola was bleeding internally and needed immediate surgery.

On the way to the theatre however, power went out and though the hospital had a generator, there was no diesel because of the scarcity. The doctors did all that they could to get Lola to hold on for but power was never restored. Lola died.

This is Nigeria.

Our President, Governors, Senators, House of Rep members and even Local Government Chairmen all go abroad for the least medical consultation. They run their homes on generators; they are not accountable to us because we did not take part in the process that brought them to power.

I must VOTE this time, I could have saved Lola if I voted the last time. You too must vote.

#enoughisenough