THE POST, OUR WORLD AND HERITAGE ON VALENTINE DAY.
By Taiye Olaniyi
Son of Man finds it difficult to state categorically whether or not the word or name Valentine whose Day the world is marking today ever had any significance or of any popularity during our youthful days when men were men and ladies were being hunted.
Many of such ladies were then conquered and pampered through love letters we ensured pass through the Post Offices with attendant love galore, the sermon of Valentine’s Day.
I remembered as if it were yesterday, the use of handwritten letters tugged inside the envelopes, the aerogrammes both for inland and overseas postings, the postcards, registered mail, parcels, and other mail packets helping to extend love and affection to the loved ones throughout the entire world.
The Post, according to Voltaire one of the early philosophers that brought about the French revolution, Postal Service is," The link, connecting all affairs, all negotiations, by its means absent becomes present." By this, the Post has been that veritable tool for the propagation of whatever Valentine’s Day means to you and me both casually and deeply in the bowel of our hearts.
Once upon a time, many of us tagged Old Schools today could still relish so profusely in love letters to "Dear Lollipops," "Sweet Williams", using the words, "If so splendid", "Doxology," "Yours till the ocean is dry," "My life partner", "Apple of my eyes', "Sweetie," "Sweetheart," "Honey "and what have you.
.Many of such to whom we so felicitated within the spirit of Romeo and Juliet, Valentine and what have you, are either still quarantined as husbands and wives, many were good friends we had met and friends lost along the way whereas the oceans are still bubbling without yours in the recesses of our homes because of climate change of our pockets, the sliding tackles by those more powerful than us in love arenas. Hmmm, the day is come for confessions both to our consciences and to no one else lest hot water is our portion. Hmm, I know that many once privileged to use the elections campaigns now ongoing, the paucity of Naira in circulation and Emefelienised policy distractions provide an escape route for the mild celebration of Valentine’s Day in Nigeria. An excuse for not being able to hang out with families and friends.
Thank God another excuse abounds as the nation's economy is said to be buoyant but of course to all realists, the pockets are not shouting Halleluiah neither are they responding to Osingosingo praise the Lord taking cognisance the products warehouses are now church factories for assorted anointing oils. Walahi talahi even I stand here as a bloody pensioner and can't observe any inkling of chop and drinks to mark the Val Day except to cherish the one who captured my everything in memory and reenactment of Valentine’s Day. I however think my heart should be sweet enough for her and the children than honey. What about a desire for a new handset to replace the ailing one? In my bunkers I remain with my Old Testament handset fashioned as a reciprocation of love and so to you all, is my broadband connectivity of LOVE not minding that the Nigerian Postal Service under Pantami as the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy has successfully whittled and withered the glorious past of postal service in marking the Valentine Day and other functional roles of the Post as a National Infrastructure.
Pantami or no Pantami, Emefiele or no Emefiele, the world can still cement LOVE in the spirit of Valentine’s Day to make Nigeria and the world a better place for humankind.
Happy Valentine’s Day and Peace Profound.
Taiye Olaniyi, a retired Postman of the Nigeria Postal Service, is based in Lagos.