Segun Atanda/
Nigerians have responded with a flood of goodwill for a 20-year-old secondary school leaver who threatened to kill himself by jumping into the lagoon in a Twitter post early today.
Some prayed for and encouraged him, some offered to send him money and requested his account details, some also promised to help him get a job, while others canvassed a special support fund for his rehabilitation.
In the message posted on the handle, @VictorSimi4, the boy, who revealed his full name to NewsmakersNG as Victor Omotayo, said his mother had died immediately after he was born, while his dad too died when he was six.
He said his grandmother who had been taking care of him also died shortly after he finished writing the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
The resident of Ijebu-Ode, in Ogun State, added that all efforts he made to forge ahead with his life had proved futile.
Read his full post below:
“I didn’t give up on God, but it seems God has given up on me.
“Had to choose to buy #200 data bundle over today’s feeding. Why? Coz I want y’all to know why I may jump into the lagoon anytime soon.
“If you’re humane, Read this thread and RT.
“From the start, my life has always been miserable. Mom gave up immediately after my birth.Dad died when I was Six .
“Lack parental care. Never feel loved. Grandma took me in. Always trying to make me feel what I lacked. She gave me the basics home training…. She tried to educate me also, but not more than 6-3-3. And few days after concluding WAEC, she passed away.
“Now who will take care of the poor orphan? Nobody. Everyone think me odd, think me dumb. They say ‘I don’t talk to people’..like that’s even a problem.
They forgot that’s how I was brought up
No one was there to teach me how to relate with people. Well that’s just their excuse so as to avoid taking someone’s responsibility.
“It has been just me all alone. Living from hand to mouth. Fending all by myself. Eat twice in three days.Trying hard not to seek unthinkable ways. Never lost my home training. Praying. Believing in God…
“But NO. It’s like my creator has forgotten he created ME! I don’t get it, why create me if you gonna give me a miserable life to live? Why create me and kill my parents? Why create me and give me a clueless life? Why create me and not gimme food to eat?
“As in! Poor is too good to qualify my status. I am Poverty itself!! Why life can’t just be fair to everyone?? Why can’t everyone have parents?? Why can’t everyone eat 3 times a day????
“Why? Why??? Why???? Why?? Why? Why? God! Why????? Level of my frustration rn, level of my depression rn, Readers, you have no idea. I don’t even know what pushed me to write all this…
“‘Well maybe someone can help.’ I am not feeling entitled to anyone on here. but please, if you can help in any way, don’t hesitate. Not only cash can do me good. Man shall not live by bread alone. Forget that I’m hungry, I’m used to that.
“What I crave is a life worth living!!!
Someone may want to ask: Do you still have interest in school? NO. Want to work? YES. What do you really have passion for? PHOTOGRAPHY. MUSIC and I think I can ACT.”
Also read a few of the responses to his tweet:
