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In Memory Of Anne Frank (1929-1945) by
"But still, the brightest spot of all is that at least, I can write down all my thoughts and feelings; otherwise, I'd absolutely suffocate" -(March 16,1944) I desired a holiday. I craved for it and thoroughly deserved it. I couldn't just wait anymore and somehow was faced with the problem of choice. I pondered in this mind of mine of where to relax and after some deep thinking, the choice of Amsterdam sounded more interesting and relieving. I had to pack my bags and leave London for at least week or so. After a first good night rest without any hassles and with the holy angels on guard, I decided that my first port of call will be Anne Frank's house at 265 Prinsengratch by the canal side. It wasn't too easy to locate even though it was a walking distance from my hotel and while finding the place I bumped into some Irish visitors with whom together we finally got there. For those of you who might not be conversant with the name (Anne Frank) and her ordeals, she was actually born in the German city of Frankfurt in 1929 and in 1933 the so-called Nationalist Party led by anti-Christ (Adolf Hitler) came to power. The Frank family then moved to Amsterdam, as it was a safe haven until 1940 when the Nazis successfully drove the Jews into a corner. The family chose to hide in their "Secret Annex" in 1942 until someone unknown till date betrayed the hiding place. It was during these harrowing times that poor Anne could not help but sum up her feelings that: "One day this terrible war will be over. The time will come when we will be people again and not just Jews! We can never be just Dutch, or just English, or whatever; we will always be Jews as well. But then, we'll want to be". I found this so poignant and all through my visitation to the Annex, her words hunted my bemused soul as it was like her ghost was still there reminding tourists of the horrors of yesterday. How people were caged and quarantined like skunks because of the mad ambition and false sense of nationalism of Adolf Hitler. I wondered for minutes how on earth Anne Frank and her family lived for twenty-five months in this Annex with all the stench and painful frustrations of the German Invasion. From the dairies I read, to the pictures I saw and the videos I watched, it remains one of my most emotional visits on planet earth. Especially when I imagine living for twenty-five months incarcerated for being born a Jew coupled with the uncertainty of life and death, I weep for the lost souls. I retreat and then have a rethink about the cruelty of a sadist and opportunist like Hitler. Somehow, this reminds me of our dear country where there are so many Hitlers masquerading as saints. They have a phony impression that they are superior to others thus having the right to rule now and always whether we like it or not. They feel that the minorities were born to be ruled even when most of the nations foreign exchange comes from these under-developed regions. But things have to change if we are to be fair to mankind. These power-crazy elements classified Ken Saro-Wiwa as a Jew. They are also calling Gani Fawenhinmi a Jew. They label the Ogonis as Jews too. I guess I might be referred in their esoteric and egocentric quarters as a Rabbi. But they have repeatedly missed the vital point, which is - you cannot always eat your cake and then have it. For these Jewish descendants possess the oil fields that they are milking today. They are the political alliances of these "Non-Jews". Without them, there is a political minus of votes and victory. Those so-called power brokers have to be sensitive and accept raison d'etre for the progressive march to the promise land to be pragmatic. They should remember that Nigeria belongs to all and for equality sake; political power should involve all and not a privileged few. I am very happy that the notion or myopic impression the military boys use to have where they felt superior to the civilians is gradually being eroded with democracy in place. The hallucinating and chauvinistic thoughts of the likes of Chief Dapo Sarumi have been subdued with his deserved sack from office due to his derogatory evaluation of human life. Regrettably, Anne Frank died few days to the liberation of the Jews but her legacy is a monument in the hearts of many like Nelson Mandela and myself. On March 25, 1944 she said and I quote: "I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people. And therefore I am so grateful to God for giving me this gift of writing, of expressing all that is in me" May her precious and courageous soul rest in peace. Uwem Inyang London
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