To Whom It May Concern

I once heard a joke about a prominent politician’s son who got a kind of cover note from his dad. This note was supposed to provide unhindered movement on the roads. Whatever team that this note was presented to would always look through and let the bearer continue without further delay. One day, the politician’s son encountered a vehicle particulars Inspection team and flaunted the note as he always used to. The Team lead read through the note and passed it to all his team members. The note read; “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Kindly grant the bearer free passage without delay” The politician duly signed and stated both his name and office at the end of the letter. After everyone had read through, the son stretched his hand for the note but rather than return it to the boy, the Team lead asked the members of his team one after the other; “Does it concern you? And each responded “No”. The boy was then asked to provide all the papers pertaining to the ownership of the vehicle as well as the license to drive. All of the boy’s threats and insistence that his father’s Instruction be adhered to, fell on deaf ears.

I never got to hear whether there were consequences or not but I want to share my thoughts and get you thinking too.

Does it concern you?

How often have you had to consider whether a matter concerns you?

Do you act as if nothing concerns you or have you ignored the urge to address some issues because they didn’t concern you?

It is often said that what goes around comes around. When we don’t shout when our Neighbour is being oppressed, who will shout if we find ourselves in a similar situation tomorrow? The world is a global village and we are all interconnected. Almost everything concerns us. Is a little baby complaining in baby language? Don’t take it for granted, make effort to identify the issue and address it. Is there a protest around you? Don’t ignore the situation because you too can become a target. Is there a fight that you are staying away from to avoid falling victim? Don’t just stay away, get help and stop the fight. Are there wars or rumors of wars? Two wrongs never make a right. Don’t join to destroy properties and to hurt others. Do your bit to make things better for someone else. It concerns you to make the world a better place.

To Whom It May Concern

Nnamonu Tochukwu

Teecee.

A brief reflection on how the seemingly unimportant things should concern us.