The news that some people swallowed
cash created some thoughts, questions even doubt in my mind.
This seems to be one of the greatest
events for the past few days. The word ‘cash’ which means money in the form of
coins, bank note or paper money as distinct from money order, cheque or credit
note is used for payment for goods and services and in settlement of
indebtedness.
Cash is so popular in every nook and
cranny of this world. It is so popular that it is prefixed to over forty (40)
words in the dictionary. It has existed
in terms like cash account, cash advance, cash bar, cash basis, cash box, cash budget,
cash card, cash contract, cash control, cash conversion, cash cow, cash crop, cash
cycle, cash deficiency, cash desk, cash dispenser, cash equivalence, cash equivalent, cash flow, cash in, cash
out, cash in on , cash journal, cash letter, cash limit, cash machine, cash management, cash method, cash on
delivery, cash out, cash ratio, cash register, cash reserves, cash settlement,
cash surrender value, cash transaction, cash up, cash withdrawal, cash and
carry, cash book, cashed up, cash out, cash point, cash poor, cash rich, cash
starved, cash strapped and cash desk. Cash-handlers are not left out in
attaching some words to cash such as cashier, cash in hand, cashless and cash
on return. But the latest form which may be very harmful
is “cash-swallow”. Cash swallow can simply be described as preparing cash in
capsule-like form and taking it through our mouth and passing it down the
throat into the stomach . It can also be said to mean an act of swallowing cash. In criminal terms, if
proved, it can be defined as a criminal act of swallowing cash as food with the
intention of taking it to specified destination or country.
Some of the questions that are bothering
me about this act are: Can this be one of the signs of the end time? Can the
whole idea be to make money and mar health or swallow money so that money can
give us the necessary nutrients for energy, vitality and growth of the body?
Can this be a curse for cash quest maniacs? What could have led to this idea of
cash application? Did those people use their real name for this act? How would
they manage the bad image that could have resulted from this act? How long have
they been in this business? Could they have been prompted to engage in this act
as a result of their discovery that the best balanced diet now is to swallow a
combination of hard currencies like dollar?
Can inflation spark-off
cash consumption since cash cannot afford the quantity and quality of food we need?
Why is it that religious teachings are not enough to debar us
from the quest for wealth
aggrandizement?
Why should we subject ourselves to a world governed by
materiality?
Can this be one of the changes we are clamouring for – change
from eaten food recommended by mother-nature and considered fit to be eaten by
man to paper manufactured by man?
Can this act be as a result of dearth of faith for
improvement in the economy?
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Some years ago when I was in the banking industry, we were
taught in cash management that cash is more attractive then the most
beautiful woman in the world. Majority agreed with our lecturer while few of
us went for the most beautiful woman.
This event has corroborated the former. While this seems to be
true, we should de-emphasize the morbid quest for money especially when the
consequences can be very disastrous.
To me, what the people are chasing after is money not few
coins or notes. Different people have come up with different concepts of
money. While some support the idea that it is the root of all evil, some are
of the opinion that it solves all problems according to the scriptures.
In my opinion money is the root of all corruption in Nigeria.
The quest for money has limited the joy and some good values cherished by the
society. People tell all kind of lie because of money. Men create problems
for their fellow men because of money. Brother, sister, fathers, mother even
neighbours envy themselves because of money. Sisters take over their sisters’
husband in search of money. Members of the society kill, even embark on
regular ritual killings because of money.
Idol-worshipping is no longer news in an attempt to make
money. Fornication and adultery are committed in order to be counted as a
rich man or woman.
Victimization, currency trafficking, election rigging,
drug-trafficking, kidnapping and so many other offences are committed in
order to acquire wealth.
The laws of God and man are flouted in the scramble for wealth
aggrandizement.
Where are we heading to? The richest man for one hundred (100) consecutive years is yet
to emerge. The richest men of yesteryears are not the richest men of today.
Some of them have disappeared from this planet entirely.
Does this struggle for
endless wealth or quest for money acquisition really worth it? After swallowing cash, cash may end
up swallowing the swallower(permit me to use this word).
Nobody has proved that he has comfortably enjoyed the so called
money up to the same length of time. Anybody that says so in today’s world
must be a liar. Vanity upon vanity all is vanity after all.
A word is enough for the wise.
Chiemela N. Agu
Chimrose Educational Consultancy and
General Services,
Nigeria Air Force Shopping
Complex, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria
Island
Lagos, Nigeria.
Chibagalia@gmail.com , GSM:
08035733017
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