BY REV FR GERALD NWAFOR
While growing up, one of the wonders I had to deal with was why February had 28 and 29 days. The rest of the month is 30 or 31. Not only that, but February has two numbers; it didn’t make sense that the 29 comes in only after four years. I worried about that long till I got into secondary school, where more light was shed on geography class, and my mind developed to some level of cognition to grasp that aspect of human development.
I do not know why February has been recorded as the slowest month of the year. But common sense would argue that after heavy lifting, you needed some time to recalibrate. If you look at the way humanity has come to celebrate Christmas and New Year, by way of holidays, visits, celebration, fun fare, and many other events that envelop December and January, you can clearly see the reason why February was seen as the slowest month. Everyone wants to recuperate what has been spent, and some do not have an easy means of getting back what was spent.
Sometimes the whole of the month will be spent on planning and strategy. We all know that planning takes longer than execution. If you watch sports that end in 90 minutes, as in soccer, or 2 hours in basketball, and ten seconds in a 100m sprint, the time put behind the scenes for preparation cannot be compared to the time of execution.
After the long spending and celebration of December and January, which go very fast, the next thing before us was the reality of February starting afresh.
There are other opinions, but I think I agree with the month of February being the slowest and longest in terms of feelings and emotions. People have argued about the summer months and fall, which are June and July, and October and November, respectively. Here in Nigeria, June and July are farming season, and it’s the time we enjoy the roadside roasted corn and pears with coconut to go. Actually, it starts in March, but the peak seasons are June and July, and because it’s so good in our clime, it doesn’t last long.
October and November are very handy.
They move so fast because it’s the end of the rainy season. The local yams and cassava will be harvested, and the weather will be very cold. The parents and grandparents would get us together around the fire early in the morning to roast the yams, which would be dipped into the red oil with salt and ukpaka. The two don’t last long.
February has some twists to it, but I do not hear too much about it. They said it is a month of love, and February 14 epitomizes the celebration of love, but since people are struggling to refill their pocket the celebration of love is tuned down to the lowest level, and there are some axioms that hamper the celebration of love. One of them states: “Business before pleasure.” But I long time disagreed with the maxim because love is not all about pleasure, it is also about responsibility and care.
We can do more to show and share love. If February is the slowest and the longest, we can utilize it by staying more in love with people. We should let people know that we care and love them, even though the economy is on the low side.
There is also a view about Lent falling within February. The Christian notion of the Lenten season is very clear to all. It is a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The whole world expects you to be calm and prayerful, and such a situation doesn’t move fast, and it taints celebratory mode. The love month that was given to February was tainted by the advent of the Lenten Season within February.
Being slow doesn’t mean negative, but it is what it is. If you plan very well in February, the rest of the year may be successful and easy to manage. If you neglect it, you may regret it.
So, as we are now in February, do not be distracted by many things. Put on your thinking cap, look around, and know the people who will receive your love first of all. Then re-strategize and organize how to run the year ahead of you, since the celebrations and hype have come and gone.
And be ready to show your Christian values and identity with the Lenten season around the corner. A good Lent brings forth a glorious Easter; do not doubt it. Good preparation always brings in a good result. A good February that has love and Lent well-orchestrated will always brighten the year and make it peaceful and prosperous.
Finally, a comment on one of the letters I read after the death of our hero and Biafran warlord chief Ikemba Odimegwu Ojukwu. The writer wrote among other things:
Dear Ikemba, please, when you get to the land of the spirit, assemble the Nigerian and Biafran soldiers, but please do not tell them the state of things now in Nigeria so that they would start thinking that their effort was in vain. Just tell them that the way things are moving in Nigeria now, they need more prayers. The government has not been at its best, but they are trying, and the political situation has changed so much, but do not say anything good or bad, so you don’t make them sad.
On that note, I wouldn’t like to add to this February note anything about the current political situation in Nigeria, nor would I discuss the economic situation. The social and religious situation I may consider, but time is running out. The government of the day may not be at its best, but it will not be enough reason to abandon the ship (Abachaam). No, we have to hold on to our strength and strategy. The horizon looks good. The Onitsha traders and, as a matter of facts the traders in the southeast of Nigeria, with their governors, should come together, have a closed-door meeting and give us the best option.
Business, market, and commerce are the bedrock of the people of southeast. We all shall guard it as the last jewel of civilization.
Do not allow this February to slip by just like that; make proper use of it.
