Nana, A girl with a beautiful soul

There lived a lady named Nana, she was born in 1988 at Ogun State Nigeria. Her father was a soldier at that time, her father wasn't around at the time of her birth. As a soldier that had to guide and protect his nation, he was transferred to Plateau state not quite long but he couldn't go with his wife and children at that time because his wife was pregnant with Nana. As at that time, no mobile phone to communicate, so they sent a soldier like him that came around to help them inform him that his wife had delivered a baby girl. The message got to him after two-weeks and he was so happy to hear the news. He was so excited and had a ceremony among his colleagues at Shendam barracks in Plateau State. He went back home to check on his wife and children after one month of the birth of his baby girl.

 Nana was the sixth and last born of his wife and she was also the fifth girl but her father loved her more than all his other children. Nana's father was transferred back to Ogun State when Nana did her one year birthday. She was so loved by her father and that was so obvious, her elders always get jealous of her because of the way their father took good care of her. She always slept on the same bed with her father, she was so fond of her father, that she wouldn't sleep if she doesn't see her father at night. Nana's father celebrated Nana's birthday when she turned two, he invited his extended family for the celebration and used the opportunity to do the naming ceremony the way it is done in Islamic way, since the father wasn't around, he also invited group of alfas to pray for them on that day, many people were present at the ceremony together with the neighbours and friends, the family lived happily together and the children loved their father and always looked up to him. Nana's father was a disciplined man that knew his responsibilities, he doesn't allow Nana's mother to contribute to any financial aspect in the house but Nana's mother always get things done even before she informed her husband because she was also financially buoyant. She was a business woman who sells pepper, Maggi, vegetables and so on.

After some times, Nana's father got married to another woman in 1990 but the woman couldn't get pregnant soon and he married another wife again that same year. He told his first wife that he loved and have prayed to have plenty children. His third wife got pregnant and the second wife also got pregnant at the same time. They both gave birth the following year, the second wife gave birth to a girl while the third wife gave birth to a boy. The second wife moved to Lagos, Nigeria while the third wife stayed in another apartment at Ogun State with Nana's mother. They all continue living their lives without any issues while Nana's father continue to take care his responsibilities as expected. He retired from soldier in 1991 and ventured in business with his childhood friend. The business started going well and the family were living happily, they all used to come together every eid'l kabir's celebration every year. Nana's father started having issues with his first wife, they argued with little things which always resulted to fight. He started beating his first wife for no reason, there was nothing she does, that Nana's father would appreciate. He kept complaining that his first wife doesn't know how to handle anything. Nana's mother suddenly got to know that she was pregnant at seven months and had a still-birth in April, 1991 through cesarian session. She had a inner bleeding which resulted to her death after eight days of the operation. 

Nana's mother first child was a boy named Ladi, Ladi decided not to go school after primary education, he said he doesn't like reading books and insisted that he would like to go to madrasah(Arabic's school) where he would learn Arabic, his father took him to his elder brother who is an alfa at that time and he told him to stay in the Arabic school's hostel, he learnt Arabic and Quranic recitations and became alfa, the second child was in secondary school as at the time of their mother's death, the third and fourth children were in primary school then, one was in primary six while the fourth was in primary four. The fifth child was two years older than Nana, she has not started first school that year as children have to turned six before starting primary education as at that time. Nana was still at home because she was just three. The children, husband and other family members came around hearing the news of Nana mother's death. She was a very nice person, that was loved by everyone, she was the type that let go of issues easily without keeping malice, she was very accommodating to the extent that she accommodated her siblings' children by training them. She had helped so many people and so many families depended on her she was so beautiful in and out. 

Nana's father cried all day but he couldn't wake his wife, the children were and people that came around were also crying that they loose a rare gem. Nana didn't know anything as she was still just a baby, people were pitying her and everyone were concerned about her, they were all saying who would take care of the little child now that her mother have passed away. They made preparations on how to bury the deceased and did it in the way of Islam. Nana's father couldn't believe that his lovely wife had left him, he regretted his actions when she was alive and promised to take good care of the children she left behind. He couldn't get over his wife's death for months as he didn't go out of the house and didn't allow Nana to leave his sight for seconds.

After three months, a woman came to the town where Nana was living in Ogun State, immediately she alighted from the bus, people started running and shouting that they have seen a ghost because she was so much like Nana's mother, the woman went to Nana's house but people ran as fast as they could and Nana elder sisters also ran inside and locked the door from behind shouting that "their mother ghost is back! Their father came from the backyard with Nana when they heard people shouting, Nana ran to the woman and shouted "mummy is back", she carried Nana and hugged her so tight, she asked Nana's father that this child should be Nana right? the man nodded in response and both greeted each other, Nana was so happy seeing the woman, Nana's father welcomed her and called the other children to come and say hello to their aunt. He told them to meet their mum's immediate elder sister, she was from bendel in Benin City, Nigeria. Nana's father and the woman wasn't in cordial relationship with one another due to some reasons unknown to anyone. He told the elders to take care of the woman and make him feel at home. 

The second day, the woman greeted Nana's father for taking care of her sister's children so well, she continued that she was happy seeing them all, she emphasized that he alone can take care of the kids that way. She discussed with him at large and expressed her gratitude to Nana's father. She stayed with the children and try taking care of Nana but Nana had gotten used to staying with his father, so, she always go every where with him. While the woman was staying there, the third wife who was living in that town with Nana visited and they both greeted and chatted at length. Nana's aunt expressed how she was pained when she heard the news but there was nothing she could do. She was just pained because she wasn't present when her sister passed away. 

After one month that the woman got to Nana's place, Nana's father decided to go back to his business in Lagos, he had left only his friend handling the business for four months, so he decided to go back to him. His late wife's sister requested that she should go back to bendel with Nana but Nana's father declined immediately. He said nobody should mention taking any of his children, that he would never allow anybody to help him take his responsibilities. He continued that his main responsibility is to take care of the children his beloved wife left behind, he said he now have the opportunity to correct the wrongs he did to his wife, he said he needs to reflect on his past by making things right again with all the sufferings he inflicted on his wife. He continued to sob bitterly that he really offended his wife,he said that he really misses her and hope she could forgive his wrong deeds. He also prayed to God Almighty to please forgive her wife's shortcomings and grant her peace.