In the last few days I have seen had my heart torn, stripped and broken in pieces first by the disappearance and death of my dearest friend and secondly by the wickedness exhibited by Nigerians, passing judgement on someone they never knew or met.
When Cynthia was officially declared missing we put up a number online so people with information can call and help out, of over 500 calls we received in 3 days, only 2 of those calls were from people who actually helped with any information. One was from my dear friend Nuhu Kwajafa. The other was from the Area Commander who called to inform us of the arrest of the people.
The others were heartbreaking to say the least, I wondered how her mother would have coped if she had to deal with silliness, pettiness and undeserved hate from strangers, who just took one look at a lady and decided to judge her based on her looks.
When The sad news of her death broke, I made a comment and said I hope ” all those who have insisted she was with a man would have their answer now and let her rest in peace” how wrong I was, They did not rest, they only manufactured a more hurtful and painful story, formulate more rumors and pass it around as facts. How despicable….hmmm it is well.
I have no comments for hateful people, I just want to share with you my experience of the real Cynthia…the Cynthia we knew not the one who hateful people have created in the last few days.
Cynthia was born on 10th of November 1987 to Gen Frank and Joy- Rita Nkem Osokogu. Udoka as her Mother named her, even as a baby was a uniting factor in her family. Her Mother had 3 boys before her, she was the last baby and only girl.
Her Parents had settled in Jos where we were and still are neighbours. We became friends because in those days there were only very few houses in the area.
I was the last child in my family and so did not have a lot of playmates my age, her brothers were my mates and Cynthia as the only girl did not have many friends around the neighbourhood either so she tagged along when we had our “adventures” and “yawo”.
Aisha and Cynthia
2004 was one of the hardest years for the family I was raised with in Jos, Cynthia and her Mom were with me all the way. They were there to comfort, assist, cook etc. They were my family!
Cynthia was a tall beautiful and slender girl, we always teased her because even at 13 she was taller than me and the same height with her older brothers. She was a tomboy all the way…determined, stubborn and focused.
As she grew into her height her mum and I playful suggest she try modelling because of her structure, Cynthia took it seriously, even though her major focus was education she gave modelling a trial and did quite well as a model.
In 2007, she got her first major job and I will never forget the day she called me from Lagos after she had been paid, she said she wouldn’t want to waste the money and would buy clothes and take to her University in Keffi, Nassarawa State to sell.
The first batch of clothes never made it to Keffi as industrious Cynthia who staying with her brother during her visit at Airforce Quarters sold the clothes to her brother, his colleagues and their friends, she told me she made 3 times her capital and immediately re-invested, bought more stock, came to Keffi and rented a shop.
That was the birth of her Baby: “Dresscode“.
I remember I bought her the forms to one of the national competitions some years ago, she passed the screening passed 2 stages and called me one day to say she was asked to compromise to get through the next round, I told her to withdraw and she left. That was in 2011. She never entered any major pageant after that
When it came to business Cynthia was ‘Midas’. She knew how to make a great sale…she was never at a loss, her business grew from strength to strength and she was not even 21 years old yet. At 21 a lot of the people who now make it a point to formulate such hateful rumours were still struggling to buy Jamb result
Cynthia the Sister and Daughter:
Cynthia was like the baby sister I didnt have, She was my confidant, stylist and a great comfort. We shared a lot, tears, smiles, laughs, joys ,sorrows and she was always at my service.
She was greatly involved in charity, anytime I sent a text or posted a picture of someone needing medical support, I could count on Cynthia as one of the first respondents. When she was in Abuja, she would always come and volunteer, run errands, always with a smile.
When I go to Jos, she will be at the motor park waiting, Thats if she doesnt pick me up from Abuja. Not to forget her being my personal stylist. She either bought or chose most of my clothes, most times my friends say “you look nice” i tell them “ask Cynthia oh, I have no idea what I am wearing”. Style has never been a strong point of mine, but if Cynthia bought it or asked me to buy it I knew it was good and stylish
To her Mother, Cynthia was her heart. Several times i will ask Cynthia please dont go to Jos it is volatile and she will reply: ” Mumsy is alone at home”, or when she is in Jos and there was a fight I would call and ask her to leave Jos and come and stay a few days with me, she will say “I cant leave Mumsy alone here now” .
That was our Cynthia; Always putting others first.
When it was time to serve, while others would work their service to areas full of opportunity like Abuja, Lagos and Porthacort, Cynthia worked her service to crisis ridden Jos to be close to her Mother, Is that what a “runsgirl” does?
At age 24, Cynthia had a successful business, and was running a Post Graduate Program in Public Administration, sadly people will ignore all that and choose to believe that because she is pretty and Young she must be a “Runsgirl”, how sad, but we cannot judge people by our own low and shabby standards.
She earned every kobo she had by good old hard work. Lets even forget her father supported her financially…even that didn’t turn her to a spoilt brat she was as determined as ever to make her own mark and earn her own keep.
The world and people who have no standards can stand afar and judge all they want but we know who you are and we love you, we don’t need to defend you my baby, but were just setting the records straight.
The security Situation in our country now is horrible at best, people are kidnapped, robbed and killed everyday, why is it so hard to believe that a young girl was killed while going to pursue her legitimate business?
If It was a man who was killed would we have come up with all these stories? If it was an older woman or someone not so attractive would we?
Her crime is being, young, pretty and a business woman. Hmmm…..people, Have the decency to at least let us mourn in peace…PLEASE!!!
You have read this article with the title Tribute to Cynthia Osokogu – By Aisha Ene Ella. You can bookmark this page URL http://meditacaoplanetaria.blogspot.com/2012/08/tribute-to-cynthia-osokogu-by-aisha-ene.html. Thanks!
