Matilda’s Apology

To rebuke a beggar would be an action pegged at the height of callousness by many. And the last person one would expect to exhibit such level of insensitivity would be the wife of the second most powerful person of any country—the vice President. Matilda Amissah-Arthur is wife of His Excellency Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.
Second Lady had gone to Kukurantumi Presby Primary on July 15, 2015 to present five sets of computers. At the tail end of the presentation exercise, the head teacher of the school, Ms Juliet Oppong had to move the vote of thanks. Poor Ms Oppong thought it was right to appeal to the powers-that-be through Mrs Amissah-Arthur to supply some basic materials such as chalk, log book and registers to her school. That was when the poor head teacher incurred the wrath of the Second Lady. What followed is common knowledge now.
The practice of drawing strength from, and making reference to Oliver Twist in making demands of authority is inspired by the story Oliver Twist written by Charles Dickens in 1837. Charles Dickens has quite a number of works to his credit but Oliver Twist (his second novel) is perhaps one that has ingrained his name in stone with the passage of time.
“Oliver Twist” gives account of a child of unknown parents, born in a workhouse and named Oliver Twist. Perhaps, the episode that has got many people referring to the book when making requests is worth recounting briefly:
“The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook’s uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered to each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, the basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:
“Please, sir, I want some more.”
The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.
“What! said the master at length, in a faint voice.
“Please, sir, “replied Oliver, “I want some more.”
The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle; pinioned him in his arms; shrieked aloud for the beadle.
The board were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mr Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said,
“Mr Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!”
There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.
“For more! Said Mr Limbkins. “Compose yourself, Bumble and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he has asked for more, after he had eaten the supper alloted by the dietary?
“He did, sir, replied Bumble.
“That boy will be hung,” said the gentleman in white waistcoat. “I know that boy will be hung.”
It is instructive to note that Oliver Twist never had his request acceded to. What he got instead, was condemnation and persecution. Some people who adopt Oliver’s courage by asking for more of anything allotted them usually receive treatments similar to that of poor Oliver.
In making demands of authority some prefix their request with the phrase: “Like Oliver Twist, we need: x, y and z”. Reference to Oliver Twist brings to mind the vivid description of the social ills in England at the time; and the courage and sense of responsibility demonstrated by Oliver Twist (the hero of the book) when the lot fell on him to “walk up to the master that evening and ask for more” because the quantity of gruel (a cheap meal of oat prepared in milk or plain water) was not enough.
The Second Lady’s action was not new, for, as can be seen from the original account of Charles Dickens’ in Oliver Twist, poor Oliver was spanked and consequently put up for sale. This is the plight of the poor in society. They are starved, deprived and vilified; and instead of being empathized with, they are blamed for being who they are—poor!
It is probably the bravery with which Oliver Twist accepted the duty thrust upon him by his peers that gets people referring to him each time they need to make any request that makes asking less daunting. But, like the days of old, Oliver has always been vilified after asking.
But, why should anyone cast in the mould of the Second Lady become upset with such a harmless request for chalk to keep poor Kukurantumi Presby Primary school running?
Alas, for many politicians, it is time to make political capital out of the whole scenario. Whereas apologists on the government side jumped to the defence of the Second Lady and accusing Ms Juliet Oppong of being sympathetic to the opposition NPP and allowing herself to be used to embarrass the Second Lady; and calling for her removal, opposition politicians and their followers thought otherwise; arguing the government had reneged on its responsibility of providing basic items to schools for their smooth running…
But thankfully, while the accusations and counter accusations were going on, the Second Lady did something else that shocked everybody the more: she apologized. This is not something many politicians are capable of doing. They will defend to the death anything they stand for even in the face of obvious dissention.
After all said and done, it is good that must prevail over evil. Matilda’s apology must be remembered…