THE tragic incident of the death of the CEO of SuperTV, Michael Usifo Ataga, last week made headlines and sent the social media abuzz. A 21-year-old undergraduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Chidinma Ojukwu, confessed that she stabbed him to death in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
Ojukwu, who spoke at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja after she was paraded as a suspect by the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said she had been in a romantic relationship with 50-year-old Ataga for about four months before the ugly incident occurred on Tuesday, 15 June, 2021 at a short service apartment situated at No 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki, Phase 1, Lagos.
Ojukwu, a 300-level student of Mass Communication, said she and Ataga were “having fun” when an argument broke out and she stabbed him twice.
She also said after stabbing him, she withdrew N380,000 from his account using his ATM card.
It is unfortunate, to say the least, that a 21-year-old girl would end up killing her 50-year-old lover by stabbing him. What is even more cold-blooded about it was the money she withdrew shortly after without qualms.
In the case of Mr Ataga, his relations said that he was not married, to deflect any notion of betraying his wife, but it was beside the point. It still amounts to the same thing. After all, when has marriage prevented men from having affairs? As such, obviously due to their wealth and standing in the society or position, young girls easily fall for them, even though they know that the men would never marry them. As far as they are concerned, they are out to get as much money as possible from the rich men.
But what does it all say about our society? Though some people reacted as if it is a new thing; apparently people prefer to accept such things but turn and act surprised when things go wrong.
It is well known everywhere that many young girls go about having affairs with wealthy elderly men; old enough to be their fathers.
In the case of Mr Ataga, his relations said that he was not married, to deflect any notion of betraying his wife, but it was beside the point. It still amounts to the same thing. After all, when has marriage prevented men from having affairs? As such, obviously due to their wealth and standing in the society or position, young girls easily fall for them, even though they know that the men would never marry them. As far as they are concerned, they are out to get as much money as possible from the rich men.
Whether you are married or not, if you really love your girlfriend, just marry her. But because of other motives they take the girls to hotels, travel with them and introduce them to expensive lifestyle.
People raised the question of parental upbringing; that parents have shunned their responsibilities by being too busy chasing money while their children become wayward. Well as they say, charity begins at home; therefore no matter what, parents cannot escape blame in such a case, particularly mothers. The moment your daughter brings expensive items home and you don’t question her but feel happy about it because she has suitors; you are giving her the green light.
Such girls in some instances practically take care of the parents through this means of getting money from men. They know what their daughters are doing is not good but they accept it. One woman whose daughter is into this was proud that her daughter had expensive cloths and so on, and that she had even renovated their house.
“But when is he going to marry her?” If she was asked, she would say soon, that it was the man’s wives that were using diabolical means to prevent the marriage!
So why is he having affair with her daughter, why couldn’t he leave her alone, since he could not marry her after nearly ten years of friendship?
While they keep deluding themselves, the wealthy man keeps deceiving her with the promise of marriage while staying married to his wives.
However, the society should not encourage such waywardness by turning a blind eye, until the unthinkable happens, then it shows outrage.
People are components of a society but they have become complicit by accepting all kinds of shameful behaviours from the young and old alike, but when the repercussion comes, everybody feels it.
For one, many people don’t like to think in terms of morality any longer. They feel that that is too religious where there are restrictions. They want to be free to do as they please and the elders, or those who care, are afraid to speak, lest they would be accused of imposing morality.
The death of Mr Ataga should be a lesson for men; that no matter what, one day, such a thing could happen, bringing disgrace and pain to their families.
