In Africa, people and culture are believed to be inseparable, but in recent times, such could not be said to be totally accurate as cultural values and morals are drastically eroding.

It is widely acclaimed that societal standards are falling, morals are becoming erosive and it is why a young Nigerian could have the gut to order an octogenarian to vacate his seat.

The CEO of Sahara Group and Governorship aspirant of the APC in Rivers state, Tonye Cole took to Instagram on Sunday to narrate his encounter with fallen societal standard.

He shared the story of how a young man ordered Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka out of his seat aboard a flight.

He wrote:

“Met one of the greatest Nigerians walking the earth today and as with other times, he was genteel, witty, forthright and humble. My smile gives me away as he permitted the picture whereas he would have preferred to get back to his newspapers. Then we boarded the flight and after assisting him with his bags, he took the window seat and promptly started reading again.

“A few minutes later this young man, baseball cap, t-shirt to show his muscled chest and tattooed biceps boards the plane and tells Prof he is on his seat (which he was). Those of us including the cabin crew tried to reason with Bobo Fine to let the old man be but the chap refused. He insisted Prof should vacate his window seat, which the old man quietly did for his original aisle seat next to him.

“I couldn’t understand how we got to this point where we no longer have respect for elders, even if are so ignorant of the great global personalities in our midst.

“Is it too much to ask that an elderly man be allowed to remain in a seat allotted to you in the same business class cabin and the same row? Na wa o!”

See his IG post:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

@professorwolesoyinka #celebrategreatness #relationshipsmatter met one of the greatest Nigerians walking the earth today and as with other times, he was genteel, witty, forthright and humble. My smile gives me away as he permitted the picture whereas he would have preferred to get back to his newspapers. Then we boarded the flight and after assisting him with his bags, he took the window seat and promptly started reading again. A few minutes later this young man, baseball cap, t-shirt to show his muscled chest and tattooed biceps boards the plane and tells Prof he is on his seat (which he was). Those of us including the cabin crew tried to reason with Bobo Fine to let the old man be but the chap refused. He insisted Prof should vacate his window seat, which the old man quietly did for his original aisle seat next to him. I couldn’t understand how we got to this point where we no longer have respect for elders, even if are so ignorant of the great global personalities in our midst. Is it too much to ask that an elderly man be allowed to remain in a seat allotted to you in the same business class cabin and the same row? Na wa o!

A post shared by Tonye Patrick Cole (@tonyepatrickcole) on Jun 23, 2019 at 7:52am PDT