The act of alms taking has become a flourishing market in Osogbo, developing a tick skin against the present economic recession, DAILY POST’s report has revealed.
A survey by our reporter revealed that there are about four “prominent” locations within Osogbo metropolis where alms men and women could be found in their large numbers struggling to make a living.
At the popular Ayetoro junction, hundreds of almsmen and women are always available for gifts from passersby as early as 6:am on daily basis, both young and old.
It is the same trend at Oja-Oba, Igbonna and Sabo areas of the town with apparent high patronage irrespective of economic condition of the state and Nigeria at large.
Speaking on the matter, a Sociologist, Mr Daisi Amuda said the scope of alms giving in the South West Nigeria was more spiritual than benevolence, saying it is an age-long social orientation among the people of the region.
Amuda explained that it is a common belief among the Yoruba speaking people that alms giving, which is known as “itore aanu” in Yoruba parlance solves many spiritual problems and even open doors of opportunity and blessings.
According to him, the orientation cuts across religious affiliations and beliefs, adding that all the religions in the region firmly believe in the potency and efficacy of alms giving.
In the same vein, a public commentator, Mrs Sade Olaolu said the “business” of alms taking in the South West would continue to flourish despite economic hardship because it is “ideologically driven.”
She explained that people give out alms for greater returns, and not out of generousity.
“Alms giving in this part of the country is like a gamble, or better still, a spiritual investment, when you give out N100, you expect to get N1000 in return or a problem to be solved miraculously.
“The logic is simple, while it is purely ideological to the givers, it is economical to the takers, all things being equal,” she said..
Meanwhile, an economist, and former consultant to the Federal Government on MDGs, Mr Tosin Yusuf maintained that although, the locations where alms are given could not be safely described as market, yet, an integral means of transaction(money) is used, which gives it an economic colouration.
He explained that such “imaginary market” is technically insulated against the economic condition of its environment because it does not respond to the forces of demand and supply.
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