Must Read: Ade

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: Ade

Dr Tanimowo sat on one of the chairs
facing the principal. He did not see us when
we entered because the door was left
opened as the school’s principal officers
trooped in to greet him. So when he saw
the smile on the face of the principal, he
turned to look at the people who had just
come in. He saw us, smiled as he stood up
to give us a hug each and said,


”My two troublesome boys, how una dey?”
It was sure he was happy to see us after
two years.
”We dey o. No be you teach us how to
shoot wahala?” said I.


He slapped our backs and said again, ”Una
still never shange o. Una just go become
big. Ah ah! Wetin una dey shop?”
”Oga mi, you too no shange jo. That ya wife
dey do better work for ya body o. Na only
small remain make we no sabi you again.


But sha, you do well. Welcome sir.” Rotimi
said as we all cursied.


The Principal stood watching us as we
chatted, laughed and bantered in pidgin.


He was surprised at the camaraderie we
exuded. Shola was not in the least
surprised as she had witnessed much of it
before then and had even participated in it.


After greeting his boys, Dr. Tanimowo said,
”And you must be Shola?”
She replied in the affirmative.


”Wow! You actually are more radiant than
the way you sound on phone, I must say.


Hope you didn’t mind my not recognising
you earlier and hope these boys haven’t
troubled you much?”

Shola smilingly thanked him and said
imitating us, ”Dem no fit trouble me sir, I be
dem mama.”

We all laughed at her joke.


Fifteen minutes later, a teacher came to tell
the principal that the assembly hall had
filled up and the students were waiting for
us. Immediately, we left for the venue of the
action. I carried my lecturer’s briefcase
while Shola carried his laptop bag and
Rotimi had to make do with his jacket.


The principal walked in front while we followed
in the rear after Dr. Tanimowo.


We got to the hall at exactly ten a.m. All the
students had an expectant look on their
faces and rose to greet as we entered the
hall. The principal took the microphone and
introduced the guests.

”The day I have been telling you about is
finally here. We have amidst us from the
great Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a
great man and a Professor of Psychology.


He flew in from Zaria last night and is here
this morning to help us tackle our
challenges as he calls it. Give a round of
applause to Dr. Olumide Tanimowo.”


The hall roared in response to his
command as Dr. Tanimowo stood for
recognition. The principal invited Rotimi,
Shola and I to the high table where all other
senior members of staff were seated. We
really felt like VIPs.

Dr. Tanimowo finally took the stage and
started his lecture. His laptop was in front
of him but he did not switch it on. Only the
three of us knew, he hated reading his
prepared notes.


”Good morning ladies and gents, sorry,
boys and girls or should I say, miniature
men and women?” The students laughed
at his statement.


”It’s not funny o. What you are is different
from what people see you as. That is the
begining of our individual challenges. And
language doesn’t help at times, you might
be something that you want to express but
the right word for it might not exist in
language. Now, the language say you are
boys and girls but I know some of you
won’t like that tag. Am I wrong?” He asked.


”No sir!” chorused the obviously excited
students.


”So I want you to know that perception is
the greatest instrument to individual
psychological challenges and solutions.
There are many ways to fall into teenage
and adulthood crises as had been
highlighted to me. Some might be through
Molest, through peer pressure, through
indoctrination, through influence, etc, but it
is the way you perceive yourself that will
determine the way you respond to other
means of these challenges. For instance, a
victim of Molest might see him or herself as
an outcast and as such believe that the best
way is to do such to others and thus, the
trend continues. While another victim of
such might just perceive him or herself as a
victim of circumstance and see it as a wake
up call to end such ill. So my dear listeners,
though it is arguable that individual
perception does not work in all cases of
our societal challenges, such as the case of
those forced into prostitution, it still
remains that your mind belongs to you and
you have virtual control over it. You choose
what to believe and what not to believe. So
believe in your positive abilities and all
negativities will fall by the wayside even if
you had been forced to do them. It is your
positive mind that will create a way out for
you.



I am still around and look forward to
seeing you all individually as we chart a
way out of your individual challenges.


Thank you.”


Everybody including the principal who had
been shaking his head all through the
lecture gave a rasping applause to him as
he left the podium.


Questions and answers followed and the
personal sessions began in his makeshift
office. The students trooped in…