I happened to have come across some of the nicest people in the world – I’m still coming across them – in my sojourn in this transitory earth. The very thoughts of them give me so much happiness that I can’t but keep celebrating them.
One of those people is a guy I encountered at Alamuwa Grammar School, Ado Odo. He is so handsome to the point of being described as beautiful.
His father used to be in the Nigeria Police, so I wouldn’t be wrong to call him a barrack boy. When someone grows up in the barracks, They are usually street wise.
Their parents would have instilled the force disciplinary actions in them, they too would be meeting people of all characters by their being resident in the barracks and, of course, their consciences or lack of them would also be there to direct their points of action.
He happened to have attended Tai Solarin’s Mayflower College at Ikenne. Tai was much more popular than his college. In fact, I dare say he made Ikenne, along with Chief Awolowo, popular.
He did that with his advocacy for good governance that would have led to better life for the common folks in Nigeria.
He then proceeded to attend the premier University of Ibadan.
I’m listing his background so that people will know his solid foundation.
I really don’t know of any problem that would have made him lose his calm mien. Not that he would not be agitated at times, but those chubby cheeks of his would still remain as fresh as ever.
I hope madam is not reading this. Ajobe la se die l’ole. All I know is that many were struggling for him. I didn’t say ladies o!
Maybe that’s to make the prophecy in the book of Isaiah 4:1 true. All I know is that as holy as I am, I’d just sit down and be reading my bible.
We actually lived together and I can’t remember both of us having a quarrel. The guy is so wise that whatever problem that might have arisen would be solved diplomatically.
We lived in a hotel turned residential apartments then. The bar was still there. And, once in a month army officers from Owode would go and have Tombola Night in the hotel. The night was usually the last Thursday of each month.
He is a good player of chess and scrabble too. I also do play those games.
He was a good Chemistry teacher. He rose through the ranks as a tutor, head of department, vice principal before reaching the zenith of his professional career as principal.
He has since retired but I doubt if he’s tired. However, Nigeria may not find such apolitical brains useful!
I wouldn’t know if he’s a born again now, but in those good old days he didn’t play with his Odeku, as the large size of Guinness stout is called in Nigeria and his pack of Benson and Hedges cigarettes.
When I left to work at Apapa, Adeyeye Rotimi was my constant guest. He made a great impact on me!
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