Pursuing this thought has been an
uphill task. As I try to articulate the line of thoughts that stream from a lot
of others it becomes increasingly difficult to pin them down to form a coherent
view because as one thought jumps into my head, while am still grappling with
interpreting it, another leaps in and chases that one out as a house owner does
a rat. When that finally tries to settle in like a proprietor then another
thought dances in my head. This I have been struggling with but finally I will
reveal the secrets of my head as the drum reveals its tunes when slapped by the
hands.
I have pondered seriously on what
makes a man and in all my research to get different perspective to this issue,
I have keenly paid rapt attention to the things that human attach value and
substance to as those, which makes them who they are. To some, it is the status
they have attained that they consider pivotal. For others, it is the money,
cars, and houses that they deem as what stands them out. However, in all my
findings, I have come to discover that that not any of the temperaments
aforementioned that makes a man. Not to worry, I hope I can illuminate more
articulately on what makes a man in my view despite the clog of thoughts.
Forgive me if I always make
recourse to the wise book; it is because it is the fountain from which my
beliefs emanate. The wise book says a man’s work makes way for him and he who
is diligent in his work will stand before kings and princes. Taking a queue
from this, I realised that our ancestors after the birth of a child sought from
the diviner what his destiny is. This entails finding out on what type of job
he can do and how to help him achieve this. For me this was a major help in
helping a child tailor his life in his destiny. Must this trend continue? That
is not my argument as am a staunch believer in finding oneself by constantly
paying attention to discovering our ground.
I will love to share a story with
us, one story that happened by chance really. It is the story of a man who
drove the bus I was in on my way to my bosom friend’s house. As we, all know in
the city, where the hustle is red, senseless and overwhelming traffic jam that
freezes your feet from laborious positioning in the bus is synonymous to Lagos.
After several hours of commotion and impasse caused by the exodus of cars, a
chat ensured between the driver and I. My opinion of him was not quiet pleasant
after he was asinine to me initially insisting that I sat in a particular way
because of his gear. I just hated Lagos more and their public transport system
and I decided to be stoic throughout the journey.
However, the seemingly
interminable hold-up had its way and somehow; the driver and I got talking.
Maybe he sensed I was incensed at him still, he asked if I was from Osun state
as my accent with Yoruba did not seem too fluent. I immediately brushed him off
with a firm NO to his answer. He would not just stop asking me questions so I
finally forgave him in my heart and then we chatted away. What struck me most
was that he spoke averagely fluent English and as if he was in my head, he
eased the burden by telling me he was a graduate at the prestigious Obafemi
Awolowo University.
He said ‘oga as you see me ehn I
no just be lousy driver oh’
I asked ‘why then did you start
driving?’
‘oga na naija cause am naa, I
could not find a job for years after I graduated so I got this bus and started
driving it myself’
Then I was stunned to say the
least and commended his courage to take such bold step.
He confessed: ‘it was not easy
for me starting oh. Many of my friends abandoned me and called me names. Nevertheless,
I strived on because I know they would not feed me. As I am now, I own a camry
car I cruise around town when am not doing this job and a ten-bedroom house
where I rented eight out and live in two. Oga all of this gotten from the job I
do. Now my friends come to me for help - same ones that laughed at me.’
There was a brief silence between
us as other passengers either wanted their change or demanded him to change the
music blasting from his speakers or turn it off or increase it. He needs to buy
some fruits that night so he could get the change for his passengers. He bought
banana and another conversation ensued.
‘oga take banana naa’ but I
declined telling him “my mahn am so tired oh I cannot even eat. I just wan
reach home make I find correct food chop” then he laughed and said ‘you no be
like woman they always want banana, I get one wey no dey tire if I dey go meet
am, na to drink alomo (big one oh) and enough energy drinks cos she no dey
tire’
I could not stop laughing and I
said ‘you know women now, you ask them to eat banana, they say that is all you
want with them but once you give them banana, they start wanting more’
It was then he told me that ‘all
they want is what they can get from you but once you get one wey no even want anything
that is the one. You see me, I go marry soon cos me don get correct woman. I
knew her mum cos she used to help me then and we got close. Once I met her
daughter, I knew that was my wife but her mum asked if I was sure as she will
not want watin go make am hate me oh. “you have to be sure you want to marry my
child” oga this girl if she comes and I give her money say owo motor e re, she
go say “I get money to go back oh if I no get, I no go come” there is nothing I
cant do for this girl’
Our discussion cut short because
I had to alight at the last bus stop and we exchanged pleasantries. On my way
to Ade’s place, I got thinking and it dropped to my mind that hands
make a man. Nothing in this world will take a man to his dreams than
his hands. By this I mean it is what we do that determines who we will be or
who we will be. Be it the cars or houses we own, or our jobs, they do not make
us; it is what we invest our time and efforts on that makes us. One’s work
saves from poverty. Do not be like the sluggard who sleeps yet wants money and
when you give him money, you offend him more.
Truly, the palms of a man do not
deceive him. No matter what, keep at it; just like the hunter who goes for a
kill toiling with no game, if he gives up, he will never feed himself. The
hunter stays all night that kills the elephant the whole community will feed
on. No individual will shoulder your responsibility, the hands of a man that
saves one from misery.
ADEKANYE ADEYINKA .O.
An adage said,Atelewo eni ki tan ni je n idle hand is devil workshop.Nice write ups n God bless u Adeyinka.More of God wisdom,knowledge and understanding.Amen
ReplyDeleteNice piece bro
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