10/03/2020
Copied!!!
Last week, he uploaded a picture on his WhatsApp status with his friends and wrote, "chilling with my home boys. School na scam."
He didn't know, but his father saw it. This past weekend, the driver went to his lodge in school and brought him home on his father's instruction.
A resounding slap followed the instruction to sit.
Before he could speak, his father hugged him and told him to sit.
He was confused. "Dad, why slap and hug me?"
I didn't care to raise my head as I focused on the computer and documents I was typing.
"I saw your update. Look around this house, did you think all these would've been possible if I didn't make the friends I made in school? Look at my circle of friends, all of them have their Master's from a foreign university and hold key positions across different companies. Did you think this would've been possible if I was chanting school is scam?"
"I'm sorry dad."
" Be sorry for yourself. Remember the son of who you are. I poured my sweat and blood to give you this life. My father wanted me to be a conductor in this Lagos. When he heard I bought a JAMB form, he beat me with iron and starved me for many days. I had to run away and slept under bridges for many days. Look at you. You receive monthly allowance and a driver is at your beck and call."
When I heard Beck, I answered thinking he was calling me. I was lost in thoughts.
"Beck I wasn't referring to you. Focus on what you're doing."
His son apologised again and tiny tears started circling around his eyes.
"I love you my son. I want the best for you. Many young people like yourself don't have rich parents like you. You will finish school soon and a job is already waiting for you. You travel abroad for your holidays and have the best life can offer. Why then do you decide to engage in gutter conversations with every lowlife you see? What is wrong with you? Do you think if others had the opportunity you have, they won't do better?"
His last words touched me.
Truly, if many of us had better opportunities, we would've done better. We would've listened to better people and changed our circle of friends to reflect better life decisions.
A rich man will always protect his children and want them to always stay ahead. If we must compete, we need to try twice as much.
Life does not come on a platter for everyone.
But this man's journey inspires me too. If he could rise from the slums to a corporate executive in the same city where his father wanted him to be a bus conductor, then your own dreams are valid.
But I must quickly add; the journey and what was done along the way is something no man will ever tell you.
You need to live your own reality.
May you always find support along your life's path.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Martin Beck Nworah
