The
hour was 11.15am on a cloudy Saturday Morning, in the tropical Asaba city.
Having spent a couple of hours interacting with the clanging sounds of improvised
bar bells and the dumb ones too, I could not help but feel bullish and all fired
up. Talk about Ryback! As I stepped out of the house, heading towards my favourite lounge to go
treat myself to a scintillating EPL game, my head was filled with thoughts of
how beautiful another Arsenal win would be. Nothing else could bring me more
pleasure at that point. Just as I was relishing the thoughts of an eleventh
away win for my darling team, I saw a black Toyota Hilux SUV pull up right
in front of me with a man helping a heavily ‘loaded’ woman writhing in pain. ‘Labour
pains’, I unconsciously murmured to myself .Besides the deep sympathy I felt for
her, what struck me most however was the fear, discomfort, pain, frustration,
agony and the look of confusion on the man’s face.
Then
it hit me; Fathers!
Often
times, we very much rightly dissipate a lot of energy and resources into eulogizing
our mothers, and showing appreciation for the efforts they put in towards
raising us and molding us into what we turn out to be. Thank goodness, my dear
Joy Obayojie once dropped sweet bars on facebook, praising her wonderful dad.
That to me is way to go!
With
this short piece, I’d strive to establish in our minds, the wisdom in showing
gratitude and appreciation to our fathers who unarguably are the foundation for
whatever success we might have attained today. For giving our much adored
mothers the stage on which they could simulate whatever love, care and motherly
commitment to us. This is because the idea of directing such eulogies at our fathers is
totally banished to the realm of rarity and very often, contrary to orthodoxy.
Firstly,
it calls for emphasis the fact that it was actually our fathers who 'picked',
selected, appointed' and 'partnered' that wonderful woman we once called or now
call mother. For that he deserves some Kudos too, because had he made one wrong
decision, the outcome (Us ie Me and U) might have been grotesque, ugly and totally
disappointing! A complete failure, and we most likely would not turn out to be
the 'WE' we so love and are proud of today.
Who
chose and paid for the best ante-natal care he could afford, just to
ensure you're given the best possible medicare
even as a foetus?
Who
yelled at those clinically heartless and nonchalant nurses and scolded the senseless
egomaniac of a doctor who ordinarily would have seen Mum as "Just another helpless
patient"?
Who
stood pacing in the hallway anxiously waiting to hear your first cry and an assurance
that mum is okay too? And took you home in the most comfortable carrier he
could afford then, grinning from ear to ear, and telling every tom, dick and
harry who cared to listen that he's now got YOU!...like Wenger's got Ozil!
Who
took the next available ride to your school to either warn or smack the hell
out of that bully/teacher who always found it worthwhile to pick on you? Or
took a handful of military goons to go ruffle up some crazy teacher?
He
chose for you those schools you attended where you leant about the “Twinkling Little
stars” and a certain Black sheep with 3 bags of wool, Algebra, and of course
the perfect English language you now speak!
He
first had the dream and made the statement that ' My daughter/son is going to
be a Lawyer, Doctor, a Soldier, a world Class banker, an Architect and all
those!
Who
always left home very early just to catch the cheapest bus ride to work, not
because he could not totally afford the more expensive and comfortable buses,
or even a car, but he had to save up that money to ensure his little Ada goes
to the best school around and procure those “Readers”, New General Mathematics and
Elementary Science textbooks?
Who
first warned you about cultism and peer pressure, when you got admission into
the University? Also about rampaging and pathologically deceitful guys too who
would do just about anything lay you?
Who
drove, Usman Anone to Big Joe Park by 6am to help him catch a Kano bound bus in
his law school days, if not his Super Dad?
I
grew up to learn how damaging lies could be and how to be honest at all cost. Thanks to My
father, who drilled honesty and truthfulness into me in a somewhat military fashion?
Who
gets slapped and pummeled by power drunk military and para-military officials every
day, in a bid to ‘hustle’ for family? Okada riders and bus drivers of course; Dads
too!
THE LIST GOES
ON...FEEL FREE TO ADD YOURS….
The
point remains that regardless of the fact that our mothers naturally and even
happily go the extra mile to ensure our survival and comfort, we must not lose
grip of the fact that mothers tend to do it in the most 'motherly and obvious manner, with a flagrant show of
love and affection for us. However,
fathers 'just do what they have to do' without really having thoughts of the
affectionate or emotional effect on you. So when they buy toys, books, and snacks for their babies, it’s
usually to make them develop better....and not primarily, necessarily or particularly to DISPLAY
their affection or love for you, even though that is also a part of it!
NB; this noble piece
should never be misconstrued to mean a campaign against the show of appreciation
for our great mothers as any such thoughts is totally alien and could never be
traceable to the writer.
SAYANORA!!!
EHIWUOGWU ONYEKA
(ZEUS)
For ZEUSTELESCOPE (www.zeustelescope.blogspot.com)
twitter@zeuskachi
