Ayokunle Odekunle: A letter to my unborn child – Dare to be different

by Ayokunle Odekunle

I told him people hate me and the likes. He looked me straight in the eyes, took me outside to a mango tree and he asked me to choose the one I would throw stones at and I told him that would have to be the ripe and good one. He had made his point as he told me that people only attack what his good and that people attack me cos I am a good fruit.

PS: I wrote this article in 2009 as a student of the University of Ibadan. Just feel like sharing once more. Enjoy!

Hello sweetie,

I am staring into the dark now, reminiscing, and thinking of how life was and how it is now. I also am trying to imagine how it would be during your own time, when I the agile Oddy would probably be a bent old man with bald head and sunken eyes.

I remember when I was a kid, things were good. My dad would go to work early and come back early. Mummy never had to work because daddy’s salary was enough for the family. Daddy would always buy things for me being the only child then. I remember the TALES BY MOONLIGHT, SPEAK OUT, MEGA CHECKMATE and that EKO BANK ADVERT ‘a brand of quality banking…that’s Ecko bank, that’s Ecko bank’ and the Planta advert ‘children its breakfast time. Breakfast time is planta time, planta…’

 Things started changing economically and I remember Daddy told mummy to go and dust up her certificates because she had to start working too. That was when I started seeing less of mummy. Mummy would return from work very late and leave home very early and that way, I started seeing less of mummy.

I entered secondary school, and things had deteriorated. Daddy (a lawyer)  told me I might not do very well unless I studied Law or medicine, Engineering, or accounting. I wanted to be a  journalist I insisted but daddy would not agree. Writing was my forte I told daddy but daddy felt otherwise.  I had to settle for law which I am studying now in a once great university.

Sweetheart, things have changed really from when I was young till date. Morality has been thrown to the winds, Intellect is at its lowest ebb, The SPEAK OUTS of those days have been replaced with mediocre shows. Even the political atmosphere is now bloody. I remember ‘on the march again, Nigeria on the March again, looking for Mr President…Mko is our man o’. Oh! How I wish those days could come back.

Now as a university undergraduate, I believe I have a fair knowledge of what life is about. I have always tried to be the best in everything I do and I have been coming under the stick for everything I do. While some would say I am actually playful and brilliant, others insist I am cocky, proud and arrogant. While some love what I do, others see nothing good in it.

So, one day, I told my father, your grandfather. I was weeping and heartbroken. I told him people hate me and the likes. He looked me straight in the eyes, took me outside to a mango tree and he asked me to choose the one I would throw stones at and I told him that would have to be the ripe and good one. He had made his point as he told me that people only attack what his good and that people attack me cos I am a good fruit. I was so excited afterwards as nothing could ever move me again. Not even the worst critics who would carry a megaphone and scream HE IS PROUD, NAIL HIM.

Sweetie, your dad loves to do things that are right not minding whose ox is gored, I implore you do the same.

Your mummy sends her greetings. Although I think I know who your mummy should be, things could take a dramatic turn as man proposes as God disposes.

I wonder how life would be when you are my age. Maybe there would be uninterrupted power supply or maybe corruption would still be celebrated to the high heavens as it is now. I wonder if history would teach you of diligent men of the past who always try to be the best in all they do.

I have to go now sweetie as valentine is around the corner and I must get something for mommy to remind her of my unflinching love for her but remember that you must have something which you can die for or you would not be fit to live. Also in life, you can’t win all battles. You win some and loose some and whenever you fall, try to rise up again.

One last thing dear, never look down on people because we never know who is who,only look down on people when you want to help them up. Also know that nothing you do in life is failure-proof because even God’s design for mankind failed. when you want something, you should push and push until you get it…even the strongest doors squeak and fall under pressure. Impossibility is nothing

Your daddy is also a lover of unpopular opinion. He sticks to his guns no matter the position of the opposition. He hates following the crowd and he would rather go the other way to create his own path… his own way. You should aspire to do the same. Men who follow the crowd are never remembered by history. To make history, you should to dare to do the unthinkable.

With love from Daddy.

Oddy

– NOTE: The ‘Mummy” in the piece has since left me. Lol

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Ayokunle Odekunle tweets from @oddy4real

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