W
ritten Charly Boy
My
father and I didn't always get along but then again as a teenager or a
wise ass kid, who got along with their "old fashion" dad? He prepared me
for the person i am today. We made up some 25yrs ago and since then we
have built an unusual bond. He developed great respect for my
struggles, consistency and focus. I was filled with so much morale and
value that i became a misfit in an environment that degenerated and
became vile and foul, where mediocracy, sycophancy, reigns supreme. In
life there are a few things that can hit you so hard that even years
later you are left emotionally scarred, one of such experiences for me
was the death of my beloved elder sister Charlotte in 1981. That was the
very first time I saw a dead corps closeup, my sister was too beautiful
to die. Since then I always avoid wake keeps and funerals as much as I
can, because i just cant bear to see people in grief. What I felt
that day has never left me till date...
On Friday
morning, the 15th of February, I left the Punk Palace with my no
nonsense daughter Yvonne to meet up a few appointment already scheduled
for the day. I just didn't feel right that morning, I got up from the
wrong side of my bed, something was amiss but I couldn't put my finger
on it. I was unusually quiet throughout the day and my daughter sensed
it. I didn't know what was doing me until later that evening I got the
phone call from Oguta (my village) that rattled the hell out of me. My
Father has just been hit by stroke. My household were all in
shock.. When a family member has an illness, the entire family can be
affected. No one slept in my house that day, my daughter, Adaeze was
visiting from the States, she was most upset. The following morning she
and my younger brother flew to Owerri from Abuja to go be by my fathers
side, while i waited till monday to do banking before i left to join them. By the time I left on Monday
morning, I was emotionally and spiritually ready for the worst, but
nothing prepared me for what I was about to face on arrival.
The
hospital acclaimed one of the best in Owerri, was in my books , like a
roadside mechanic workshop. The doctors and nurses I saw initially were
like fulkanizers. By the time I saw my father and how the stroke had
distorted his face I became teary eyed. The whole setup was wrong..The
left side of his body was immobilised, reducing my handsome father to a
corpse like state. The Socrates of the supreme court was not fit to be
in such a hospital. From the day I came till 5days later when the
consultant were satisfied to grant his discharge so we could relocate
him to Abuja, he was making amazing and miraculous improvement. The
care and attention my fada later got from the nurses and doctors was
very touching, we became like one big family. I thank my brother cousin,
Dr. Reginald Oputa and all those who showed love.
On
the morning of the 21st of February as soon as my pops was discharged, I
drove him from the hospital to Owerri airport e route Abuja. As I
wheeled him into the departure hall, all eyes followed me. I even saw
surprises on more than a few faces, but everyone was wearing such a big
smile, the hall suddenly came alive. As I was readjusting my pops
sitting position and cleaning his droll on the left hand side of his
face. Almost all passengers in the departure hall was standing in line
waiting to shake my fathers hand. Yes I know my Fada is a good man,
always have been and am proud he taught me. That scene was a very
touching one for me. It was such an outpouring of love. Moments later,
an elderly woman walked up to us and put twenty thousand naira in my
hand and whispered, "keep taking good care of your father, I love you
for this" After her, as if it was choreographed a man came forward and
put a white envelope in my arm and said "here is my widows mite." The
show of love to me and my daddy that day brought tears to my eyes. Yes,
I am very emotional and sentimental. I didn't quite get it till I saw
the following mail in my face book page.
My Areafada Sir,
Some
things in life can leave you with so much surprise, it leaves you
wondering whether what your naked eyes see is actually true. You know
the human mind always helps us to create pictures of things we’ve only
heard of but yet to see or experience. Most times we might begin to
believe the picture our mind has played out but sometimes we are
privileged to see the real thing and we are shocked what the difference
really is. Abeg no vex Areafada, you must be wondering where this is
headed or who the hell it is but you don’t know me I’m a fan of yours on
Twitter, Facebook and on BB, I’m a huge fan.
My
mind has its picture of you and what you are like, I imagine you
sometimes and you come out to be this very mean, hard looking, pompous
and scary fellow. I have never seen you before but that’s what my mind
shows me.
Then I saw you for the very first time at the
airport recently with your ill father, though I had heard the news, I
didn’t quite get the picture of what it was like. My heart melted abi na
froze, don’t just get it. Not because he was ill or because of who he
is or who you are but because of the compassion I saw. I mean you are Charlyboy,
my Areafada and you could possibly hire someone to clean him up and
watch over him while he was with you but you were doing it yourself,
that’s what I found amazing and loving and caring. Short of words…
It
was a beautiful picture, different from what my mind had created. I
have learnt again that never should we assume that we know someone. I’m
not saying you are a saint, I’m saying everyone has their good side. I
saw yours the very first time I met you. Twale for you Sir.
Your Big Fan
Big Ben.
Now this explains the big smile I saw on people's faces that day. God bless you all.
On Wednesday, NBC Associate Producer Stacey Klein Instagramed the following note to her followers:
