For over two months, I battled with writer’s block and couldn’t construct anything meaningful. I had different ideas of what to write, but putting them together to make sense became the real challenge.
Last Monday (August 12, 2024) at about 23:30 hours Canada Eastern Time, I received a WhatsApp call from someone I truly love and believe to be my blood and younger sister, asking me to own up to something I didn’t say. In fact, her words were so insulting that I cut the call in anger.
In my over 50 years of life, I have never placed a curse on anyone, even as an unbeliever, let alone now that I personally know the God who never fails. I know I may have a “coconut head,” which is why I choose my words carefully even when I am angry. (Yes, I have God’s permission to be angry according to the Holy Book: “Be angry, but do not sin.”)
I know as a communicator that words are like eggs; once they break, no one can pick them up again. I always stand by the truth, even with my byline. I recall writing not one or two stories that shook the Nigerian telecom industry, and when the editors checked and cross-checked my facts and sources, there were no sanctions, no repercussions for me. Even when one of the telcos asked my managing director to fire me, the integrity of the organization prevailed at that time.
Before the current saga, I noticed that she loves to twist words in her favor. On July 12, 2024, at about 11:30 AM, during a phone conference between her husband and me, she accused and insulted me again over something I didn’t do. Her husband had to tell her that what she believed she heard wasn’t what I said.
An hour later, she called, asking me the same question, and I told her to get the full story from her husband if she didn’t hear correctly. Just like the Holy Book says in Genesis 25:22, “Why am I like this?” Is it that the heavenly being designed me so that people can lie against me? I am not Jesus Christ. I am merely human.
Hmmmm.
Rewind to about one year ago, June 6, 2023. Precisely one Mr. Ayodele Lamidi also had a habit of twisting words to curry favour from everyone, even my next-door neighbor whom I truly love. In fact, I introduced both because, at that time, he helped courier personal stuff to Nigeria. By the time my investigative instinct kicked in, it was too late to remedy anything.
You know how some people can be so manipulative and lie so convincingly that you wonder where all these lies are coming from? Like the late Nigerian gospel artist Aduke Gold once said, it’s usually their words against yours.
Hmmm.
Why am I like this? Though two or more people who are true elders said I should move on because he will one day meet his Waterloo.
Another time travel to the past, to August 2018, six years ago, I observed that an innocent comment online irked one of my fathers and mentors. I actually combined three styles of writing with these mentors but took more from him.
Somehow, I checked through his social media because I had the privilege to manage it at one point and then realized that Mrs. Dupe Olaoye, popularly called Mama Labour, had lifted my innocent conversation, which Mummy Joke Kujenya ignited. Mama Labour didn’t pick up others but mine.
Anyways, after about three years of distance and quiet, my father said to Mr. Femi Babafemi a.k.a Daddy Ikeja and Mr. Sola Oshunkeye (very great fathers and mentors too) that I should apologize to Mama Labour. I am not one who likes drama and am always willing to say I am sorry in any circumstance, except where it is clearly a lie. That is where my coconut head will gyrate as if the water in it wants to spill.
I remember telling them that I cannot apologize over lies, that she infringed on my rights and escalated the situation out of context just to curry favor. That is the height anyone could go to hurt a junior colleague.
Why me?
Maybe in the near future, I will truly know why God has caused me excruciating pains and never allowed my tears to dry.
Though, one takeaway for me is never to trust or rely on people.
See you next week.