₦airaland Forum

I became a force to be reckoned with in my country. By now i was already the president of the Academic Staff Union of universities (ASUU).

I used my office to fight against injustice and better working/ living condition of lecturers in the Republic.

I was rugged. I was dogged. Governments of the day had no choice than to bow to the union and by inferenrce, to me.

I became a visiting lecturer to two American universities. a British university and the prestigious Melbourne Institute of Technology, Victoria in Australia.

I made money. I made name as a prolific lecturer, even with my Masters.

I wanted more than that. I wanted to make aname for myself outside the ivory towers.

I wanted to be a name to be reckoned with when it comes to my chosen area of expertise.

It was during my trips to MIT, Australia, that i had my Phd and qas fiinally awarded a doctorate degree in Mathematics and Computer Simulations nineyears after i was first denied the degree.

Had my work been accepted and my doctorate degree consequently awarded, at 27, i would had been the youngest Phd holder in the republic.

Some disgruntled elements at the university obviously saw my star and decided that it be quenched before it got the chance to shine.

In my own estimation, denying me a Phd was a plot to stop me from outshining these elements.

I had continued as a lecturer in the said university with my Masters degree(I got the job in the first place because i was given automatic employment having graduated from my first degree with a first class).

I continued to research on several area of interests. I published more papers than all the lecturers in the university put together. The number of my published works almost halfed the published work of all the other lecturers in the country.

I attended local and international seminars and conferences.

It was impossible for me not to shine under the circumstance.

I cringed at the mention of the word "home".

I had not felt at home since my arrival back to my country of origin.

I had bluntly rejected previous invitations of one group or the other that has to do with public gathering. I felt their way of reasoning was different from mine.

I was not valued when i was here. I was even denied a doctorate degree thirty five years ago when my thesis was not accepted by a committee of internal and external examiners of the university.

All effort to seek redress in the court of law proved abortive as i was denied justice.

The movers and shakers of the educational, business as well as political world had been present to grace the occasion.

Even the Vice President of the Republic had not only been in attendance, but had gone on to wait after making his speech, for the chit-chat session, during cocktail, where he had exchanged pleasantries with most of the invited guests present.

He had approached me afterwards, with a handshake, saying i was most welcome back home. He continued that he hope for the opportunity where my wealth of knowledge and experience in the computer and iinternet world can be put to use in not only "developing our country but in maintaing our nascent democracy as well."

'There is really nothing wrong in being in government', I said in reply. 'Infact, this country needs experts like you and me for it to move to the next level of development.'

Dr. Egwim looked at me, shaking his head sadly. I could see pity in his eyes. Was it for me, the Republic or the government of the day? I couldn't tell. And, seriously, i didn't care as at the time.

It had been a night of wining and dining organised by the Computer Professionals Registration council in my honour.

It had been exactly 21 days since my arrival from self imposed exile. The professional body had deemed it fit to honour me by throwing a party to welcome me back to the country.

'There is no need looking so disturbed Ralph dear. I think what the professor is saying is that there is a need for everyone to support the government for it to succeed, right prof?'

'Eeh, yes. Absolutely, yes. That's it,' I said, supporting Mrs Egwim in coaxing her husband to allay his fears of oour nascent democracy.

' I am not saying we shouldn't support the government. peolpe. But not all of us should be in government if this nation must move forward.

'We need people, sane people, like you - Professor, to be outside the government to help fuel the engine that drives their wheel of progress'. Dr Egwim said with remarkckable passion.

########

The story continues during the week in bits as i get the opportunity. However, most of my updates will be during weekends.

Hope u are having an interesting read, though? Feel free to drop ur comments.

Do have a fulfilling week ahead.

#kisses
#hugs

I looked around me again and i saw my house - not looking so bad afterall, especially considering the years we had been away.

I noticed our neighbours peeping through their windows and doors. Some of them were familiar. But they looked ever so scared and hostile.

The air didn't taste of the aroma from the cooking pot. There was nothing pleasant about it.

To say the least, there was nothing homely about this place. Infact, i hated the very thought of it as home.

'This' no home', i uttered in disgust. 'I want to go home!'

There was no child playing outside. No sound of women pounding their food in the mortar. No roaring of a car engine - except for that of the taxi that came to drop us. The usual workman's noise that had so much become a part of this environment was also missing.

As i sat on one of our luggages, i took another glance at my environment - just in time to see Eddie pay the driver our fare. As if to re-assure myself where we were wasn't where i thought we were. The young man was walking up to me as our taxi disappeared in the dust with a certain sound that suggests it was not happy to had been here in the first place and was more than glad to leave. Almost by reflex, i felt i should had left with it.

'Son', i wanted to know, 'when are we going home?'
Eddie looked at me in utter amazement. With outstretched arms, he declared proudly, 'Dad, this is home!'
'Oh my God', i thought, 'my fears were true afterall. This' home?'

CHAPTER ONE
The place i once knew had a handful of trees. I remember birds used to chirp on them. The air, though fresh, used to have taste of mild smoke of burning firewood usually mixed with the aroma that comes from the nearby cooking pot.

There was also the usual bustling of activities around the vicinity; like children playing in the heat, woman pounding food in thier morter, the roaring of a car engine every now and then, the popular tunes from a stereo as well as the clanging or rotating sound that comes from the tools of a skilled workman.

This was the place i knew as home. However, this was not what i met on arrival. The trees looked bare and the one or two birds found on tthem made no sound worth noticing. There was something about the air. Not that i knew what it was. But i remember, the thought of it did give me the creeps.

[left][/left]With patched eye lids
That have seen years of
Hostilities & hardship;
Coupled with a heart that has
Been repeatedly
Broken and remended;
And lips that have forgotten
What it is like to smile:
I look forward to
Going home:
Where i can smile
And be smiled at:
Where if i fall,
A hand will be there
To pick me up:
Where i can die happy
Knowing i am home.
- Akpan J. U.

I didn't find any court house there. It probably means nobody would be charged. There was no pollice station either, because nobody gets arrested here. As i looked aaround the place, i discovered the doors of the building had no key-holes on them. The gates of the city, which, by the way, were made of pure gold, had no locks. one thing came to my mind - there were no thieves here. There was also no need for a hospital because nobody gets hurt or sick in this city.

There was no night for the throne gave its light at all times. Everyone with smiling, loving faces, knew what to do and did them with great joy.

Although i saw a great number of people within the city and a great deal more passing through the open gates into the city, i noticed that most of the buildings were still uninhabited and i wondered why more people have not discovered this city.

My God! There were enough mansions for everyone. The entire atmosphere of this place looked inviting, comfortable and homely. I smiled to no one in particular and said to myself, "Oh boy! This must be home".

The light was like unto a stone, most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. The streets of the city were pure gold as it were transparent glass.

Every building was well decorated both internally and externally, as if the best decorator was hired to do the job. I saw a beautiful building with a well kept lawn and decorated garden. It had my name on it and my heart leapt for joy.

A river ran across the city and its contents were used to water its trees, gardens and lawns.

[center][/center]Waiting To Go Home
By Akpan James Unyime
©2016
Published by
The Oracle Centre for Leadership & Development

No part of this work shall be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without a written permission from the author or publisher.

Hello guys/ gals, am kind of excited to make this post.
The story you are about to read is purely my work but inspired by the socio-political trend of my country. it is not aimed at iinsulting or demeaning any individual or group.

I was initially hesitant to tell my story but after reading the works of great nairaland writers llike Auddry Timms and Mizqoute, i am motivated to write.

I may not measure up to these great writers but i hope you will enjoy my strory, nontheless.



[center][/center]Waiting To Go Home
By Akpan James Unyime
©2016
Published by
The Oracle Centre for Leadership & Development

No part of this work shall be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without a written permission from the author or publisher.

Hello guys/ gals, am kind of excited to make this post.
The story you are about to read is purely my work but inspired by the socio-political trend of my country. it is not aimed at iinsulting or demeaning any individual or group.

I was initially hesitant to tell my story but after reading the works of great nairaland writers llike Auddry Timms and Mizqoute, i am motivated to write.

I may not measure up to these great writers but i hope you will enjoy my strory, nontheless.



[center][/center]Waiting To Go Home
By Akpan James Unyime
©2016
Published by
The Oracle Centre for Leadership & Development

No part of this work shall be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without a written permission from the author or publisher.

Hello guys/ gals, am kind of excited to make this post.
The story you are about to read is purely my work but inspired by the socio-political trend of my country. it is not aimed at iinsulting or demeaning any individual or group.

I was initially hesitant to tell my story but after reading the works of great nairaland writers llike Auddry Timms and Mizqoute, i am motivated to write.

I may not measure up to these great writers but i hope you will enjoy my strory, nontheless.



PROLOGUE
What a place! Its only source of light radiated from a throne. There seems to be aa great flush of light from there to every part of the city. This sort of gives th city a lighted look, oterwise, the place woud had been in darkness.