Those who have been consistent readers of this column are more than very familiar with Professor Ademola Da Sylva, ex-University of Ibadan Professor of English currently at Redeemer’s University (RUN), Ede in Osun State.
Da Sylva is an erudite scholar’s scholar, thorough poet, academic activist and humanist of super-human strength imbued with the ripe feeling of love and decency to propel himself and those he encounters into absolute faith in the Divine Being to solve problems in living especially in Nigeria: his country.
He is a full patriot who at different times shared his courageously patriotic thoughts in this column. He loves Nigeria absolutely and I equally admire him – absolutely – for this (and for his other concerns that distinguish and enhance my respect for him which he often returns in kind to me).
Because I had not heard from him for a greatly and longishly long time as a spectre is haunting this country – his country your country my country our country – I reached out to him – to know what was amiss (or un-amiss) and unusually unusual at his domestic end and region of the country. His reply is this love letter you are about to read. I will counsel you to read it creatively – if you must digest deliciously and appreciate the morality and life-affirming super-grand scholar, poet and humanist of several parts.
Dear TA, our eminently erudite one, thanks for checking on me. Don’t be angry with me o, abeg. I am fine, I read your weekly column regularly, and very much at home with responses, reactions, and contributions from diverse readers and places… On sporting activities: Although I used to play soccer, volleyball, did boxing for my school, and I led the school musical band, in my secondary school, Catholic Minor Seminary days, trying to become a Reverend Father (I am giggling as I am voicing this).
I had been a blind fan of the Academicals, that was the soccer game competition among secondary schools in the old Western Region, and I had followed with keen interest, soccer games with Mighty Jets of Jos, Enugu Rangers, Kano Pillars, Bendel Insurance of Benin, IICC of Ibadan, Abiola Babes of Abeokuta, etc., and the Green Eagles (much later Super Eagles) (and Junior Eagles) – with soccer greats such as Dejo Fayemi, Rigogo, Okala, Chairman Christaian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Prince Afejuku, Sylvanus Okpala, Henry Nwosu, Rashidi Yekini up to the time of Jay Jay Okocha, after which I switched off completely. The problem is that I am no fan of sports anymore.
I consider now sports a distraction from the real meat of an apparent systemic collapse; from a compromised security system, and the country’s fiscal policies dictated by Agencies that never wished us well! I am disturbed, worried and seriously concerned! So I chose to concentrate on things that matter to our social and economic well-being and of our polity, etc. This is why I have been silent. It is perhaps the only way I could secure my sanity… I am sorry, my dear brother TA should I have appeared to be withdrawn somehow. How do we make ours a sane society, a relatively sane society in comparison to other climes? I have been dreaming and hoping for this in my seclusion.
I am OK, and thank God Almighty for everything, and in particular, for the gift of life, and good health. Times are hard out there, TA. I have lost count of people, retired, former students, current graduate students, neighbours, church members, etc., requesting for assistance for survival. It is spirit-dampening. It almost literally took the light out of me. These things foreground my reactions and responses to issues in these trying times, these depressing times. And unless something drastic happens to arrest the current situation and drift there is likely to be an irreversible implosion the magnitude of which would be unprecedented.
I have poured my heart to you as I have done because of our common love for Nigeria. It’s a tight love actually. And perhaps you are the only brother who loves this country better than I do. Seriously. Any query? Keep the fire burning; I am not done yet, however.
Ah! TA! Let me talk about RUN, albeit briefly. RUN is a most pleasant place to work. I am on almost N700K a month as a Professor. I teach two undergraduate courses (300L and 400L; a course each at MA and Ph.D. levels). My literature students range between 40 and 15 per class. To date, RUN, I guess, pays the highest salaries over and above Federal universities.
In fact, I could keep on renewing my contract appointment till I reach the age of 75 years. The money and environment are quite inviting. I am saying so with utmost pleasure and gratitude to RUN and to God Almighty. So TA, you can understand my perspective and where I am coming from.
When I look back, and between then and now, the divine grace upon my life has been immeasurable. And as a specially favoured of God Almighty (filius Dei), the way I have made myself available to be useable as a befitting tool in the hands of God Almighty and His veritable channel: as a teacher, mentor, father, parent, pastor, unionist, human rights activist, and more, close shaves with death many times, near misses, it is awesome, and my humble achievements are un-describable. Certainly, I love RUN and its ambience that affords me as well my peace of mind. I am creating real time unlike before to complete some creative works I left halfway for lack of time. To God Almighty be all the Glory, my brother. Sure you understand me better now.
I love you. I love what you are doing, our eminently erudite columnist, poet and public scholar up there. We all love you. You know what I mean and who we are. Cheers times three and more than times three.
After reading Da Sylva’s letter one thought that entered me was this: One of the best things about tough and depressing times is that they take away fake and false friends. But I was particularly fascinated by the burden of what he wrote to me – the love of country and for country which he dressed in the bourdon of love despite the sentiments of depression also couched in it.
The letter also reminds me of the patriotic and philosophical sentiments and theories of several classical, modern and contemporary philosophers, theorists and mystics.
But I must lovingly spare you their stamps, names and identities. I can go on and on. But my response to Da Sylva must not go beyond this point, at least for now – even though I should halt here (on this note): May his love for me and all his friends and human-kind as a whole endure.
Afejuku can be reached via 08055213059.
