"Mama, I made it through the potholes, through those dark bushes that snakes had carpeted. Mama, I made it through the paves which scorpions were freely hawking their stings. I truly made it despite the heavy cloud of bees that overshadowed the way. I made it in the scorching sun that sent out profuse sweat from my body when no power existed in my pockets to obtain an umbrella or water to quench my thirst.
Mama, my name did not go round the African continent alone, but together with the image of my village. Apart from the series of amazing compelling books I had written that circulated the world and got a ground in African literature, I received torrential awards from the continent. My aesthetically fascinating articles were also published in various newspapers, magazines, journals etc. Indeed, Mama, my poems flew high and hit the sky. I centralised most of my works on contemporary social ills: child abuse, drug abuse, banditry, rape and so on. Some categories of my works were also on the portrait of African leaders who appeared as beautiful as flowers but the serpents under.
Apart from this, Mama, I also wore the regalia of legal practitioners. My name was written in gold in the profession. What I chose was courageos human rights activism and pro bono services. I did that, Mama. There was arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, extra-judicial killings etc. I went to many prisons as a human right activist with my colleagues. I had seen pitiable pre-trial detainees. I had seen innocent people who were there not because of crimes or any offence but because they had no money to give bribes and could not pay for legal service. Many prisoners were becoming more hardened and exposed to the absurd attitudes of the real criminals. I had noticed how the prison system was centred to a larger extent on retribution rather than reformation. Mama, I also worked with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and so many other human rights movements that I could not clearly remember now.
Again, Mama, I got unlawfully detained when I publicly stated that one of the reasons I joined the legal profession was to challenge some of the laws and not actually to preserve them because of the lacunas and loopholes they suffered from. I thanked God the period I spent in the prison broadened my experience and made me felt the excruciating pain of flagrant violation of human rights. It is indeed true that every activist is a graduate of prison. I read about Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Gani Fawehmi, Kenneth Kaunda etc. and the suffering they went through through service and sacrifice. Mama, the Police Force too wanted to erase me from this earth because of the book I wrote which challenged some of the inexcusable and unconstitutional attitudes and behaviours of the police and my boldness to challenge the authenticity and reliability of their motto that "Police are your friends."
Mama, I boldly challenged the National Assembly that was turned to a theatre where dramas were acted. I could not actually remember how I assumed extraordinary power and unchallenged ability to object, in the strident term, the continuance of our faulty constitution unamended. Mama, I was speaking fearlessly in a seminar I was invited when you woke me up for the dawn prayer and quitted my dream. Mama, how I wish you allowed me finish this very wonderful dream in the world of the unconscious."
"Oh, my beloved son! Yes, it was time to pray even the mosque close by had started praying; I had to wake you up coupled with the fact that I heard you talking while sleeping. You should always pray before you go to bed. I will tell your father about this dream too." My mother smiled and continued taking her breakfast.
By Abdul Mutallib Muktar
A Law student in ABU, Zaria.
And can be reached via:
abdulmutallib.muktar@gmail.com
08169722632
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