What a Man

I was quite surprised the first time I saw him because he was busy talking to himself. I thought he needed to be taken to an asylum for he, from look of things, was suffering from a mental problem. But not long afterwards, I understood that he was making sense and not just a mere noise. The sections, sub-sections, paragraphs etc. that he kept mentioning every now and then made his talking so rhythmic and fascinating as if he was producing some sort of song in a musical studio.

The second time I saw him, I thought he was a fantastic creative storyteller far better than the Soyinkas and the Achebes of this world. The stories he narrated had names of characters whose roles were always to act in disputes. As the stories kept unfolding, the place and the time within which the events happened were aslo mentioned. When I attentively listened to every word of his story, I came to understand that all those stories were factual and not fictional; they were superb narrated decided cases flowing through some pipelines connected to the courts. His people called them 'stare decisis' (judicial precedents).

The third time I set my curious eyes on his intimidating face, he drowned in deep thinking, just staring up as if he was figuring some tiny letters written on the sky or counting some hovering birds. I honestly thought the man was in serious need for assistance either of food or money, but when I inquired to know his condition, he told me that nothing was wrong — it was a mental exercise which was a normal business for him — and that was what elevated him to the peak of logic and concrete solutions to problems.

I always tried greatly to observe the man in order to know and understand so much about him, his background, kinship and what have view, but whenever I moved close to him, his language seemed odd and funny; it confused me sometimes and made me laughed some other times. I thought he was a clown as he might similarly knew nothing in what he spoke. But I later came to understand that his words were his unique diction. I searched for their meanings and realised that they were more of wise-sayings and proverbs than mere terms. He called them legal maxims. For example, 'Nemo judex in causa sua’, which means ’one cannot be a judge in his/her own cause’, "salus populi est suprema lex" which means "the welfare of the people shall be the supreme law and consideration". The maxims were as much as he too could not say.

Despite the buckets of questions I poured on him every now and then, sometimes provoking and silly, he never got angry with me. Instead, he told me that his home was that of gentility and humility. I also tried to challenge him on several occasions, but his reaction came with convincing words that cooled my spirit.

One very cold morning in the harmattan, everyone dressed in thick clothes against the harsh weather, I saw the man in black gown over a white shirt and a ’cap’ that seemed to be painted grey by the weather. All I thought was the man dressed in such a way to primarily protect himself against the weather like the many other people. However, during the hot season, I still saw him in that gown and grey cap. I then decided to feed my curiosity by asking him. He told me that such was the value and tradition of his family in regard to costume. That they wore it anytime they went to solve the problems of the society.

Out of enormous curiosity of a young man, I followed him to where he called a problem-solving place one day and saw how this gentleman, in my narrow understanding, was never a gentleman as he kept fighting his friend through the use of words and gestures before three old men seated who looked like referees. But after the other man fought back too, they came out smiling and hugging themselves. I thought one would never talk to the other but I realised they were just perfect gentlemen.

I asked of his name and he replied this way, "My name is Lawyer, but people always prefer calling me Barrister. I live in the street of Legal Profession immediately after Call To Bar Juntion."

Written by
Abdul Mutallib Muktar
abdulmutallib.muktar@gmail.com
08169722632