Esther is my sister. And it’s a big deal to me.
I’ve lived two decades of my life having only boys for siblings and I won’t say it wasn’t fun. It was so much fun that those days when we hooked up and collectively reminisced our growing-up years, we would all wonder how we could be such jerks. And bores. Then sauntered in a new late-comer sibling and we called her sister. She was a baby, a girl and a beauty to behold.
Esther. And one of ’em.
I can’t say I remember what her first word(s) was/were because we didn’t see much during her earliest years. I however can recollect clearly that I was shocked when one day I was at home and the electric power company took away electricity and she shouted “NEPA!” in disgust.
Now, why would such an expression amaze me? I hope you are asking. My response: why wouldn’t it? It’s my sister saying that, remember? And she was three then. Oh, did I tell you that I have much difficulty guessing people’s age, especially females. Once they’ve started walking and talking. So, it was a big advantage for me that I knew when she was born and thus, how old she was when I heard her say that.
THE BIG DEAL
Esther was born years AFTER the name of the secret society (sorry, company) entrusted with the mission of ensuring constant erratic electric power supply in most parts of the country was changed. As she is my sister I know she still doesn’t know what the new name of the organization is. So, if you’ve not been asking yourself the obvious questions, I will.
1. How did she know to call NEPA when at the time of her birth it was already renamed PHCN?
2. How come she still doesn’t know or care that the new name is PHCN?
The answer to these questions is also a question: what does it matter?
When NEPA was changed to PHCN, we all dared to go out on a hopeful limb that things would be better. We looked forward to a future of better and longer power distribution, a more professional approach to service provision, better customer relationship, et cetera. We should have known better, since its operations are still being managed by the same set of people who made NEPA the most cursed government organization in Nigeria, the Nigerian Police Force coming second place by just a few points.
A. We can’t see how many people who voted for NEPA (cos no light)
B. This much voted for the Nigerian Police Force
C. This man says NEPA won, though to his credit, he wouldn’t say by how many votes.
BRINGING IT HOME
Why does it have to be people who were privy to be there at the time of a person making a particular change choice that will know that such is a “changed” person? Change is called so because it is visible and tangible. We call the time of day dusk heralds night because it is visibly different from daytime.
A classic example is what in Christian parlance is called “Born Again.” It is supposed to mark the beginning of living a new way of life. It is in essence a departure from a former way of life and embracing a markedly different lifestyle.
Now, imagine a friend telling you he is “Born Again” and your heart actually stopped beating. From the sheer shock of that statement. Fortunately, you were revived a few minutes later, and still in shock you began to laugh. The said friend now opened up the lengthy epistle of when, where and on what occasion he became born again. The disbelief on your face didn’t diminish one bit as he seriously told you that you could confirm from so and so persons who were there on the particular day of his becoming “Born Again.”
After you’ve managed to put your laughter in control, you asked him how come you never knew. Agreed, you became friends with him after the said date of becoming “Born Again,” but you never saw any tell-tale pointers to corroborate his claim, you argued. No fruit of the change he professed. In a desperate bid to save face, he said ‘change is a thing of the mind.’
Not knowing how to save this hopelessly lost individual, you shook your head and spat ‘indeed.’ You walked away wondering how long it would take the change to find its way from his mind to his feet so he would start walking in a manner that shows it. For until then, as far as you are concerned he is still a NEPA. Change of name not evident in actions. And since you weren’t there when he made the change decision and you aren’t a psychic either to have known there was such a moment in his past, it would be most kind of you to tell him that until he walks his talk, he should please shut up!
Wale Adenuga used this in one of his Super Story soap episode round-off quotes and I think it’ll make for a very befitting ending to this piece, here goes:
“People will judge you by your actions and not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold but so does a hardboiled egg.”
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