I LOVE TO KISS by Mfon Ekott

This is no news, people who are familiar with me are aware that I love to kiss.

The first time I ever did that was in my first year in the university. I was still young and naive that it took a lecturer to show me how to do it.

In one of the classes, my lecturer asked a question and I answered. After I did, he looked at me straight in the eyes. I quivered.

“What’s your name?” He asked.

“Mfon!” I replied.

“Meet me in my office after this class.” He said while star gazing at me.

“Yes Sir.” I replied in fear, thinking hard if it was right to have answered the question.

After the class, I meandered shyly into his office and it happened.

“Mfon,” he called me, “I know you’re a brilliant girl, I couldn’t help but ask to meet you because I see so much potential in you, but you need to get it done the right way.” He concluded.

“Right way?” I thought to myself. “What could he possibly want with me?” I wondered.

“Hmm… Let me not see what I’ve been hearing of in the ‘tales of a campus girl’ o,” I prayed in my heart.

“Now you’re here, I’ll show you how it’s done.” He finally concluded.

He came closer, passed me a white sheet and right there on his table, we did it.

Yes! I learnt how to kiss.

Ever since that moment, life has been beautiful for me.
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Oh, I forgot to tell you,

KISS, to me, means Keep It Short & Simple.

Yes, my lecturer showed me how to make short and simple sentences in French in his office.

“Keep it short and simple, Mfon. Your answer was correct but the expression was way too long, clumsy, and loaded with jargons.” That’s what he told me.

He also said that when a sentence is too long, there is a possibility of it not making sense. This was true.

Since then, I found it easier to construct simple and clear sentences in French.

It got better.
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I also apply this rule in life.

“Always do the right thing and avoid excesses.” – Anonymous.

Live simply and enjoy the benefits of life, don’t overstress yourself unnecessarily.

• Stop waiting till the dine minute to rush to get things done.

• Stop going all out to help people to whom you should simple tell ‘sorry’ and pass.

• Stop investing your energy into fruitless relationships with people.

• Stop going overboard for people who are not worth it and would not do same for you.

• Stop searching for love where friendship is needed.

• Stop giving commitment to temporary events.

• Stop stressing yourself monitoring another people’s activities.

• Stop giving in your all where a very little effort is required.

• Stop putting in effort when you should just let it go..
(I can’t list them all).

Just stop it mbok, live a simple life.

Above all, MIND YOUR BUSINESS, you will live longer.

Yet, in all these things, LET YOUR SIMPLICITY BE GUIDED BY DISCIPLINE, and not careless attitude, you will soar..

In life, don’t ever forget the KISS principle, you will need it.
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À bon entendeur salut! 👋
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PS: With much respect to Dr. S. F. Nzuanke, the most principled lecturer ever.
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#Bonjour

#Day24
#MyPenMyThoughts

© Mfon Ekott

Mfon Ekott is a Language consultant, French instructor, A Writer and a great Poet who hail from Akwa-Ibom State. To check more of her works, go to her Facebook Page Mfon Ekott.

STOP POINTING ACCUSING FINGERS: we all contributed to the nuisance after all.

STOP POINTING ACCUSING FINGERS: We all contributed to the nuisance after all -Ogunleti Azeezat.

The world can only be a better place if we learn to accept one another as family and learn to fulfil our responsibilities (be it to another or to our nation) as faithful citizens. This, however, will never be possible if we fail to recognize and design measures towards safe coexistence.

It is quite unfortunate and regrettably shocking that we have gotten to a point whereby love for another no longer has a definition in our individual minds. A point where nobody truly cares about his associate, friend, colleague or fellow country man. 

Just last week, I witnessed another gory event here in Ikorodu. The sight of this scene left me wondering how we got this far in greediness and sheer wickedness. On that spot, I had to ask myself how we got this blind and what exactly is the problem?

We are a community that shifts blames. Everybody points accusing fingers. We busy ourselves seeking out whose table to land the blame of our collective sociopolitical mishaps. Yes, collective, if you ask me. We point at the government. The government points at institutions. We all forget that we make up the institutions. My dad, your dad, my uncle, your uncle all serve in these government places. And who knows, myself or yourself will be there serving someday?

In the awareness of this, I think we are only being hypocritical whenever we point those silly accusing fingers. And that the better thing to do instead is for us to start accepting those blames and finding solutions, not faults! This, for me, is the one sincere and only true way out of this mess if you ask me!

Imagine how we blame the government for all our woes yet our relationship with one another (within the masses circle) is on the other side of the fence of equality, love and justice. Patriotism, if you ask me, in this clime died a long time and the stench smell is in the air. I feel very sad about the state of our people, and I don’t seem to understand our problem. Why will a man act so unruly and wicked at the cost of others lives. This Ikorodu’s incidence brings one to tears on our collective failure in providing security and safety for another in times of serious need. It is even more sadden to note that some of us contribute to the unease in the land. Yes, we do!

A good instance is the Ikorodu fracas that I witnessed where one driver of a tricycle (keke napep) nearly lost his life at the refusal of paying a traditional 50 naira which was claimed to be a compulsory due for “agberos” on the highway. The first question is, who made this compulsory; the Constitution or the government? What sort of shameful extortion is this? And, when is this going to stop?

The poor man and his passengers nearly lost their lives. This evil genius agbero forgot that the driver is part of the masses who is going around to fend for himself. He forgot that recession is a song that everyone is currently dancing to. He forgot his responsibility of being his brother’s keeper. This time, he didn’t bother about love or kindness to others, instead, he went the other way, at the cost of irreplaceable lives. This Agbero was so mean and mad, he got hold of the steering of the cart and contested it with the driver. The light tricycle swayed, from left to right, losing control before later managing to maintain balance again.

As if that was not enough, other ‘agberos’ joined in. They got hold of the driver, dragged him out (not mind if his cart has been properly brought to halt) to deal with him mercilessly. You can imagine how heartless. Where is Love? Many thanks to the gentle man sitting next to the driver who saved the day. It could have been another story.

Flashing back at this incident, a question popped up. Of what use is the money they collect to have almost claimed lives of innocent commuters? Funny as it may, this is exactly what our big brothers in blacks (Police men) do, too. We hear of stories of whoever dares deprive them of their traditional 20 naira highway due could get shot.

This is where hypocrisy comes in, we point accusing fingers, to the government most times. We say the government is corrupt, wicked and inhuman. But how true is this? My fellow country men, maybe we need a rethink at this point. Is the governing body really responsible for all these?

From this, I draw my conclusion. We ourselves are our greatest problem! Everyone has different mindset and motives, not minding who gets hurt. This exactly is our problem and it is really sadden! We seriously need to correct this thinking.

Once again, the world can only be a better place if we learn to accept one another as family and learn to fulfil our responsibilities (be it to another or to our nation) as faithful citizens. And as a matter of fact, we need to change our thinking and become more considerate to our neighbours, co worker and associates. Only then, only then would the world be a better place.

The change definitely begins with myself and you, or, what do you think?

-Ogunleti Azeezat Aderonke,

Secretary General, TCA LAUTECH,

Youth Leader and Peace Advocate.​

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