ShortStory I Worthwhile Suspense

WORTHWHILE SUSPENSE

       

       Gbenga was undoubtedly an industrious and serious-minded staff. Though barely new in the job, he worked like one who had gained enormous experience in it. He could strive from entry to closure time, which was usually 6:00am – 2:00pm, 2:00pm – 8:00pm, and 8:00pm – 6:00am for morning, afternoon and night duties respectively, without even bothered to go for a break as the tradition of the work demanded.

       The most intriguing part of his dogged approach towards his duty post that triggered the attention of the company’s Management Board was that he worked passionately and vigorously without tendering an iota of complaint even when there was an obvious reason to do so. Among all, he considered punctuality as a priority in his day-to-day activity; he invariably arrived at least thirty minutes before the scheduled time.

        More interestingly, no day would pass without seeing the 34-year-old Gbenga Adeniyi dressed in decent and gorgeous wears that he often won the attention of not just the management but virtually every staff that worked in the ancient and revered establishment. He was indeed a man of the moment and a gentleman to the core that you would in most cases observe his fellow workers gathered in different quarters in their numbers discussing his unique lifestyle. He was, to say the least, a staff everyone wished to behold.

        FranCok Brewerey Plc, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria where he worked, was a firm that did not take workers’ welfare for granted let alone that of a fellow that took his duty-post very seriously as if he was the Managing Director of the company, thus co-workers cum onlookers were strongly of the view that Gbenga could attain to any level if he continued with such attitude and vigour. He was just about eight months old in the job, so they believed he would eventually derail in the long run or when the journey became tougher. Notwithstanding, his well-wishers watched him with keen interest, hoping his working style would surely attract tremendous favour to his person in due course.

       “You sent for me, sir?” said Gbenga as he walked into the office of the Human Resources Manager (HRM) Mr. Sule Ibrahim.

        “Yes I did.” responded Mr. Ibrahim. “Please, sit down.”

        “Thank you, sir.” quoth the workaholic Gbenga as he sat in one of the backseats sited opposite the manager.

        “Mr. Adeniyi,” the boss called as he leaned on his executive chair.

        “Yes sir.”

        “Please, can you remember when you came into this company?”

        “You mean, as a staff?”

        “Yes.” He said, nodding.

        “That was August last year.”

        “Which means, this month being April would mark your eight months stay here?’

        “Yes sir,” Ggenga concurred. “By 21^st of this month.” He supplemented.

        “Alright.”

        “Hope no problem, sir?” he inquired, perplexed as he sat in his corporate attire.

         He had learnt that staff could be dismissed from the firm owing to a mere slight mistake, thus his question wasn’t mistaken. But the fact remained that he could not recall any misbehaviour displayed by his person since he joined the multinational firm.

       “Not at all.” replied Mr. Ibrahim. “Just that…” he added, paused.

         Gbenga listened attentively, couldn’t wait to receive the next message as the boss employed the suspense.   

        “Since you came into the Marketing Department,” he continued. “A lot has changed.”

         Mr. Adeniyi, a graduate of Economics, was yet to fathom if the said change was for good or on the contrary, thus he remained bemused.

        “You appear to be something else.” The boss asserted, folded his arms. “I was yet to see someone like you.”

        “Sir,” Gbenga called, became jitterier. “I still don’t understand.”

         Even though he knew himself as a workaholic, he was still absorbing the boss’ statements as sarcasm since there was no how he could be the only hardworking staff in a company that could boast of over five hundred (500) workers.

         “Mr. Adeniyi..” He tenderly called, paused.

        “Yes sir.” Gbenga answered, couldn’t wait to digest the entire gist.

          Mr. Ibrahim was silent.

        “Sir, I am listening.” Gbenga reawakened his consciousness which seemed asleep.

        “I know you would be wondering what this man is up to?” Mr. Ibrahim observed, supporting his lower jaw with his fisted hands. “But I assure you,” he proceeded, paused. “By the time I am through with you, your life would never be the same again.” He landed cheerily.

        This time, the young man who appeared not unlike one who came for a job interview was intensely stranded, though was consoled by the fact that since he assumed duty in the firm he had never been found wanting.

        Mr. Ibrahim glanced at his wrist watch, smiling; it was about 11:26am. “I tell you,” he said. “In a few minutes time, your identity will surely change.”

        Gbenga looked at him in utter awe, couldn’t comprehend nor foresee the kind of change the huge, chocolate and pleasantly-looking man was referring to; but had thought it wise to remain patient as long as the suspense lasts.

       “Mr. Gbenga Adeniyi,” the boss called, maintaining his calm voice.

       “Yes sir.”

       “Do you really love this company?” He teased, leaned on the seat again while folding his arms.

        The question struck the junior colleague just like a dagger would. “Sir, how do you mean?” He enquired, calmly placing his arms on the table, head bent.

       “The question is self-explanatory,” the boss responded. “Or, isn’t it?’

       “Sir, since I came into this reputable company,” Gbenga said, ignoring the last rhetorical question. “I have always told myself that I would continue to do my best,” he informed, paused. “Towards ensuring that it doesn’t only attain to enviable heights but becomes the best among its contemporaries.”

       “Really..?” Mr. Ibrahim exclaimed, stood up in his corporate white native attire. “Please, let’s take a walk.” He urged as he stepped toward the exit point of his office.

       Gbenga looked up to him, managed to be on his feet as requested, and eventually joined him in the unforeseen walk in a lukewarm manner.

        In few seconds time, they found themselves on the premises of the firm. Before they could get to the company’s garage, which was the destination of the ‘endurance trek’, Mr. Ibrahim’s driver had already started his car’s ignition as if he was expecting the boss.

        “Please, have a ride with me?” Mr. Ibrahim asked Gbenga as they stood very closely to the grey Honda SUV Jeep.

        “Sorry to ask sir,” quoth Gbenga. “Please, where are we up to?”

        “When we get there, you will know.”

        “Okay, if you say so.” He assented sceptically, gesticulating.

         On hearing the last words, Mr. Ibrahim majestically hopped into the owner’s side of the car that had already been kept open by the driver as his duty requested. Gbenga followed suit, attempted to sit at the front-side but was enjoined by the boss to join him at the back.

         Therein, the humbly-seeming and well-dressed driver drove off without bothered to ascertain their destination. From the look of things, the journey was scheduled, hence, it was needless for him to be reminded on the proposed destination.

         To be continued, please!

FDN Nwaozor

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Opinion I Today is, World Book and Copyright Day!

EXPUNGING PLAGIARISM FROM NIGERIA AS WE CELEBRATE THE 2017 WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY

         

Today Sunday April 23, the world over is commemorating the World Book and Copyright Day. It was on this day – April 23 in the year 1616 that some prominent authors including Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso Vega left the world; it is also the date of birth or death of other global literary icons like Maurice Druon, Haldor K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Joseph Pla and Manuel Mejia Vallejo.  

        

It was a natural choice for the General Conference of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held in Paris in 1995, to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors on this date in order to encourage everyone, particularly young people, to discover the pleasure of reading as well as gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. In this regard, UNESCO created the World Book and Copyright Day.

        

A book is a collection of pieces of paper comprising a set of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets made of ink, parchment and other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. In the same vein, copyright can be defined as the legal prerogative of ownership and exclusive distribution of any creative work such as article, book, music or movie originally done by a person or a group of persons.

       

On the other hand, plagiarism is the illicit practice of using or copying someone else’s idea or creative work and the impersonation of its ownership. In other words, plagiarism is an unauthorized and unlawful faking or imitation of thoughts or works that are already legally credited to a person or group. Suffice to say; plagiarism, which is popularly known as piracy, is a criminal act that is punishable by law.

       

A text-filled book, which could be either in a printed or electronic format, is often a product of creativity. In some cases where it has to do with poetry, prose or drama, it is referred to as work of literature or a main division of such work. In Library and Information Science, a book is called a monograph to distinguish it from serial periodicals to include magazines, journals or newspapers.

        

A book could be majorly classified into two namely, academic and literary. An academic book is one that is written on a certain subject or about a particular area whilst a literary book is mainly a creative work that is written with the knowledge of literature. Irrespective of its class, just as anything under the sun can be identified by one or two idiosyncrasies, the unique or basic features of any book include the content, authorship, the ISBN, its title and cover page, among others.

       

No doubt, every book has a unique content regardless of its size or number of pages. Likewise a movie or music, a book may go beyond a particular edition or version, hence can transcend to additional two or more editions based on the choice of the author or the kind of message intended to be conveyed by it. The content of any book is expected to be original; in the sense that, it must be the initiative of the acclaimed author/writer.

       

Also, any book must be authored by one or two persons and as long as the book lasts, the specified author(s) remain the rightful owner of the intellectual property. Needless to say; no part of such publication would be reproduced or translated to any other language, or even transmitted in any form or by any means without the authorization or written permission of the author or publisher as the case might be.

       

The International Serial Book Number (ISBN) is another unique feature or mode of identification of any book. The ISBN of a published compilation, which is widely regarded as its individual identification number, is the only globally recognized means of identifying a text-filled book. Thus, any published book is entitled to a certain ISBN which will never be allocated or assigned to any other publication across the globe. Even if the book in question is expected to have a subsequent edition/version in future, each of the additional editions, when published, would be entitled to different ISBNs.

        

Furthermore, the title and the cover page of a book speak volume as regards its identification; though in some cases, not unlike in the movie or music sector, two books authored by different writers might comprised of the same or similar title. In a situation of coincidence of titles or where two/more publications of different authors comprise the same title, the books involved would be contrasted by the names of the respective authors.  Apart from other features of a book, it is noteworthy that, its title and cover page are the major recipes that attract the target audience, especially in a situation where the name of the author is relatively new in the system. This is the reason most notable authors pay much attention while creating a title for their works. Due to the significance or delicacy attached to titling of a book or any creative work, sometimes the title of a work in progress may be yet to be created by the author/inventor until the work is duly completed.

       

Taking a painstaking consideration of the aforementioned features of a book, there is no gain reiterating the fact that book publication is all about creativity. Surely, it is obvious that every aspect of book compilation coupled with its publication cum printing thoroughly deals with originality which is the basic element of any creative work.

       

Apparently, the societal impact of a book cannot be overemphasized. It is through a book that a literate society is formed; it is through a book that an awaited civilized society is actualized; through a book, an intellectual group can be created; of course through a book, the socio-economic level of a nation can be uplifted or boasted; it is through a book that a nation can actualized its utmost desire; and  it is through a book that a leader can be made; above all, it is a book that can guarantee optimum peace and unity in any society.

       

This is why those who are widely read such as the likes of late Marcus Tullius Cicero and Jane Austen would always tell you that “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Or that “A person, be it gentleman or lady, who has no pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid.” It was the late Jorge Luis Borges that said “I have always imagined that paradise would be a kind of library.” In the same vein, Lemony Snicket stated “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”

       

Considering the indelible role of a book in any society, there is need to fiercely safeguard the copyright of a book or any other creative work such as music or movie. Against this backdrop, as the world commemorates the World Book and Copyright Day, I enjoin every group in Nigeria concerning authorship such as the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Nigerian Literacy Society (NLS), and many others to join in the crusade towards the complete eradication of plagiarism.

       

The production of fake works which is on rampage in Nigeria is solely attributed to the ongoing alarming pace of plagiarism. It is longer news that plagiarism has indeed endangered the lives of thousands of creative persons across the globe thereby constituting apathy among prospective writers or artistes as the case may be. This singular fact is the reason many incoming/potential creative individuals have chosen to remain idle rather than embarking on a venture that would end-up being worthless.   

        

So, as Nigeria joins the global community to mark the 2017 World Book and Copyright Day, the ANA and other indigenous authorship associations is expected to form a synergy with other related societies such as the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in order to fight the scourge squarely and with a dogged approach. In view of this, the concerned groups ought to urge the legislators to enact a strict law that would assign capital punishment to anyone found guilty of any form of piracy by any court of competent jurisdiction.

       

Among all, no one is meant to sit on the fence towards the elimination of this cankerworm that constitutes colossal individual and national economic menace. On the other hand and most importantly, the parents, guardians, counsellors, various teachers at all levels, and what have you, must take the act of imparting and uplifting reading culture among our young ones very seriously.

        

In addition, reading should be regarded by all and sundry as the only practice that can guarantee absolute literacy as well as intellectual ability in any existing society. And we can’t afford to be left behind regarding the said qualities. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

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Opinion I A Signal of Hope For the Physically Challenged

A SIGNAL OF HOPE FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

         

The last time I checked, the overall physically challenged persons in Imo State had released a sigh of relieve. The gesture was not unconnected with the pronouncement made by the Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha penultimate week during his parley with the state chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities. In his words, the governor disclosed that there was an ongoing construction of a befitting secretariat for the physically challenged otherwise known as ‘special citizens’ in the state.

        

The physically challenged whom in most quarters are addressed as ‘disabled persons’ have over the decades been treated as second-class individuals by their fellow citizens, particularly in this part of the world. I stand to be corrected, but the truth remains that this set of people is often regarded as irrelevant and inconsequential when issues concerning the polity are discussed. This uncalled attitude of most Nigerians has made most of them to see themselves as rejected citizens, thereby leading them to a state of mental degradation.

         

The most saddening aspect of the absurd discrimination or mentality is that a majority of the physically challenged persons is conspicuously, exemplarily brilliant and wise. The time I have spent with some of them, so far, in various parts of the country disclosed that they were specially created. For instance, since I have been coming across albinos, I am sincerely yet to see one that possesses a dull brain; the ones I have come across were very sound in reasoning, both academically and mentally.

        

We will start getting it right the moment we realized that those whom had been relegated to the background, with the derailed notion that their contributions aren’t needed, are actually the set of individuals required to salvage the society from its numerous challenges; when we acknowledge that the rejected stones are, on the contrary, meant to serve as the house’s pillars; when we truly concur that ‘not all that glitters is gold’.

        

It’s indeed high time we began believing without any element of doubt, that physical challenges are not sign of empty/docile brains; that deafness, for example, does not indicate that the bearer is daft; that a cripple can do far more than what an ‘athlete’ does; that a blind man can really lead any society to the promised land, which suffices to say that leadership is never by sight nor might, but the person’s reasoning prowess.

         

Thus, I want to disabuse us in our entirety that societal uplift can be actualized by involving only individuals who are physically sound. Away from our presumption, actualization of societal growth, which we all anticipate, requires only those who are mentally and socially sound, therefore has nothing to do with physical ability. Physical soundness is only required in a physical race. But mind you, nowadays, he who runs most might not be sure of receiving the trophy, but he who thinks most. This implies that everything is now controlled by thoughts, or one’s ability to think or initiate ideas.

        

It’s very appalling that in Nigeria today, Imo in particular, the physically challenged are nowhere to be found in the area of governance, with the view that they have nothing to offer. It is arguably time to change this mindset for the good of the country at large. This could be what informed Governor Okorocha’s decision to build a befitting secretariat for the set of citizens in question that have apparently been forgotten by successive governments.

        

The Igbo adage would invariably say ‘Osita di nma, ekele Chukwu’ meaning literally, if things eventually start today to turn around for our good, we have to thank God without minding the amount of time we have spent in agony. In other words, if truly that the government has finally remembered the seeming forgotten physically challenged persons in our midst, they are expected to give thunderous glory to the Almighty for the eventual blessing.

        

Like I have always said, pronouncement of a proposed policy or programme is a good step, whilst its thorough implementation is a totally different ballgame. It is on this note that I urge the Rescue Mission Administration not to take the onward completion of the lofty initiative for granted, for posterity sake. It must take into cognizance that by dishing out such a commendable pronouncement, the entire Imolites – both home and abroad – can’t wait to embrace the completion phase of the project.

        

Similarly, the initiative shouldn’t stop at constructing a secretariat. After building the awaited edifice, a reputable ministry ought to be created for the sake of the physically challenged. And afterwards, a reliable and competent individual among the prospective beneficiaries should be appointed to man the said ministry. This will no doubt go a very long way to alleviate the various plights of the physically challenged resident in the state.

        

These ‘special citizens’ must on their part, equally be helpful to themselves by ensuring that they rephrase their union’s name to Joint Association for Physically Challenged Persons, by expunging the ‘Persons living with Disabilities’ from the already existing name. They are physically challenged, not disabled or ‘persons living with disabilities’ as being presumed by them, or in most quarters. We must change the ongoing impression that a physical challenge is a disability.

        

This move by Gov. Okorocha is undoubtedly a signal of hope, but the concerned authorities must stick to the needful as the odyssey progresses; so that at the end, nothing would stop everyone from grinning. Think about it!

     

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

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