I recall your burial. It was emotional. Everyone that spoke had one positive thing or the other to say about you. Not a single negative word was said about you.

We got busy with church and business activities, and before we knew it, it was graduation time for Hope who had done exceptionally well.

“I am sorry I lied. I did not know the package he gave me contained all that information. He did a good job. I was the one that messed up. Not him.”

“Sir, that is part of the fraud against me. I have never eaten with any of them either with long or short spoons. They won’t share except with their mentioned friends.”

“Long time ke. It is beyond long time. The last time I saw you was when your aunt Iranlowo came along with you soon after your National Service to my office seeking employment for you. I was later told you left for Canada on a scholarship.”

“Plenty auntie. Where do I start? They said they had visited you last year for the first time after the death of your husband, but you did not cook for them like you used to do when your husband, my uncle was alive and you would spend a long time in the kitchen cooking them a variety of meals served with the best of wines and give them money and foodstuffs to take home.

With those statements, a dual social class system of students based on English language skills emerged. We referred to those who could speak and understand English as “Aso,” which loosely meant a sophisticated individual.

From time to time, we make positive promises. However, we also make promises that are false, disingenuous, or pretentious due to factors that include intent to impress, mislead or misinform.

I see people screaming at me during a visit to a police station that I had deprived them of access to justice. But then, I am not a police officer, lawyer or judge