Number 427 I believe my name and personalty are written in history by God almighty, my creator.
Who is that man, that can contest against the masterplan of the Almighty God? No one can, not even the adversary. The one chosen by God will be shaken on all fronts on his path to accomplish the purpose God created him for. A man of destiny will be tested and shaken at every level. It is a cross he must carry whether he likes it, or not.
I am a prisoner of conscience, one of the most complex individuals living on the surface of this planet; I make no apologies for that. It is a cross I am willing to carry to the very end as painful as it may appear.
I grew up in the midst of a lot of people but a very lonely and troubled child. I struggled with almost everything particularly with my education and social life. Shoulders to cry on were very limited in my case. I felt I was walking through the wilderness without a lead.
I always view things differently from everyone else which often puts me at odds with people, especially when it comes to tradition and culture. I respect tradition and culture that give room for me and everyone else to breathe normally, not the ones that suffocate everyone - I mean suffering and smiling. That is a no, no, for me.
From as young as I can remember, I started to challenge things I thought were out of place which infringed on people's well-being, liberty, and uniqueness: any prejudicial element of sociological and psychological interruption of someone else’s right to exist often conflict with my way of thinking. I would automatically respond, and sometimes my response may go over the top, I admit.
I built rods for my own back as I bit more than I could chew. My antagonistic approach made me very unpopular amongst my siblings and in the broader context of the wider family. Tough luck, I will simply have it no other way!
I was made to suffer needlessly by the circumstances and dichotomy of confusion I was born and raised as I refused to be silent about the unfairness and painful treatment that was often meted out on me. When the very people that were supposed to provide a place for you to rest turned out to be multiples of rotten eggs in your flesh, you can hardly keep quiet unless you are one of those confounded zombies.
I tested water, swam with sharks and found myself repeatedly in the wrong hands. I stared at death in the face so many times that I have lost count of. I lived to fight another battle at the end of every episode. Such is the exodus of my life. I do not rock the boat neither do I play up to the gallery. I am often in the minority; my place of complex living and self imprisonment.
To a greater extent, I am often misunderstood for my best of intentions. From a very young age I sensed opposition and enemies from within.
I was taken as an enemy from within mainly because of my stance and outspokenness against oppression, discrimination, unfairness and negligence. I paid, and continue to pay dearly for my stance. Which is why I thought of myself as a prisoner of conscience.
There’s always a price to pay whenever you stand up against a cynical and oppressed system particularly in the area of child abuse from within.
I am not the one to turn the other cheek; I just have to say something regardless of their consequences. As such I have faced, and continued to face spiritual battles from every angle especially from the common enemies (since I stepped into this planet) who will not let off. It is a cross I am prepared to carry to my grave.
Due to my outspoken personality I lost a lot of ground, and innocent people around me have equally suffered. It is no surprise some of them had to break loose and rightly so. It is not their battle to fight.
From a child I have stood up against elders - those I find to have systematically used their positions to suppress and abuse defenceless children. I have been warned repeatedly to give up what I was fighting against as it was something far bigger than myself of which I was of no match.
'Ayo, take faith and give in, throw in the towel and compromise, if not your life may be messed up,' they warned. I thought about what I was fighting against and wanted to give up but it seemed impossible to retreat. A lot of grounds had already been covered and I believe victory is within sight.
As I stand resolute against unfairness, I remember the years Nelson Mandela spent in captivity for his stance against segregation and the price he had to pay in the process. I am certainly no different and he is my motivation.
I am reminded the reunion of the biblical Joseph with his brothers was an amazing encounter:
'He said I Am Joseph, his brothers were shocked! As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.'
My prayer for every reader of this brief:
May God repackage you and reintroduce you to those who wrote you off.
May you be so unique and in high demand that nations will come looking for you.
I am a light on the hill that cannot be hidden! What about You?
Special Note:
How I wish my biological children (could one day) voice out the account of what they know of me regardless of the weighting in a book and make it public. I believe the account everyone’s journey through life whether they are fabricated or truthful will always be substantiated by the Almighty God. He is one person that can never be fooled and he redeserved ultimate judgement for each and everyone of us. So when you are giving account be mindful of what you say in terms of accuracy of events. It is far too easy to tell lies and convert the emotions of others but God certainly can never and never be fooled. We are all under his spotlight.
Israel Ayodele E. A. Lazarus Oshunremi
Bachelor of Arts, Honours In Education and Community Studies, UEL
Mentor/Educationalist/Public Speaker/Human Rights Activist/Author
Founder and CEO of Lazarus Ayo Oshunremi Ventures.
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- 20 May, 2022
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