THAT MAN CALLED BOBO EDET!!

Back in secondary school, yea, girls secondary school, it was almost like having a heavenly vision when a male student from one of the tush schools visited. Example Access school, HillCrest, we just managed Unical Secondary school boys...and FAAN boys were totally out of the equation (no offense). My point is, "guys" was a big deal to us then.

That beautiful day, this new teacher came to our school, a youth corper, Mr Edet. Men and brethren, if God spent one day in creating man, he spent one week on him. 

He is not the everyday fair melanin lacking guy (fair guys no vex o). He is dark, with beautiful deep searching eyes, nicely carved head, not too deep voice and an adorable dress sense. He was the first person I saw with timbaland boots on baggy jeans!!

I mean, he was every student's crush, we had to crown him bobo Edet. Many people suddenly needed extra math lessons not because they were dull, but because they wanted to be around him. He was that likeable!!!

Just imagine my joy when I found out he was to teach my class!!! I must have danced that day. He waltzed into the class that day looking all tushed up in his shirt and trouser. All the girls had new hairstyles, with sufficient white powder on our faces and enough lip gloss to fry plantain. Our blouses were ironed and we wore our most fitting skirts.

He introduced himself and everyone did too. When it got to my turn, in my sweetest voice, I sang, "my name is Andikan Imo Inyang, from Onna LGA". He said, "hmmmn, you have my head". I left planet earth into heavenly places, to me that was the best compliment ever!!

He started his class. See, when this man started writing on the board, I concluded within me that God must have added 10cups of jara to his life!! Your neatest handwriting cannot be compared to his rough work!! And he did it effortlessly. Do you know how hard it is to write neatly on a board?? And oh dear!! This was the only teacher that made maths sooo romantic. He was an intellectual guru!! If you didnt understand him, believe me, there is no hope for you!!

He wasn't selective, didn't prefer any student to the other. He was everybody's friend. Big, small, tall, short. He was too good to be true. When we had the miss music competition, he was one of the judges. He encouraged me to keep singing even after I had forgotten my bridge on stage. He was that kind!

Then he had an accident, and broke his arm. It kept him away from school for almost a month. School was quiet!! Students called him, sents cards, visited, he was loved!! I remember calling him one evening with our land line, and making my kid sister sing "chicken no dey bounce for night" to him. He really laughed.

Then that wonderful day, he resumed school, midway into assembly, here comes this young man, gliding across the field towards us dressed in all white. Everybody would have screamed if not for the combined faces of Lady I.J. Udoh (Principal), Mrs Nduonofit (VP something), and Mrs Ijeoma (Senior Boarding House Mistress). But the school came alive once more.

Fast forward to few months later, he had another accident, just outside his church, where he had gone for church work, and he died on the 21st of April....yes, my birthday!!

It didnt hit me till the day of his burial. My eyes were dry throughout the whole service until the tributes started pouring in. I began to cry, I was sobbing like a baby and my whole body was shaking vigorously. It had finally dawned on me that I would never see my maths teacher again, I would never get to sing for him, I didnt even get to give him my parting gift as an ex-student.

So every year, as I celebrate my birthday, I am forced to remember your painful exit, not with tears this time around, but with joy in my heart that your memory lives in my heart always.

I remember "that man called bobo Edet" for being the best maths teacher FGGC will ever know.

10years after your death, continue to rest in peace sir!!!

JustVikkytorya

Emotionally drained and signing out gallantly