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bang! bang!
By Felix | January 23, 2008
When I started this blog, I know I made a commitment to all to tell my story for the purpose of change, I believe God let me pass through these experiences (and live through them), so I can have a story that can change lives
I am at the early stages of building a network of youths who were/are on the streets involved in different vices and have or should I say through the lessons I learnt, will make a decision that can align them for the purpose of their existence, … “become candles that can and will light other candles.”
Thinking about it, I don’t know where to start from that will not scare people off this blog… my previous posts were done, so those who don’t know my now, can have a glimpse of it and then appreciate where I am coming from.
It was precisely 5th of November 2004, on my way from my mum’s fashion house, the navy blue colored Audi A4 1999 model caught my eyes in the car shop, I hesitated, because I was dressed shabbily and I felt the salesman won’t take me seriously, but my friend who was with me, gave it no second thought when I told him I liked the car, he went straight in and I followed suit, the salesman walked up to us and I asked “how much is this car”, N1.8million he said, I said N1.4million and I’ll pay cash now, he picked his phone, was about to call his boss when the man drove in and he took us straight to his office sealed the deal and the next day I took him to the bank paid $7000 and the rest I gave him in naira, the car shop owner was so fascinated, he wanted to be friends with me and we got talking, he wanted to know how I was fresh out of school, without a job and I was able to have such a healthy bank account and was able to pay for a car that worth without stress, with clients from around the world who kept calling and wanting to send me more money. What kind of business was I into?… As his questions kept pouring in, my phone rang and I had to leave, I just paid over a million naira to someone I was meeting for the second time in my life, I was too much in a hurry to leave I didn’t bother to collect a receipt, even when he reminded me to…
Before I go into details, 2 days after, I was in a cyber café very engrossed with responding to emails I had received the previous day, that I didn’t notice that 2 police officers were sitting by my side and reading my email with me, suddenly I became aware of my surrounding because everywhere had gone quiet, all the boys in the café had fled on noticing these police men, raising up my head to look at my side, they held my hands, printed out my emails, had me cuffed and taken to the police station …
This was not my first time of being arrested…
I remember about 2years before then when I was in detention for about a month in one of the most dreaded police stations in Lagos (panti) , the case was different, I went with a couple of friends to the beach at night to have a few drinks, we got into a serious fight with ‘area boys’ at the beach and because they were just 2 of them at first and we were like 8, it was easy to over power them, they fled and came back less than 10mins after with a mob of like 30boys brandishing daggers, broken bottles, sticks and cutlasses, when I saw this, I knew we were in trouble big time!
It was not my first time of getting into Big Trouble… it was 4am, we assembled at a primary school at one of the interior villages in calabar town, (my days in Unical), we were like 20 to 25 boys, all undergraduates, our mission was to “hit” members of an opposing “frat” before sunrise, we had a list of names and addresses of about 10boys in different locations around that vicinity that were our target, we set out a few minutes past 4am and 3hours later we were in a banana plantation frustrated from not meeting any of our targets at home, they had somehow found out we were coming for them that morning and fled, … now the big trouble was… Tired, from going from house to house destroying properties of our intended victims who were not home, we were in the banana plantation in a nearby village, hungry and tired, we made arrangements with some “area boys” there, to buy and cook us rice, while waiting for the food, we had dropped our guards, and some of us were already making preparations to nap and a few others were discussing the incidents of the morning and head butting on new plans on how to move from there, when suddenly … “bang! bang!”
Topics: my story |
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
This is a beautiful piece of literature and sometimes I wonder if these things are real. I know most of us readers and followers of this blog may feel it is complete fiction.
I particularly know Felix Ekpa and I know when he is dead serious about issues I discuss or write about. Writing issues about his life is particular tough for him being a very successful and proud man. I am wondering at this moment what he must be going through after letting so much out about his life and particularly his past dirty experiences.
The new age truly has come for all our youths who think that they can only earn that dream life by doing shady international businesses — “yahoo yahoo”.
The time for a positive change is now! Felix I love your courage to come out to share with us what it is like living in the street and also helping our youths find a solution out of this national mess!
January 24th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Felix,
Way to go bro.I knew you were pregnant with stories. didn’t just know they could be this interesting and picturesque. If you ever stopped writing i could kill you (lol). 3 HAPPY BANGS FOR FX. BANG! BANG! BANG!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:51 am
Fiction ?, i don’t think so, cause i could easily complete any of those stories, i know as each event passed by, this is not attempt to look good its an attempt to reach out.Take a que from this act of courage,i believe he is talking to someone out there,this is someone that has done it all.Bro, you are the man keep it coming. I respect this piece a lot,it takes a lot guts.
January 24th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Felix, i could not help shedding tears, not that we reading ur story had a better past, but for the love of sharing those dark moments or should i say sweet moments that u thought it was then, of ur life with us and making us know that we all can make a better tomrrow, only if we don’t forget where we are coming from.
Let me leave u with this note to ponder over (Your outer life is ur reputation with people, but ur inner life is ur reputation with God.
January 24th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Felix im speechless and u know me im not easy made speechless.. we all have skeletons in our closets and most go to their grave with them..I know this is only the beginning of your story u keep it going DO NOT be ashamed of your past and what u did for it has made u who u are today and today you can hold your head high and be proud of what u have become n will become.. u do what u have to, to reach out and change the lives of those that are or may fall into criminal thinking. and btw.. nice way of keeping your readers in suspence.. lol ..BANG BANG ..wink.. hagd stay blessed ill talk to u soon..xx
January 24th, 2008 at 4:34 am
Felix ma bro,
Lovely piece made more lovely by the good use of your literary arrangement……pour it on and on…..more Sir.
I doff my hat.
January 24th, 2008 at 5:07 am
My mentor told me a few days ago, “where we are coming from is good” it prepares us for the journey ahead. So whatever it is that happened is good, we cant change the past but we can definitely direct the future the way we want it to be.
Nice one bro
January 24th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Hmmm….
Felixo, i’m certain that nothing just happens, and glad you’re using your story as an instrument to change lives.
I truly admire your guts to spill it out, you’ll be amazed at how far reaching this action will be.
Waiting for Chapter 2….
January 24th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Daddy, its your courage that trips me. The fact that you can actually share it with the public, it means that you have totally put it behind you and have renounced all of that. I appreciate you for that.
But…emm, the juicy part. You know what I’m talking about. Can’t wait for that.
You are respected.
January 24th, 2008 at 6:32 am
I was almost in tears after reading your piece. I knew all these things while they were happening but its a totally different experience when i got to read it,was like reliving it all over again.I am happy things are different and you learnt from the mistakes you have made so far,i hope other youths would learn from this.
January 24th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Do Not be ashamed of anything in your past for it has made who u are today. I am very proud to know you Felix you show strength courage and leadership, if anyone can reach the youth of Africa you can. You make your mark in this world for all to see how one can redeem himself. You show change by example and is the best way to learn for most. You continue with your story with your head held high and even if you only change the life of one child, your effort was not done in vane. wink well done xxx
January 24th, 2008 at 10:53 am
@all …. i really appreciate your comments so far, it took more than my effort for me to post this, after i did, i nearly took it off, but as i see the comments, i guess i have to finish the stories and get to the message quick enough… once again thanks for you support.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Well done!!! Tell it and let the world of youths out there know that it is possible to change for good and God. Let your goal be your courage. You’ve started, finish it and the Lord will complete the good thng he has begun in your life.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:35 am
Ol boy,this is making me see you in a different light.You are not only smart and bold,man u are courageous.I will like to read the rest of this today.
January 25th, 2008 at 7:24 am
As i read dis piece!BANG!BANG!u made me speechless.Am speechless not bcos am new to ur dark past..no!m lost wit words bcos i simply cant explain how glad n proud i am of u!!knownin uve decided 2 share dis hidden part of u only a few of us knew,wit d world.we all ve our dark past!it simply takes courage n honour,2let it burn!!
FELIX, NEVER LET DIS CANDLE OF URS FADE OUT!!
PEACE N A FIST!!
January 26th, 2008 at 3:22 am
Felix,
Seriously, I trip.
I think we should all take a cue from these some of our past History is indeed a lesson for others. Sis Tope is on the same path, taking clips from the past and delivering life’s lessons in the process.
Be encouraged, you are starting to inspire guys like me.
Look at how much traffic you are having here already, the number of people visiting to hear you. You have an audience, please do not let them down.
I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say “Give us part two for God sake!”
You feel me?
January 26th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Felix,
This is d story of a champion. A man who has conquered his fears.
u are reaching out.
I look forward to the end of d story.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
The journey of a thousand miles… first begins…then continues. Keep it coming…
February 7th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Nice one big bro, its a really good thing putting this up here for the world to see,helps peeps like us(the youths)learn more from life.
Known about this for a while but I must say I’m really impressed seeing it here…its a good thing. You’ve already touched one.
happy b.day in ad.
after bang bang …what next, pls go on