This is how you know people who know very little outside their own field. The tweet reeks of arrogance wearing intelligence's clothes.
I once had a lecturer like that. He believed anyone who studied anything besides biochemistry or medicine had wasted their time. "Why would you go to school to learn accounting? Any fool can count money. Why would you go to school to study theatre arts? You don't need school to be a jester." Those were some of his exact words.
A few years later, I took part in a stage play with theatre arts students at the University of Ìbàdàn. I couldn't help but respect them. Some were juggling three or four productions at once and still showing up to lectures. I was in just one production, and trying to memorise my lines while life threw its usual wahala at me was already a lot. If that one production stretched me, I can't imagine carrying four. Whatever else those students lacked, intelligence was not on the list.
It makes you wonder what else such people get wrong without knowing it. The man who thinks accounting is just counting has clearly never tried to reconcile a company's books after someone else has hidden a theft in them. The man who thinks acting is just standing on a stage and talking has never tried to make an audience cry on command, eight shows a week, using only his voice and his face.
The bottom line is this: intelligence shows up in many forms, and the moment you decide only your own form counts, you've already proven you don't have enough of it to recognise the rest.
What happened in this court today was both saddening and funny.
A tenancy matter was called. The landlord’s lawyer announced his appearance, and the tenant, a woman probably in her 40s, appeared in person. The landlord’s lawyer informed the court that the tenant was in arrears of rent and had refused to vacate the property despite being served with the statutory notices.
The Registrar asked the tenant for her response to the counsel’s submission, and she confirmed the position completely. She then sought permission to address the court, which the court obliged. That was when the following conversation ensued:
Tenant: "I have been owing rent since May last year. I had been gathering the money to pay, but then my son was diagnosed with kidney disease. I spent all the money on him because we had to do weekly dialysis, which was later changed to monthly." (At this point, she was already sobbing, and tears had started falling). "In the middle of all this, my husband, who didn't contribute a single dime to my son’s medical bills, was caught sleeping around with another woman and even went ahead to marry her. While my son was still sick, I fell ill too from the shock of my husband marrying another woman. So, I beg the court to give me just a little time to gather the money so I can pay the landlord because I don’t have anywhere to go."
Court: "I am not the owner of the property. Have you told this story to the landlord’s counsel?"
Tenant: "No. Anytime I called the landlord’s lawyer, he would direct me to the landlord, and whenever I reached out to the landlord, he would direct me back to his lawyer."
Court: "Where is the landlord?"
Counsel: "The landlord is in court, My Lord."
Court: "Landlord! Where are you?"
Landlord (a man in his late 50s or early 60s, standing up): "Yeah."
(Almost all the lawyers in court immediately muttered, "Yes, sir!" subtly correcting him, because you don’t use "yeah" in a court).
Court: "And you are dressed so well, yet you are behaving like a bush person." (Everyone in the courtroom laughed). "Have you heard the tenant’s story before now?"
Landlord: "No, My Lord."
Court (turning back to the tenant): "Okay. Now Madam, in this life, there are challenges and you cannot avoid them. One can only pray to overcome them. You see, you don't need to be shocked that your husband married a second wife. It is not a crime under Lagos law. You should just focus on your children. Even me, I am from a polygamous family, and I have never promised my wife that I won't take a second wife."
(At this point, everyone in court was feeling sad for her, but at the same time laughing at the way the court was delivering its remarks).
Court: "So, your husband is not the end of the world. You can divorce him. You can even get a new husband; there are lots of men looking for single mothers. In fact, most times, landlords end up marrying single-mother tenants who cannot pay their rent. Right now, you are occupying a two-bedroom apartment. The landlord could get you a room-and-parlor self-contained apartment for free. As I’m looking at the landlord, he must be polygamous."
Landlord (who was now smiling from one side of his mouth): "The property is a lease, My Lord. And the lease will expire in two years. So, we need to use the property."
Court: "That is exactly what I am saying. Thank God your counsel is an elderly person. You can all sit down, talk, waive a part of the arrears, and move forward from there. I will adjourn this matter for trial/report of settlement."
Everyone in court burst into laughter. The ending was so pleasing that the only reason we didn't clap for the court was courtroom etiquette. We just laughed out loud.
Thank you for listening ⚖️🇳🇬
@Emilyy20k Beautiful story but no man, I repeat no man in such a viewing centre has time to ask for any other's name. However good you're at making noise, the best you can get is a nickname