The Editor-In-Chief paid a visit to the Lagos State Rehabilitation Centre in Ikorodu where he ran into a former secondary school classmate of his, Monday Ajayi (not real names) who shared his story.
I was born 40 years ago into a polygamous family based in Lagos. When I was barely five years old, my father divorced my pregnant mother and forcefully kicked her out of his house.
I have three full siblings and many half siblings. I chose to live with my dad and step mothers.
I was admitted into the prestigious Kings College Lagos at the age of 10 and was sent to the boarding house.
Even though I tried to live in denial, I was still bitter with my dad at his divorce of my mum. I took to the smoking of marijuana to feel good and forget my sorrows at home.
I started smoking marijuana at the tender age of 13 and I noticed that it affected my brain but I didn’t give a hoot.
After I finished from Kings College, I got admission into the University of Lagos to study building technology. I joined a cult group – the mafia and intensified my marijuana smoking habit. I missed lectures, engaged in internet fraud popularly known as yahoo yahoo and was a hit man for the fraternity.
I eventually dropped out of school and lived a riotous life without any sense of direction.
In 2010, some of my friends were killed for money making rituals which got me extremely depressed. I increased my smoking of weed and experienced my first mental health crisis which led me to Yaba Left where I spent about a year.
I have been in and out of different psychiatric hospitals since then with my life being in shambles without any vision.
I blame my dad for my woes as if he hadn’t divorced my mum, my life would have turned out much better.
At a point I started sleeping under the bridge just to leave his house and assert my independence.
My younger brother is a medical doctor in Osun State and he showed concern for my wayward lifestyle by connecting me with a psychologist who counselled me to forgive my dad and totally let go of all feelings of animosity towards him.
I believe in forgiving but not forgetting and I finally forgave my dad and moved back permanently to his house.
Through the assistance of my old boys association from my set in Kings College, I got some funds to learn how to repair and sell phones which keeps me busy. It’s a one-year training program.
I hope to become my own boss after the program and become useful to myself and the society. I stopped smoking marijuana and all forms of harmful substances three years ago and have been taking my psychiatric medications on a daily basis since then.
Mercifully, I have not experienced any relapse and I am doing well. My girlfriend is even currently pregnant for me and the prospect of becoming a father greatly thrills me.
I hope to marry her when I become my own boss and achieve some level of financial stability. I thank God for my journey so far and hope for better and brighter days ahead.
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