If only wishes were horses.
The world would be a near-perfect place where we could ride freely into our deepest fantasies without limitations. It would be a world where we could gallop through life, unburdened by the weight of unmet desires.
If only wishes were horses.
One interesting question popped up on my X (formerly Twitter) feed the other day, and it got me into a wishful state. Someone asked, “If you could have dinner with any three people, who would they be?” That really got me thinking. There are a lot of people I would love to sit down with and have a meaningful conversation. Narrowing that list down to just three wasn’t easy.
I picked up my phone and quickly listed about 20 names. I could have gone on, but I limited myself to avoid being spoiled for choice. Next, I started crossing out names one after the other. I soon realized that, for some people, I was only fascinated by their personalities but didn’t have pressing questions for them. After my shortlisting exercise, I had my final three.
My Grandfather
In the early days of my life, when my grandfather was alive, I grew up being called “Junior.” The reason is simple — we shared the same name, Olatunde. In Yoruba culture, calling a younger person by the same name as an elder would be considered rude, so everyone resorted to calling me “Junior” to avoid disrespecting “Baba.”
Unfortunately, I was too young to know this man well, or even have a conversation with him before he passed away when I was just two or three years old. My only memory of him is how he gave my siblings and me tiny pieces of alum to lick when we visited. He was such an enigmatic and endearing man.
If only wishes were horses, I would love to ask him about his world travels and business exploits. My dad often mentioned that he was one of the pioneers who brought Pool Betting to Lagos. He also had successful ventures and travelled widely. I would love to pick his brain about life, marriage, and managing two wives (my grandmother and another woman). How did he cope? Would he do it again if given the chance? And what was it like being wealthy in those days? What kinds of pleasures came with that?
Lord Lugard
I know I’m not alone in wishing to converse with this man.
Lord Frederick Lugard was the British colonial administrator responsible for the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914, creating the political entity we now know as Nigeria.
That act formed a country with deep ethnic, regional, and religious divisions that still persist today. It’s like trying to mix oil and water; no matter how hard you shake or stir them, they’ll always separate. That’s the struggle we face in Nigeria.
If wishes were horses, I would love to show Lugard what he created and ask if he is proud of his work, or if he would have done things differently if given the chance. Nigerians are peace-loving people, but these ethnic differences continue to find ways to cause disagreements and strife, especially in politics and leadership. The dream of having “One Nigeria” often feels like a ghost chase.
Obafemi Awolowo
This man truly made his mark. To this day, he is hailed as one of the greatest regional leaders Nigeria ever had, and arguably one of the best presidents we never had.
Obafemi Awolowo was a prominent Nigerian nationalist, political leader, and statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement. He was known for his progressive policies, particularly in education and economic development, and was instrumental in implementing free primary education in the Western Region, significantly boosting literacy rates.
Beyond his political exploits, I feel a deeper connection to Awolowo because I was born in the same month and year he passed away. I was born just days after he died, which makes me wonder if I was born to carry on his legacy. It’s just that I don’t have the stomach for politics!
I could go on and on about the people I’d love to meet. But as much as I enjoy letting my mind wander, I realize that wishes are not horses. So while the idea of these dinner conversations tickles my senses, I must return to reality and continue my day.
