The Prof and his student: Way of a man with a maid

IT is too high a price to pay for coitus, especially one that was not. For allegedly suggesting getting in between the thighs of an unwilling student, Richard Akindele, a Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has brought dishonour to himself and public opprobrium to his family. Now, his job is on the line and years of hard work are headed for ignominy as he has been issued a query by the university which has vowed to deal decisively with him if found culpable.

As he is barraged with questions from friends and family, Akindele must be wondering what got into him. He must be wondering how he could have allowed a moment of injudiciousness to inflict such a great injury to his family and career.

Since the news broke about Akindele demanding to bang a female student five times to jack up her mark, the man has kept to himself; neither denying nor confirming the allegation. But his associates have expressed shock about the development; they claim that the allegation ran contrary to the reputation of the Anglican priest. His wife reportedly blamed the devil for her husband’s misdemeanor.

Over the ages, otherwise great men had traded away their greatness to indiscretion with members of the opposite sex. Men who had won great battles, men who had accomplished mind boggling feats, men who had trodden the earth like colossus had been reduced to witless, whimpering, incoherent toys in the hands of inconsequential women.

Bill Clinton was the first United States of America president born after World War II and the first democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to be elected to a second term. He was also the first elected president to be impeached (though not removed from office), over his lies about an affair with a White House intern in her 20’s. Imagine an intern reducing a president to a liar. Clinton’s outstanding achievement as the one ‘who presided over one of the greatest surges in prosperity and innovation in American history, and who helped make the transition from the standoff of the cold war to an era in which American influence was unchallenged’ is eternally tainted by the Monica Lewinsky saga.

Mike Tyson’s journey to infamy started with his dopey desire for Desiree Washington, which led to rape and his subsequent conviction. Iron Mike Tyson, who could have any woman jump on his bed at a whisper, had to go to jail for three years for raping an 18-year old. Since that incident in 1991, the fortune of the former heavy weight boxing champion has been on the downswing. Indiscretion has consigned him to the wrong side of history.

Nigeria’s most feared head of state, the one that was a dread to Army Generals and the nightmare of those who had a reputation for fearlessness, was overpowered, after a night of romping, by young girls whose only weapons were pointed apples and the bilabial between their thighs. The apple-juggling girls, more than anyone else, liberated the nation from the late General’s shackles. The General’s insatiable lust for women made mincemeat of him.

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In Osun State, a traditional ruler, the custodian of the culture and values of his people, was once tried in a senior magistrate court for an alleged rape of a 23-year old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The Oba, Adebukola Alli, Alowa of Ilowa-Ijesa, in Obokun Local Government area of the state, was said to have tricked the corper into his palace and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

On an occasion when the Oba appeared in court, in company with one of his wives, the magistrate had to order him to remove his cap, a euphemism for his being stripped of all honour. Imagine an Oba being taken to court for forcing himself on a woman when he could have had any woman he wanted for the asking.

What is it with women that they bring out the animal in man? Why is it that despite innumerable examples men are still fiddled by women? Why is it that for many men, their senses go on vacation where issues of women are concerned? Psychologists are still at their wits’ end unraveling the mystery.

King Solomon with all his famed wisdom admitted that to him, the chemistry between man and woman is a mystery. He writes in the Bible,  “There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: the way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.”

While it may be true that getting to the root of attraction of women to men is still shrouded in mystery, one thing that will keep a man from the temptress is discretion. Had Akindele exercised discretion in dealing with the student, the course of history would have been different. Now, whenever and wherever Akindele’s feats are mentioned, his indiscretion will also be remembered.

When a man thinks he needs a woman more than anything on earth, at that moment, she is the last thing he needs. That is discretion.