While Angaladikibo, the Watcher of the Mangroves, engaged in his favourite habit of gazing at the Mangroves through the window as he waited for the appointed time, Injibabo, the Fisherman of the Waterfronts, wondered what might be going on in his mind. He knew that Angaladikibo and the Mangroves, like husband and wife, are one and nothing can separate them. It was as if the creator joined them together and gave an order that no one should put them asunder. It is even surprising that Angaladikibo is a Fisherman.
Since he has an irresistible appetite to gaze at the Mangroves how then has he been carrying out his fishing profession successfully, surrounded by the Mangroves? It was strange. Perhaps the Mangroves knew that though man may not live by bread alone, yet bread is essential to existence and so had to release him from their grasp whenever it was time to fend for himself.
Injibabo, the Fisherman of the Waterfronts was lost in the realm of thought and the People of the City became his next focus. If only, the People of the City would be a little bit patriotic, he mused, if only they could think a little bit less of themselves, they would have succeeded in moulding a peaceful, united and progressive nation. But no, not for them the noble characteristics of self-sacrifice, or a little consideration for the neighbour, a friend, a co-worker, or even fellow travelers in a vehicle. They are rather consumed in graceless, selfish and abominable acts that have translated into mass poverty and deterioration of every facet of the nation’s life. It was the selfishness and inept attitude of the People of the City that has engendered the dastardly act of those who called themselves Boko Haram (Western Education is evil) on the eve of the celebration of Eid el Kabir. More than 150 people were massacred, six churches destroyed, a police station and other houses razed. What the murdered People, the destroyed police station and houses have to do with the evilness of western education is what learned men and women would unravel someday.
The Oldman of the Waterfronts stood up abruptly. It was the appointed time to begin the deliberations and of course, the ancestors must be informed properly first. The Parliamentary Hall of the People of the Waterfronts immediately became quiet, Angaladikibo reverted his gaze back to the Parliamentary Hall and the Injibabo woke up from his reverie.
The Oldman of the Waterfronts stretched his left hand and lifted up the bottle of the local white brew. He stretched his right hand and took the little glass cup, permanent companion of the bottle of the local white brew. He filled it and began his call on the ancestors.
“Odumodu, dweller of the domain between the land and the sea, great ancestor of the People of the Waterfronts, he who makes his presence felt at every promontory to his descendants, as long as they do not forget to appease you with a glassful of the local white brew, take and drink. What can we do without you? The treacherous ways of the People of the City would have led to our doom, but for your ever watchful eyes. We will continue to call on you, because we know you will continue to hearken unto our call and our steps would never go amiss.
“Just imagine the evil act committed by the Bokos of the Harams or whatever they are called. Who are they really against? The people? The government? The churches, the security forces? Just what sort of unreasonable, senseless, directionless and unfeeling group that felt the entire society must succumb to their silly demands? In fact, do they even have a demand? If Western education is bad, why not simply discard it, burn your certificates and even communicate only in Arabic or whatever other means they so desire?
“Odumodu, the unseen eye that watches over his people, save us from the bombing mentality of this murderous group. This year alone, the group has sent up to 850 innocent people into the great beyond. We take cover under your umbrella, take and drink.
“Otumo-Ogugu, Favourite of the Maidens, he who goes in and out of the Maidens detecting the unfaithful ones, take and drink. It is only the combined efforts of you the ancestors that could see us through in these troubles times. Hearken to our call and protect us from the venom of the People of the City.
“Osokolo, another Favourite of the Maidens, he who pursues the Maidens out of the Waterfronts, your cane touches only the unfaithful and lazy ones, take and drink. It is time to hold our deliberations, join your co-ancestor to direct our affairs. We no longer understand the ways of the People of the City. Their shenanigans overwhelm us. Take and drink”
The Oldman of the Waterfronts ended his libation filled the little glass cup again and swallowed all.
It was the Lady of the Waterfronts that first indicated her intention to speak. The Tall and Huge Fellow of the Waterfronts, the unelected but unanimously accepted provost of the People of the Waterfronts granted her the permission.
“People of the Waterfronts, I greet you all, the Lady of the Waterfronts began, still on her seat, as the People of the Waterfronts never allow a lady standing while speaking in a gathering of men and women. No one knows the real reason behind the tradition. Was it because they so much revere the ladies that they could not bear them standing and inconveniencing themselves while making their contributions? Or is it because the men felt it would be a slight on them for a woman to stand up to speak while the men are on their seats, as if they are taking down on the men?
“People of the Waterfronts,” the Lady of the Waterfronts continued, “the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has declared emphatically that fuel subsidy must go. No problem. I know he has deep in his inner recesses, great love for the nation. However, it is advisable for him to look carefully into the claims of many that the entire subsidy issue is a fraud benefiting a few untouchables and unnamable. Wonderfully strange, or if you like, strangely wonderful. Prof. Tam David West, the indefatigable advocate of a corruption-free nation, stated so. General Muhammed Buhari, the no-nonsense general who once broke down and cried for the nation, supported the allegation. Former Governor of Kwara state, now a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Bukola Saraki, gave vivid examples of it. I put it to the President that he is obliged to look deep into the matter before giving a final verdict. Or, perhaps he has seen it too, thus his determination to remove it.
“People of the Waterfronts, if the President has found out the fraud, being at an advantaged position, then I again put it to him that he should find a way of plugging the holes before rushing to announce an issue that will send inflation sky-rocketing to the chagrin of the masses who have swore that they voted for him in the hope that his name “Goodluck” will be translated to the fortunes of the nation.
“Giving figures, Senator Saraki had stated on the floor of the senate that N240 billion, that is, N20 billions monthly, was allocated for fuel subsidy in the 2011 Appropriation Act. By the way, People of the Waterfronts, what that means is simply that a legislative act was passed to authorize the expenditure of that amount for the specific purpose of subsidy alone for the year. But, you know what? By August 2011, a colossal sum of N931billion, that is, N691 billion more than the entire year’s budget has been spent. Who dunnit? For what purpose? Was the entire budget underestimated? If so, was another appropriation bill passed?
“In August alone, according to Saraki, a total of N165 billion was spent. On what? Senator Saraki said that if the fraud continues, then by December 2011, the nation would spent N1.2 trillion naira. I still put it to the president that he must get to the root of the colossal expenditure before insisting on the removal of the so-called subsidy.
“That’s not all, People of the Waterfronts. Speaking through his spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, former Head of State and CPC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, stated that most of the elements that go into what is called “subsidy” is the cost of corruption in the oil import business. He wondered why the cost of a litre of petrol at the international market is not made public? Why are consignments of fuel deliberately left at the ports for 14 days to attract demurrage? He maintained that the state of our refineries is a deliberate sabotage by powerful forces doing the illicit business.
“Offering solutions, General Buhari said the panacea, “is that government must fix our refineries, facilitate the building of new ones so that we can refine locally for the benefits of our economy and the people and derive maximum benefits from the 114 additives of oil. When this is done, Nigeria can be in league with other OPEC countries where the cost of fuel in Saudi Arabia is $0.12 (N18 per litre), Kuwait $0.79 (N32 per litre), UAE $0.37 (N57 per litre), Venezuela $0.22 (N34 per litre) and Algeria $0.20 (N31 per litre).
“People of the Waterfronts, if these figures are correct, then presently we are paying more per litre of fuel. Let the president plug all leaking holes before insisting on removal of the phantom subsidy. I rest my case.”
The Lady of the Waterfronts ended her contribution. A look at her showed that she was exhausted. Accordingly, the bottle of the local white brew and the little glass cup moved to her and a glassful went down her throat to revive her.
The Oldman of the Waterfronts did the same when the bottle of the local white brew and the little glass cup returned to the table. ####
By Kenneth Amabipi
0803 668 7846
Email: kennymaps@yahoo.co.uk
