The People of the Waterfronts, as usual were seated in their Parliamentary Hall, waiting for the appointment time. If the People of the City do not keep to time because of their ignorance of effect of time on all aspect of life, that is their business. They, the People of the Waterfronts know the value of time and so would never waste it. All scheduled events must begin at the dot of time, come what may.
Perhaps this strict adherence of keeping to time arose from their being fishermen and women. Just as human being have seasons for moonlight play and seasons to stay indoors at Night; fishers have periods of coming out in large numbers to display. A miscalculation of the timing of the display leaves the fishermen a poor harvest. He has no one to blame but himself. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for a dedicated fisherman to be abreast of the ebb and flow of the tide, its period of fast speeding its saturation and its turn of ebb or flow. This mastery of the movements of the sea heads to successful fishing expedition and so a good fisherman never wastes his time to venture into the sea just for sake of it. He knows the period when the sardines come out to display just as he knows when best to go fishing for the tilapia, the crab and other sea creatures. Time is of essence to the true fisherman and this request for time is carried into spheres of activities.
Angaladikibo, the Watcher of the Mangroves was one of those sitting down, waiting for the appointed time to begin the deliberations for the day. As usual, he was not just sitting down, waiting. His attention was on the Mangroves. He was not disappointed. The Mangroves opened up to him.
“Angaladikibo, whoever told you that opportunity knocks but once is a great liar” the mangroves gently infused into Angalidikibo’s consciousness. “It is a terrible he that has sent many to their graves. They missed a clinic of grabbling an opportunity and they resigned themselves to fate, feeling down and out firmly believing that they would not be given another opportunity. The love of the creator for his creation is so enormous. It is like an ocean out of which only love and mercy flows and is inexhaustible. The Supreme One knows our inadequacies and never abandons us because we missed a chance. Over and over, the live of our creator pours on us until we recognize it and makes our life better”.
Angaladikibo, the Watcher of the Waterfronts, was stupefied. “What was the import of this revelation? How do one know that opportunities always present themselves over and over until caught? First of all, how would you recognize an event as an opportunity knows to redirect yourself? Angaladikibo instinctively know that it is the chameleonic nature of opportunity that beguiles individuals. If it comes at first as a headache to correct your ways and you did not get the import, it may appear again as a stomach ache. If that does not appeal to you, it may comes as a slap, an above or even a praise from someone. Only the wise sits back, reflects and sea the connecting demands to change one’s life for good.
The Oldman of the Waterfronts got up suddenly, interrupting the rioting mind of Angaladikibo. The appointed time has co me and the deliberations mush begin. The Oldman of the Waterfronts stretched his left hand and picked up the bottle of the local white brew. His right hand picked up the little glass cup, permanent companion of the bottle pf the local white brew and he filled it, held it aloft and began his call to the ancestors to take charges.
“Odumodu, great ancestors of the People of the Waterfronts, he who dwells at the domain between the land and the sea, take and drink. What can we do without you? the intrigues of the People of the City would have overwhelmed us for long but for your protective hands. We plead that you continue to protect us and we will not fail to do our part of offering you your favourite, the local white brew your own products.
“Otumo-Ogugu, Favourite of the Maidens, he who goes in and out of the Maidens as they perform their ablutions at the Waterfronts, take and drink. We know that the evil ways of the People of the City will never dent us as long as you are with us. Ours is to offer you your favourite.
“Osokolo, another favourite of the Maidens, he who pursues the Maidens out of the Waterfronts, urging them to remember their domestic assignments, take, drink and join your co-ancestors to guide us.
The Oldman of the waterfronts refilled the little glass cup and poured all into his mouth. The bottle of the local white brew and the little glass cup went round the hall and all followed the footsteps of the Oldman of the Waterfronts.
“People of the Waterfronts, I greet you, all “Angaladikibo, the watcher of the Mangroves began, after he was permitted to take the floor.
People of the Waterfronts, at different times in our life, we are offered opportunities to redeem our image and write our names in gold, on the sands of time. The problems we have is the ability to recognize such chances, seizing them and making the most of it. I will give you only to instances and I will rest my case, as the learned men would say.
“Our dear governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi performed s well when he came on board in 2007 that Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State was described as one huge construction site. Like the proverbial new broom, he swept the city clean with his youthful burst of energy, raising the hopes of many. He is now in his second term and people who do not realize the ebb and flow of energy felt he should be on the same speed level. He is trying. However, an opportunity has presented itself for him to demonstrate his love for the state, devoid that he is a governor. He is not hungry now leaving office. The position of governorship with its entitlement can never be compared with any other government worker. The proposed public office holders (payment of pension) bill in the state House of Assembly presupposes that governors are worse off than any other government worker and so should be catered for until death after leaving office. It is like taking coal to Newcastle. He is offensive to men of good conscience. If a governor could not build a house for himself with his salary and allowances despite being giving everything free from shelter to food and several others then the plight of messengers and other civil servant could but be imagined. Governor Amaechi should distance himself from such an odious bill and let it dies a natural death as the proposers are merely trying to carry favour. It will elevate him higher in the mind of many and he would be a reference point in the future, it is a rare opportunity by providence, to stamp his feet as a true, anti-corruption crusader and remain a reference points in future. His partial removal of oil subsidy nearly brought the nation to its knees. He insisted and we knew he was honest in his insistence that the removal of subsidy would provide funds for development. He honestly believed that the trillion mentioned as subsidy were actually paid and so their retrieve would help the economy. Ofcourse those who knew otherwise said it was corruption and not real payment of the subsidy that got to the level. Now, the probe has revealed that even companies that have nothing to do with oil importation, including youth corpers were dipping into the subsidy that the poor masses were made to pay. It is a veritable opportunity for the president to prove his innocence of such movemental frauds by diligently prosecuting all that were indicated by the probe. Let the innocents be free by the courts. Let him not bother whose ox is gored. No matter who may be involved let him ensure transport prosecution and he would be a reference point. Thank, you for allowing me to speak, People of the Waterfronts?
“People of the Waterfronts, another example of a rare opportunity to redeem oneself is the House of Representatives Oil Subsidy probe Reports. The president f the nation, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has been offered a rare opportunity
The Oldman of the Waterfronts quickly sent the bottle of the local white brew and the little glass cup to Angaladikibo immediately he ended his speech. A full glass cup went down his throat and he calmly sat down.
It was Injibabo, the Fisherman of the Waterfronts that got up to speak after Angaladikibo.
“People of the Waterfronts, he began, “I must sincerely congratulate Angaladikibo for being able to express his feelings. I say so because we are now in strange times when it takes a rare courage to worship with fellow worshippers on Sundays Christians are now targets for a set of people who called themselves Boko Haram. How worshippers in churches caused whatever they said they are aggrieved it, I only heavens can explain. Even newpaper houses are also targets. What baffled me however was the attack at the church gears in Bayero, Kano, last Sunday. We already know that Kano has been a hot spot for the Boko Haram sect. we also know that Christians have been targets, how come according to Mohammed Suleimon a history lecturer at the Bayero University “For over 30 minutes, a series of bomb explosions and gun shots took over the old campus around the academic blocks” How come the hoodlums escaped after 30 minutes of operations. Does it then mean the security operatives who always say they are on top of the situation could not responds within fie to ten minutes of such destruction to forestall the escape of the escape of the ……..? I do not want to go into General Azazi outburst about the PDP. The National Security Adviser should other find solution or resign.
The Oldman of the Waterfronts filled the little glass cup with the local white brew and drink all. ###
