Just as the clock chimed the appointed hour to begin deliberations, the Oldman of the Waterfronts got up, ready to call on the ancestors. The Parliamentary Hall of the People of the Waterfronts was silent as he stretched his left hand, picking up the bottle of the local white brew. His right hand picked up the little glass cup and he filled it with the local white brew, favourite of the ancestors of the People of the Waterfronts. He began his call on the ancestor.
“Odumodu, great ancestor of the People of the Waterfronts, he who dwell at the domain between the Land and the Sea, take, drink and hear our call. We are about discussing the silly ways of the People of the City, hoping to find solutions to their self-imposed problems. Ordinary mortals could never understand the ways of the People of the City. Only you, the ancestors could understand them and so we call on you to assist us.
“Odumodu, he who makes his presence felt at every promontory to the People of the Waterfronts as they go out fishing. We know that you will never disappoint us. You said all it requires to catch your attention is just glass of the local white brew. Accordingly, we never fail to go along with it in our fishing expeditions. At every promontory, in obedience to your command, we pour a glass of the local white brew. True to your words, you have always made your presence felt, like a loving father. We have gathered here seeking for your assistance to understand the wily ways of the People of the City. Take, drink and assist us.
“Otumo-Ogugu, Favourite of the Maidens, he who goes in and out of the Maidens, detecting the unfaithful ones as they perform ablutions at the Waterfronts, take and drink. With ease, you detect the wayward ones that thought they could break the vow of chastity before being escorted to their spouses. Without fear or favour, you expose them as deterrent to others. We call on you to reveal to us the secret ways of the People of the City.
“Osokolo, another Favourite of the Maidens, he who pursues the Maidens out of the Waterfronts, reminding them of their domestic chores, take and drink. As always, we have gathered here to look into the ways of the People of the City. It is impossible to understand them without the help of you, the ancestors. So, we call on you to assist us. Take and drink and join your co-ancestors to direct us.”
The Oldman of the Waterfronts refilled the little glass cup and swallowed all. He allowed the bottle of the local white brew and the little glass cup to go round the Parliamentary Hall. One by one, they took a glassful, ready for the deliberation.
Injibabo, the Fisherman of the Waterfronts, raised up his hand, indicating his readiness to speak. He was allowed and he got up to give his own contribution.
“People of the Waterfronts, I greet you. The future is pregnant, I mean, really pregnant with unforeseen and unforeseeable consequences. The People of the City have gone beyond their bounds. No one could tell what the future portends I fear for the worst. I fear because of the dangerous ways of the People of the City. They are not looking for peace and you know that when peace is far away from your mind, you are inadvertently looking for its opposite.
“Every day, one is fed with irritating news. The ears itch, hearing some of the acts of the People of the City. For how long would this continue? The elasticity of everything has its limit. It would do the People of City a lot of good if they could retrace their steps on time. They should lift up their nose and perceive the pervading stench oozing from their thoughtless acts. They should hearken to the cry of the masses. They should not feel disturbed when the cock crows early in the morning. The crowing of the cock is not intended to disturb their sleep, far from it. The cock never intended that. The cock crows early in the morning to let you know that an early preparation for the day, an early retraction of your wayward steps, engenders peace, wealth and abundance. The People of the City should wake up before it is too late.
“People of the Waterfronts, have you ever heard it happen in other countries in the world that people steal N300 million daily from Police Pension office? Where have you ever heard that? That within an organization set up to arrest thieves and other anti-social acts, there exist men and women who steal such whopping amount daily? How then would they be able to stop others from fleecing the country dry? Do you see why we are in such a mess? And to think that despite all these massive thefts uncovered left, right and centre in the nation, no one has gone to jail for it! Yet, some thoughtless fools went and butchered four young undergraduates, falsely accusing them of stealing mere phones and laptops! Oh, what a nation we live in! If this is not a dangerous step to a revolution, what then is?
“The most irritating parts of it is that we keep on shouting that we are fighting corruption, yet nothing happens to those caught red-handed. According to reports, whereas about N36 billion have been recovered from the pilferers of the Police Pension Fund, the sum of N3.3 trillion could not be accounted for in the Local Government Pension Fund. Odumodu! How can we continue in this manner? Do you see why suddenly there is flood everywhere? Even the elements are annoyed. In their annoyance, homes have been swept away, including farm lands. People of the Waterfronts, let us do something before something is done to us. Or, as my countryman will say ‘do something before something do you’ .”
Injibabo, the Fisherman of the Waterfronts, sat down, head bowed. The hall was silent, all going through the words of Injibabo in their minds. The Oldman of the Waterfronts felt the pervading gloom, filled the little glass cup and poured all into his mouth and swallowed. He allowed the bottle of the local white brew and the little glass cup to go round. They took and shook off the pensive mood.
Arukulo, he who says he is always at the Front of the Canoe, got up to speak.
“People of the Waterfronts, I greet you all. It is really strange that no one is in jail despite the huge amount of money said to be recovered from people. No, because ‘big men’ don’t go to jail. It is the same reason no ‘bigman’ has gone to jail despite the obvious fact that Boko Haram, the killer squad, could not have been set up by the small fries being arrested. So the killing continues, just as the stealing in high places continues. I will not be surprised if the allegation of Alhaji Modu Sheriff is ignored. It is a weighty allegation. He said “It is common knowledge in Borno state that Senator Zanna takes along some hapless Nigerians on a seeming religious voyage by road only to put some of them into terrorist activity and illegal arms importation. Some of the so-called pilgrims by road have been traced to terrorists’ camps in Afghanistan and Syria, and not Saudi Arabia, their preferred destination. It is very much on record that 27 of such pilgrims are still missing uptill date.” In sane countries, this allegation would be properly investigated.
” However, People of the Waterfronts, I am worried over something else. The governorship election in Ondo state has just been concluded and the labour Party candidate, the incumbent, Dr. Olusegun Mimko, has been announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as the winner. The election was conducted on Saturday, October 20, 2012. My worry is this, in 2015, election would be conducted in 36 states by INEC and as usual, security men will be available. From reports, the election was marred by violence and other irregularities. True, no one was expecting a 100% free and fair election. But the worry is that if, despite the fact that thousands of security forces were drafted into Ondo state, violence could still occur, what then would happen when the election would be held simultaneously in all the states? Why would violence and late arrival of materials occur when everyone’s attention and the entire INEC were focused on just one state? Is it impossible to ensure a near perfect election even when only one state is involved? Reports had it that it was so bad at Okeluse that the result for the area had to be cancelled. Thugs they said, harassed voters and ballot boxes were snatched despite the heavy presence of security forces in the state. In fact, a commissioner and a council boss were said to be arrested over the possession of arms. Even deaths were recorded and some prevented from voting. I agree with Injibabo that we must do something fast.”
The Oldman of the Waterfronts, filled the little glass cup and gulped all. ####
By Kenneth Amabipi
0803 668 7846
Email: kennymaps@yahoo.co.uk
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