Injibabo, the Fisherman of the Waterfronts, could not help wondering at the insane ways of the People of the City as he waited along with others in the Parliamentary Hall for the appointed time to begin deliberations. The ‘dog-eat-dog’ syndrome seems to be embedded in them. They could not help hating themselves. Perhaps it was because of the crude nature that has become their lot since they ignorantly named the precious blood of Odumodu, the great ancestor of the People of the Waterfronts, ‘crude oil’. It goes without saying, he who feeds fat with the proceeds of crude oil, must inadvertently become crude.
Injibabo racked his brain to understand why six policemen would beat to stupor their fellow policemen, because he pleaded with them not to collect bribe from a driver. He just could not understand it. Corporal James Ameh was beaten by the six brutes until his spine was broken, thrown inside a gutter, his uniform torn, just because he challenged them for forcibly extorting money from the driver of a bus which he boarded. How could such a thing could happen in broad day light? Injibabo wondered. If it were a civilian, they would have told their superiors that he obstructed them from performing their duties and of course, in the spirit of sprint de corps, they would be believed and the insane action would be condoned. Now, this happened to their fellow policeman and Ijibabo thought of what would be the reaction of the police authority and if the general public would be informed of the outcome.
Even as he pondered on what would be the fate of Corporal Ameh, Injibabo’s thoughts strayed to the fate of Rashidi Yekini, Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, an internationally acclaimed footballer. Injibabo shook his head and sighed. He remembered the case of the renounced signer, Michael Jackson. The government dug deeply into the course of his death and his doctor paid dearly for it. Could such a thing happen in this country? Would anyone dig into the cause of the death of Rashidi Yekini and the culprit, if any, found and made to pay dearly for it? Do we value the life of our fellow citizens here?
Suddenly, Injibabo remembered the words of Segun Odegbami commenting on the rumour that Rashidi Yekini was mad. He said, ”I know a mad man when I see one, I can testify unequivocally along with some others who knew Rashidi from close up that there was nothing wrong with him at the time he was abducted and died. Indeed, he was hale and hearty. Rashidi was not ill. He was fit and sound of mind and body. He even trained on the day he was forcefully taken away by people that have not come out to tell the world why they took him, where they took him and what happened there, who treated him for what ailment, what he died of and so on. I can also testify that it was the misfortune that befell him a few years ago that caused him great distress to the extent that he almost lost his life and his mind when his partner was killed and he lost most of his investment in their joint venture. That period was what some of his family members are saying to justify their wicked action in forcefully leading him to his death.” In better wrought societies, Injibabo thought, the words of Segun Odegbami would have jolted the conscience of the government and a probe would ensure, to find out why a hale and hearty person, would be rough- handled by his relations, tied up, both hands and feet, bruised, taken to an unknown destination and later pronounced dead. It was even rumoured that they were annoyed that he was too generous with his money. Can you imagine that? Odegbami concluded thus, “I am here testifying that Rashidi must have been ‘killed’ either ignorantly, deliberately or even inadvertently by those that did not understand what was going on with him, that had their own motivation for doing what they did by forcefully taking him away to an unknown destination for some kind of unclear, unauthorised spiritual or medical intervention that eventually killed him. That neighbours even witnessed the abduction and described it in gory detail requires that the law enforcement agencies should take up the matter immediately, to investigate what exactly happened and why Nigeria’s national hero and treasure, an African football legend in the true sense, should die the way he did.
Rashidi will not rest properly until justice is done.
Rashidi’s death must not be swept under the carpet. He died under circumstances that reek of conspiracy and murder!
Thats why the police must step in today!”
The Oldman of the Waterfronts got up, stretched his left hand and picked up the bottle of the local white brew. The appointed time has come and deliberations must begin. His right had picked up the little glass cup, permanent companion of the bottle of the local white brew. He filled it and began his call on the ancestors to take charge of the deliberations.
“Odumodu, great ancestor of the People of the Waterfronts, he who dwells at the domain between the land and the sea, revealing himself to his people at every promontory, take and drink. We urge you not to give up on the hopeless ways of the People of the City. They must be directed to live like sane human beings who are above brutes.
“Otumo-Ogugu, Favourite of the Maidens, he who goes in and out of the Maidens detecting the unfaithful ones, take and drink. We must not give up the fight to ensure the sanity of the City. Join your co-ancestors to carry out this onerous task.
“Osokolo, another Favourite of the Maidens, he who pursues the Maidens out of the Waterfronts, reminding them of their domestic chores, take and drink. Assist and restore the damaged thinking faculty of the People of the City and let the City be habitable for all.”
The Oldman of the Waterfronts refilled the little glass cup and upturned all into his mouth. He swallowed all and allowed the bottle of the local white brew and the little glass cup to go round the hall. A glassful went down the throat of each of them, preparing them for a vigorous discussion. It was Okolobo, he of the creeks that got up to speak.
“People of the Waterfronts, I greet you all. It is an open secret that the only company in the entire world that forces people to pay for goods not consumed is the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. We have been so used to being cheated that we all remain docile as the company issues a full month’s bill for electricity that was supplied for not more than a week, sometimes even less. The electricity bills increase as the supply decreases. Now, as if to rub salt into an injury, the federal government wants to increase the electricity tariff.
“People of the Waterfronts, the Bureau of Public Enterprises has just stated that preferred bidders for state power assets would be announced in October. Does it not show that preparations for the proper take-off of uninterrupted power supply are still going on? If everything is not set for regular power supply, why then do you say you will increase the already ever-increasing electricity tariff? Is it because the beleaguered masses stomach whatever is passed on to them? The Nigeria Labour Congress and other organizations have voiced out their opposition to it. Why heat up the polity unnecessarily? The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has just stated, “Small-scale business people, such as artisans and petty traders who depend on electricity will be more affected. Unfortunately, these people constitute the bulk of the Nigerian population. As far as SERAP is concerned, the increment violates the socio-economic interests and rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by the constitution.” The group went on to say there was no justification for the increment because there was no corresponding improvement in the supply of electricity to the people. Is that not true?
“The president of PortHarcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, PHCCIMA, Vincent Furo, speaking on the issue of increase in electricity tariff, said, ‘Increasing tariff at this time is not right because we have suffered a lot. We have lost businesses and a lot of things have gone wrong which need to be repaired before the increase.’ He went on to say it was unfair for the president to talk of tariff increase without stability of electricity and concluded that ‘there should be test running to ensure that the light is stable for about three months or more to convince people that they will get their money’s worth before you tell them to pay.’
“The People of the City should know that there is a limit to the endurance of the people.
Immediately Okolobo sat down, Arukulo, the man who says he is always at the front of the canoe, got up to speak.
“People of the Waterfronts, I don’t know why the People of the City would not allow the City to be calm and peaceful. The fire stoked by the probe of the fuel subsidy is still raging. Threats of mass protests have been issued if prosecutions do not follow. Instead of tackling that, they are piling up the sorrows of the masses by threatening to raise the electricity tarrif for barbers and business centres that are already folding up due to incessant power outages. Let someone tell them that if they supply power regularly, no one will cry over a corresponding increase in tariff. Let someone tell them that. For me, I can only say they should first settle the issue of Justice Isa Ayo Salami, suspended Court of Appeal President that is hanging on their necks. He should be reinstated with the same speed he was suspended. Grandpa, please my throat is dry”.
The Oldman of the Waterfronts smiled, filled the little glass cup, drank all and allowed the bottle of the local white brew to go round. ###
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