This picture reminds me growing up in a riverine environment. Back in those days, we use to go to the waterside to play in the river and set traps for crabs. Although, a couple of children drowned in the river trying to swim. It was a terrible experience.
I remember one day we went to the river to swim, when my mum heard of it, she gave me the beating of my life. In Nigeria, the fear of your mother is the beginning of wisdom. I never tried it again until I became an adult.
I am from Unyeada, a village in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The Andoni people are also know as the Obolo people.
Our towns are villages are surrounded by rivers, sea and we are even connected to the Atlantic ocean.
I didn't grow up in the village but I did visit the village a couple of times with my dad. Back in those days in the village, I could hear mothers call their children to go to the river and catch some fishes, so that they can prepare soup with them. Between 10 to 15 minutes later, the child comes back with good number of fishes.
This was because back then, when you can just sit by the riverside and catch some fishes just by the river bank.
The Obolo people are predominantly fishermen
and we have a great culture
But today all that is history. Because of the activities of oil exploration, exploitation and oil spillage. The fishes are either dead or driven into the ocean. fishing have become very difficult for my people, affecting the socioeconomic life of the people.
Back in those days, my community use to be very peaceful with various cultural festivals at different times of the year, with the whole community bustling with life and jubilation.
But things turn around when crisis, fighting, maiming became a daily phenomenon. The communities where devastated and deserted because of fear and hardship. Fear and terror became the order of the day. Life became unbearable for those living in the village.
Some time ago, I traveled to the village but during the night I heard sound of gun shots and that terrified me.
But today all that is past. Recently, peace has been restored again when the warring factions decided to make peace.
There was great jubilation all over the Obolo nation.
Today joy, peace and security have been restored in Andoni and specifically, my village Unyeada my village. I am so glad to see this happen. Once more I can travel to the village without fear or intimidation.
As a waterside man, I cherished my childhood so much. We lived as brothers, we experienced the good, the bad and the ugly. There was a time when the peace and security of the waterside was plague with crisis, terror and fear. I felt so sad that a once peaceful and loving neighbourhood had become a war zone. A place of terror and insecurity. But today, all that has gone away. Peace and security have been restored.
You can now sleep with your two eyes close, without fear.
The waterside memories will always be fresh in my mind. Some times I just go to the riverside to enjoy the fresh air and just watch the sea. It reminds me a lot of what the waterside use to be. I am proud to be a waterside man!
