Thread by @assamakii

MY SWIFT JOURNEY TO EDO YESTERDAY

WASIU OWOLABI
#OwoGrand #OWO90
(Tuesday 22/09/2020)

When I first posted that I went to Edo, some of my relatives and close friends couldn't believe. Some were asking if I didn't go to work while some asked how I managed to reach Edo and come...

...back the same day. Well, I actually visited Umaza community at Iguobazuwa area, Ovia Southwest, Edo State. And I shall narrate.

My friends would recall that I did my NYSC service in Edo . My Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) was Umaza Secondary School.

I met different persons at Umaza but became close to only few of them, such as the principals, teachers and my fellow corps members.

Nonetheless, there were men who weren't in the categories above. For instance, I had the place of Pastor Lucky Ediale Igharo of Assemblies of God Church in that community as my go-to place; to charge phone, watch football and wrestling. He is a nice man.

I once visited the area after my service year because I had promised them to pay a visit. It was a moment of pleasure. I was smiling as the bus conveying me moved like a flying beatle.

I was gaping at the bushes left and right. Filled with joy as I was staring at the loaves of bread in my hands like a newly married groom. So exciting!

I can imagine the gate of the school that celebrated a lot of people who stood there to make calls; the newly completed extra classes in the school; the beautifully built, modest Corpers Lodge; the school compound beautified with palm trees; the foggy environment,

accompanied by an early morning dew; the shining stars amidst the hypnotic dark sky; the blood-sucking, tiny sunflies that descend in the afternoon; and the tarred road from Iguobazuwa down to Siluko. The last time I saw a rainbow was also at Umaza. Good sights to behold.

Did you know? As nice as the community is, there is no mosque there. Church everywhere and no single mosque. In fact, except few Hausas I have seen and myself, I don't think there's any other Muslim there. The village is over 95% dominated by Christian believers.

Did you know? As nice as the community is, there is no mosque there. Church everywhere and no single mosque. In fact, except few Hausas I have seen and myself, I don't think there's any other Muslim there. The village is over 95% dominated by Christian believers.

To burst your brain, I was even the only corps member who was a Muslim at that time. One will have to take a bike to Iguobazuwa for one to attend Jumat prayer; and that cost ₦400 to and fro. It was a bit challenging.

Iguobazuwa market is also a place that comes to life every four days. If the market commences on Monday and you forget to get food stuff, then you'll have to wait till the next market day which is Friday.

Shall I put aside all these experiences and focus on the main issue? Okay. I visited the area again yesterday and met some of those friends I have made there, though the junior corps members I left there had already done their Passing Out Parade (POP) a long time ago.

Pastor Lucky was happy to see me. We discussed at length for he is a political analyst and I always enjoyed him talk about issues in Nigeria then.

I can't recall majority of the issues we discussed but I definitely recall our last discussion. It was about marriage. I clearly remember the advice he gave me. He said, "Wasiu, if you want to marry, marry a woman that has sense."

I got the message immediately. Then, it was left for me to ask how I will recognize a sensible woman, but there was no time. You might want to ask me why I said there was no time despite our lengthy discussions.

That's because the moment we were didn't give me much opportunity to talk further. So, I gave him a quick response.

I told him, "Sir, I don't have much time to spend here, so I have to go now. I know this is a dream and I'll have to wake up soon."

That was how the midnight journey ended around 4:30am. I woke up, then smiled and prayed. It seemed like a dream, but it was so real.

Thanks for reading. I love you. ♥

OWO

#OwoTales