#TBT: On a courtesy call to renowned Yoruba political figure, former SGF to IBB administration, and former Finance Minister, Chief Olu Falae @ his Ilu-Abo palace, Akure North. 🙌🏽 (March 2018)
Chai, otONDO like me that year wey carry PCDS project for head. 😭🤦🏽♂️
#NYSC_Ondo
Chai, otONDO like me that year wey carry PCDS project for head. 😭🤦🏽♂️
#NYSC_Ondo
Chief Falae gave me the sum of N20,000 cash as support for the ‘free’ community computer appreciation training I delivered to his constituents during my service year there.
The govt. schools in the community (1 pry, 1 sec) had ZERO computers for learning purposes. 💻
The govt. schools in the community (1 pry, 1 sec) had ZERO computers for learning purposes. 💻
Asides the free computer classes for the villagers, I constructed a mini bus-stop at the junction of a major dirt-road leading into the community, facilitated the rehabilitation of the school toilets and installation of 8 pour-flush units and a borehole water source…
…courtesy of AWDROP (Asso. of Water Drillers, Rig Owners & Practitioners), through the instrumentality of the office of Ondo State’s First Lady.
To what end?
Dunno, I was just another youth ‘corper’ from across the River Niger who’d obeyed the call to ‘serve my fatherland’…
To what end?
Dunno, I was just another youth ‘corper’ from across the River Niger who’d obeyed the call to ‘serve my fatherland’…
…and was determined to make a difference.
Forgive my assumed self-glorification 😜 but, did any of these villagers say “oh, this Omo Ibo wants to take over our land by bringing development to us”? Or that I was disrespectful to their culture or religion? NEVER!
Forgive my assumed self-glorification 😜 but, did any of these villagers say “oh, this Omo Ibo wants to take over our land by bringing development to us”? Or that I was disrespectful to their culture or religion? NEVER!
https://twitter.com/chidinkwocha_/status/1637706796818219009
For avoidance of doubt, I was even offered a chieftaincy title “Akorewolu of Ilu-Abo” which, of course, I declined 😂🤦🏽♂️. One of the chiefs, the Elemo, even promised to sell a plot of land to me for <150k whenever I was ready. But I just wanted to do NYSC and leave in one piece.
Ngl, I sorta enjoyed the peace and little supports here and there in the village. Interestingly, legend has it that Ilu-Abo was an old settlement area which housed migrant farmers from different parts of Nigeria. You’ll find a significant number of people from different tribes:
The indigenous Yorubas, Igbos mainly from Ebonyi & Enugu states, a few Hausa/Fulani, Igede & Idoma ppl from Benue state, Igbira & Igala ppl from Kogi state, and more tribes & tongues. It’s literally a melting pot for ‘Nigerians’.
No one ever claimed it was a no-man’s land…
No one ever claimed it was a no-man’s land…
…neither were the non-indigenes ever told to “go back to your state” (in fact, a lot of these ‘settlers’ have naturalized and acquired property and livelihoods here that an outsider can’t tell whether they’re indigenes or not.
Although there were mutual banters and ‘beefs’…
Although there were mutual banters and ‘beefs’…
…amongst the villagers (as expected of a multi-ethnic community), never did it escalate to unabashed hate and targeted violence. If it had, in this case, not only the Igbos but every other ‘foreigner’ would be gravely affected. And that’s like 60-80% of Ilu-Abo’s population!
My point?
Yes, we usually don’t like each other that much in Nigeria, especially based on where the other person ‘originates from’, but the gory hullabaloo in Lagos and other states due to this year’s election, is a testament to the fact that it is 💯 politically motivated.
Yes, we usually don’t like each other that much in Nigeria, especially based on where the other person ‘originates from’, but the gory hullabaloo in Lagos and other states due to this year’s election, is a testament to the fact that it is 💯 politically motivated.
Nothing you wan tell me otherwise.
And I’m afraid the kinda mentality some people have come to bear: that even though this person brought or is bringing development and commerce to my region, as long as he/she is not from my tribe, then it’s ok to harm them.
Nigeria, tueh!💔🇳🇬
And I’m afraid the kinda mentality some people have come to bear: that even though this person brought or is bringing development and commerce to my region, as long as he/she is not from my tribe, then it’s ok to harm them.
Nigeria, tueh!💔🇳🇬
https://twitter.com/chidinkwocha_/status/1637706796818219009
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