Last month, June - exactly 11:30 am, I departed Lagos along with my friend, his wife , his sister-in-law and his relatives . A journey that was my longest trip ever that fetched me another unforgotten experience., appreciation of nature in terms of geographical features and it's economic advantage and fascination of Urhobo culture .
It is always a surprise to some people when I do say travelling to Delta State was my farthest may be because of my age and exposure. I made them realised that one can't just embark on a desultory voyage. .Rather, it is only a depressed person that wanders around aimlessly and without destination in mind. It was act of providence through ' our wife ' Abeke Aisha, unrivalled wife of brotherly friend , Sheriffdeen Sanusi, an exceptional crafty fashion Designer that is popularly known in London with his label and brand " De-Mango Couture - both returned home from London over a decade of years they departed the Nigeria's shore for greener pastures - to pay tribute to their late parents - father and mother respectively - which they were not present when they were buried . It was she, Aisha that took me to Delta State for the first time to see and pray over her father's tomb as she had led me to Ilorin for the first time and the farthest travelling , formerly, almost two decade ago when she wedded her sweel hubby, Sheriefdeen
We cruised through towns ,villages and swathes of forestry lands and rivers before reaching our destination. All what I saw justified all what I read and heard about natural endowments blessed us with by God. Visually, all sceneries along the thoroughfares are greenish due to dense vegetations carpeting over hills and valley. The highway steeps up and down like a wave at the fountains ahead of us. A very nice tarred road after Ore via Edo State to Delta. In exception, from Ijebu Ode to Ore to the road is totally bad. The pot-holes are death trap for a night crawler driver who is not used to the its terrain. Still, the roads that links villages in Delta State are motorable and smooth. All these pictures kept my mind away from Lagos stress. I felt serenity and calmness in my nerve. .
We drove through capital city of Edo State which gave me privilege to feed my eyes with beautiful images . I saw different government edifices : like Edo State House of Assembly , Federal high Court, large and series of ring roads, . I had a glimpse of Benin's royal statue in a junction - A man sitting and perhaps two people standing holding long hand-fan behind him - all placed on a pedestal. A very big and busy market seen. I loved all what I saw in Benin. We were gridlocked in the traffic , though. It was because of rush hour in evening period and traffic lights control
.
I didn't need to be told that we were in Delta. When I began to sight rivers in creeks, I instinctively knew where we were. From Benin, we plied Warri/ Sapele road till we got to the a large roundabout, the point where we veered left and immediately to the right and drove for thirty minutes before reaching the remote village. Along this particular road I saw large plantations of rubber trees and palm trees separately planted on different hectares of lands. They were perfectly planted in uniformly spacing hedges among the trees. I asked my friend's sister- law if government owned them. She told me that they were owned by individual. Even she evidenced her statement telling us that their father had such plantation. I exclaimed faintly " this is wealth and this villagers are rich" Again, I will say Nigeria is blessed. Upon her affirmation. Ironically, they are not rich because of lack of support from the government. Their produces are hurriedly sold to avoid wastage. However, they are comfortably subsist on it and eat fresh foods. Their land is good for farming and enough rivers for fishing in deduction, make it their geographical occupation. It is quite unfortunate that oil exploration relegates their natural occupation and neglect.
The experiences invoked me to ponder over neglecting of these natural resources in these forests. Agricultural values are left to rot which can solve all our economic problems like unemployment, low government income, food insecurity etc. It is highly pathetic for our government that deliberately abandon them for long years.
Nigeria and her problem is old news which is not subject for today. It will deeply prick me and be an ingrate ingrate, if I do not mention unalloyed hospitality our Urobo in-laws gave us. Our arrival was in the dusk. There was no light but they had electricity connection .
The whole village is looked over and naturally fenced by tall trees cloaked in thick darkness as the result of reason cited in the last paragraph. However, in that night, the sky was beautiful because of the full moon and studded clusters of stars . Their shinning effect slightly lightened the darkness. The lanterns light glimmered through every window. The birds usual singing and whistling were dead silent ,sleeping in their nest. The chirping and crack of insects and amphibian were aloud. Breeze was felt cosy end smelled of vegetative fragrance.
Before settling down for relaxation ,we were ushered into where her father was buried. His grave is housed in a room and people are also living in there too. It is part of their culture to bury their dead ones in a room but the bad person is buried outside. It was amazing and terrifying witnessing people living in a room with a grave . Something similar to this that I heard was about Eruwa people in Oyo State where they used to bury their corpse in the passage in their house but in contemporary, it is not rampant over there.
They welcomed us with cracking of kolanut, money contributed among themselves in our presence and "Sapele Water" known as Ethanol. We accepted their gift which ,as their culture required, we did in return . Though, They respected our objection to drinking anything alcohol because as a Muslim and we were fasting too. The objection was made by us in humility too. They served us with their traditional cuisines that was very palatable and unique to me. We ate Apo soup mixed "with Okro" yellow eba, and assorted meat white colour pepper soup with smoke fish .
What else can someone call. hospitality better than what our Urobo in-laws displayed. Delight to have us as their visitors etched on their face. Till midnight they play their native music for us by powering it with electric generator . There are really wonderful and lovely. Abeke Ade, I am ready to return with you to your root because of the "groundnut soup " and fluffy pounded yam served us my mummy in Ilorin.
UROBO WEDO !..
It is always a surprise to some people when I do say travelling to Delta State was my farthest may be because of my age and exposure. I made them realised that one can't just embark on a desultory voyage. .Rather, it is only a depressed person that wanders around aimlessly and without destination in mind. It was act of providence through ' our wife ' Abeke Aisha, unrivalled wife of brotherly friend , Sheriffdeen Sanusi, an exceptional crafty fashion Designer that is popularly known in London with his label and brand " De-Mango Couture - both returned home from London over a decade of years they departed the Nigeria's shore for greener pastures - to pay tribute to their late parents - father and mother respectively - which they were not present when they were buried . It was she, Aisha that took me to Delta State for the first time to see and pray over her father's tomb as she had led me to Ilorin for the first time and the farthest travelling , formerly, almost two decade ago when she wedded her sweel hubby, Sheriefdeen
We cruised through towns ,villages and swathes of forestry lands and rivers before reaching our destination. All what I saw justified all what I read and heard about natural endowments blessed us with by God. Visually, all sceneries along the thoroughfares are greenish due to dense vegetations carpeting over hills and valley. The highway steeps up and down like a wave at the fountains ahead of us. A very nice tarred road after Ore via Edo State to Delta. In exception, from Ijebu Ode to Ore to the road is totally bad. The pot-holes are death trap for a night crawler driver who is not used to the its terrain. Still, the roads that links villages in Delta State are motorable and smooth. All these pictures kept my mind away from Lagos stress. I felt serenity and calmness in my nerve. .
We drove through capital city of Edo State which gave me privilege to feed my eyes with beautiful images . I saw different government edifices : like Edo State House of Assembly , Federal high Court, large and series of ring roads, . I had a glimpse of Benin's royal statue in a junction - A man sitting and perhaps two people standing holding long hand-fan behind him - all placed on a pedestal. A very big and busy market seen. I loved all what I saw in Benin. We were gridlocked in the traffic , though. It was because of rush hour in evening period and traffic lights control
I didn't need to be told that we were in Delta. When I began to sight rivers in creeks, I instinctively knew where we were. From Benin, we plied Warri/ Sapele road till we got to the a large roundabout, the point where we veered left and immediately to the right and drove for thirty minutes before reaching the remote village. Along this particular road I saw large plantations of rubber trees and palm trees separately planted on different hectares of lands. They were perfectly planted in uniformly spacing hedges among the trees. I asked my friend's sister- law if government owned them. She told me that they were owned by individual. Even she evidenced her statement telling us that their father had such plantation. I exclaimed faintly " this is wealth and this villagers are rich" Again, I will say Nigeria is blessed. Upon her affirmation. Ironically, they are not rich because of lack of support from the government. Their produces are hurriedly sold to avoid wastage. However, they are comfortably subsist on it and eat fresh foods. Their land is good for farming and enough rivers for fishing in deduction, make it their geographical occupation. It is quite unfortunate that oil exploration relegates their natural occupation and neglect.
The experiences invoked me to ponder over neglecting of these natural resources in these forests. Agricultural values are left to rot which can solve all our economic problems like unemployment, low government income, food insecurity etc. It is highly pathetic for our government that deliberately abandon them for long years.
Nigeria and her problem is old news which is not subject for today. It will deeply prick me and be an ingrate ingrate, if I do not mention unalloyed hospitality our Urobo in-laws gave us. Our arrival was in the dusk. There was no light but they had electricity connection .
The whole village is looked over and naturally fenced by tall trees cloaked in thick darkness as the result of reason cited in the last paragraph. However, in that night, the sky was beautiful because of the full moon and studded clusters of stars . Their shinning effect slightly lightened the darkness. The lanterns light glimmered through every window. The birds usual singing and whistling were dead silent ,sleeping in their nest. The chirping and crack of insects and amphibian were aloud. Breeze was felt cosy end smelled of vegetative fragrance.
Before settling down for relaxation ,we were ushered into where her father was buried. His grave is housed in a room and people are also living in there too. It is part of their culture to bury their dead ones in a room but the bad person is buried outside. It was amazing and terrifying witnessing people living in a room with a grave . Something similar to this that I heard was about Eruwa people in Oyo State where they used to bury their corpse in the passage in their house but in contemporary, it is not rampant over there.
They welcomed us with cracking of kolanut, money contributed among themselves in our presence and "Sapele Water" known as Ethanol. We accepted their gift which ,as their culture required, we did in return . Though, They respected our objection to drinking anything alcohol because as a Muslim and we were fasting too. The objection was made by us in humility too. They served us with their traditional cuisines that was very palatable and unique to me. We ate Apo soup mixed "with Okro" yellow eba, and assorted meat white colour pepper soup with smoke fish .
What else can someone call. hospitality better than what our Urobo in-laws displayed. Delight to have us as their visitors etched on their face. Till midnight they play their native music for us by powering it with electric generator . There are really wonderful and lovely. Abeke Ade, I am ready to return with you to your root because of the "groundnut soup " and fluffy pounded yam served us my mummy in Ilorin.
UROBO WEDO !..
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