Yesterday evening, Igwe went to the 'bureau de change' at Sabo, Yaba. As he was haggling with the money changers, bullets started flying in the air. So everyone scattered. Unfortunately Some people were wounded, and several windscreens broken. The robbers had a field day. The interesting part is that the Sabo police station is about two minutes from the crime scene. According to him, one of the thieves was stationed infront of the police station firing into the station and daring any of them to come out. Typically none of them did.Nigeria, I hail thee. Okiro, I salute you. You certainly are doing great things about the safety of lives and property.
Igwe went back for his car which was fortunately unscathed and was told that some well meaning Nigerians had taken the wounded to chemists as Luth and Igbobi(the govt. hospitals closest to the area) are on strike. They didnt think private hospitals would treat them without deposits and the bleeding had to be stopped ASAP.
I pray for Nigeria as if I owned it, and a blogger friend of mine knows how I pray when I am praying about the corrupt leaders. Someday, God will hear me.
Ben Okri was in Leicester, I bought one of his books so I could get it autographed, gave the guy my name and he asked where that was from, I said Nigeria,why he didn't stop there, I dont know, he asked which part and I said Akwa Ibom, he had no idea where that was, even when I said former cross river, he still loooked blank. I wasn't even upset as I had always thought he was from Benue,I have since found out that he is from Delta. How can you be from Delta and you have never heard of Akwa Ibom?. They call him 'Nigerian born British writer' maybe that explains it.
There is a good part to it though, he is 48,single, goodlooking and quite an interesting character. Interested anyone?
I have finally discovered local chicken. It tastes just like the ones my mum used to rear, those ones that raomed around the compound free until they were old enough. Yesterday as I cracked the bones, I was in high heavens. I had so complained about how tasteless chicken here is, I think they grow them in 5 days. Yes I like food.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Igwe and the forty thieves and other stories.
Posted by For the love of me at 12:58 AM
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25 comments:
Good lord cant rem when last i was first. yuck i dont feel ben okri at all/ read one of his books i mean tried readin and neva finished.
Thank God for Igwe oh. Abeg, I don't even know what to say, police station, hospitals on strike...chemists...Nigeria will not kill us.
My sister, I apologise for my delta brother haba! but you know, he might have been caught up in one of those time warped worlds of his!
Hate local chickens and i am appalled that Ben Okri doesnt know where Akwa Ibom is...
@anonymous gal, I too do not feel Okri but because I claim to be a writer, I try to read them all.
@waffarian, that's exactly how I felt. I was still trying to get over the idea of armed robbers at place so close to a police station, when he told me about the chemist. I tire for our countryooo.
@Uzo, wait till I prepare the local chicken for you, you may change your mind,As for Okri,I think he has blanked Nigeria and like waffarian said now lives in one of those his 'warped worlds'.Perhaps he has too many bad memories.
oh ! am sure u dont like food as much as i do,''
lol at ur praise for okiro and nigeria ..
lol
Thank God for his mercies. This is exactly why I just stay in my house in Lagos throughout the weekends. After escaping danger during the week, I sit put till the next week of danger begins. To survive in Lagos, you need some form of supernatural protection. I will ask that you recommend one of these to your hubby. They are "Ofe" and "Egbe". This is what the people in the times of old used. Whenever Danger looms near, one of these 2 defence mechanisms kicks into action and they are transported into a safe region. The only problem is that "Ofe" and "Egbe" don't usually land you in a safe place. It is highly possible that after disappearing from a robbery incident in Yaba, you will suddenly appear in front of a moving vehicle on Ikorodu road. Generally, after a few months of practise, one would be able to land in safe areas. Heaven helps those who help themselves
I pity Nigeria whenever I read things liek this...the police certainly cannot up their game....there's not a man willing to lose his life for any cause whatsoever....I don't blame them though because I have not been tested for any cause myself....but one would expect that those who have sworn to honour and defend the citizenry and keep the peace would have some spunk in them!
As for Ben Okri, what can I say? It seriously leaves a bad taste in my mouth....but I'm not in anyway blaming him....you would be surprised to learn that Nigerians who have never left the shores of our motherland have no clue about the geography, the people, the culture and I'm talking from experience!
Before I turn this comment to a blog post, let me take my leave.....
LMAO comrade seriously?! please tell me that was written with tongue firmly in cheek
@ ms emotions, dont bet on itooo,I LOVE food.
@comrade,I hear it's particular bad at weekends. You know if I was counting friends on blogosphere, I would have counted you,how wrong I would have been. Is this really what you advise? No thanks, I will stick to dear God.
@nyemoni, the situation with the Nigerian police really really sucks. They have no idea what their job entails.
@omidanbellafricaine, what a long name,do not mind comrade, he dey find my trouble.
really? Ben Okri doesn't know where akwa-ibom is?
@ waffarian, dont apologise oh! I vex. How e no go sabi? A writer? Obviously a reader too? e no say e from delta, not bendel and e no sabi akwa-ibom?
@ for the love of me
Stick to God o. I am not an animist. I was just proferring Unusual solutions to Unusual problems.
@omidan
Tongue in cheek o.
That was a Flashback to my primary school days, when the likes of Fadeyi Oloro and Abijawara reigned supreme.
Thank God for Igwe o. The rte of robbery incidence is getting worse by the day. May HE contiune to protect his own.
Delta Boy doesnt know Cross River or Akwa Ibom. Na wa. 48 unmarried! Interesting but i wont touch him with a 6 foot.He is to 'wise' and will have baggagees. You cant teach an old dog new tricks.
Local Chicken rocks my dear. I miss you cooking.
cant blame Ben Okri, hes spent most of his life here. that naija police sef, they need training, good salaries and motivation to do their jobs well. over to you government.
Ah, local chicken- you never get them from all teh stores- Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, etc...have to go to market, what I'd do for a local chicken thigh! Yum...
Ben Okri- so he's single @ 48? little wonder, he doesn't know croos river/akwa ibom from Delta, hope he's not the deluded african?
Thanks for the birthday wisehes...
Congrats on finding d local chicken LOL!!!!! 9ja police we hail thee!!
Are u serious about the ben Okri story? he has never heard of Akwa Ibom? Na wa
As for those robbers - Its only God that can save us
were is the comment I left here? Not fair....
NIGERIAN CURIOSITY
IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER WHEN I ONLY HAD ONE...
update now!
Lagos has become like the Gaza strip..you never know if you're going to make it back home
i'm surprised at okri, but then i thot he was igbo
local chicken is tasty, i tell you. the ones here are grown in 5 weeks flat, lights on, constant feeding.
@uzezi,no vex too much, lets forgive him.
@comrade, you are not an animist? you could have fooled me.
@nonesuch, I will be back before you know it and will treat you to a bowl of afang.
@king of scotland, Im not sure I agree that what the Nigerian police need is better salaries, even with better salaries, they are still likely to misbehave, I think the whole system needs to be overhauled.You should see the police chasing after bus drivers.They give it their all.
@naijachic, yeah I had to go to market too or someplace that looked like a market.Yesoo Okri is 48 but he dnt look it at all.
@nikkisab, thanx, Im tired of dissing the police so i thought if I hailed them, they could sit up.
@allied, yesoo God will save us from robbers.
@solomonsydelle, didn't see your commentooo, lets sue blogsville.
@naijachic,I willooo, i dey find positive gist.
@Yar'mama, yeah, its getting even worse.
@jinta, glad you like local chicken too, If Okri was igbo, you can be sure ndigbo would constantly have been telling us of their son.
Na wa, for both the police and Okri.
In fact, I should not say Na wa about the police as I really should not be suprised at their (non)response.
I love Ben Okri's work, but him not knowing where Akwa Ibom is? *shakes head*
i no vex again. so update. i know its been just one week but ......
Update!!!
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