John Bosco replied, Saifar!, Ari owei eh, kuro keme, bei be ine koro ah Bosco? [you are a
truly a man, strong man, is this your face Bosco] [we continued to exchange pleasantries in excitement] John Bosco was just smiling
at me as I was firing our native dialect, I knew he must have forgotten how to
speak, but from his reactions, I knew he could still understand. He was dumb to
the language but not deaf.
Just then I heard a voice Ari ma yerigha [are u not
selling again], that was the voice of my crush’s mother, Mrs Atangbala
Korokumo. Mummy, pasise bolo kon kumo [please don’t be angry] I apologized and
sold the garri to Mrs Atangbala who was unaware of my crush on her daughter [agbani as I fondly teased her]. Mrs
Atangbala handed me the money for the garri but I declined, saying, mummy, bara
sein [mummy don’t worry]. She thanked me and left.
I was still eager to catch up with my friend whom I haven’t
seen for more than fifteen years. We were only twelve years when Bosco left our
village, ABA-AMA in OKOLOBA KINGDOM.
We were like brothers, and my father was very fond of Bosco. Immediately after
our secondary school, John Bosco’s father, Mr Wariebi Ebifegha won a lottery
and took his family to the United States of America.
How’s Dad? John bosco asked [in an American accent, but it was clear enough for me to understand], looking into my eyes. I
was silent for a moment, but before Bosco shouted saifar in his usual way, I broke into tears
and summoned courage to tell Bosco that papa is no more. Instantly, Bosco’s
countenance changed, I could see his eyes turning red, as if the oceans were
about to overflow. We held each other and consoled ourselves as we walked home.
We met mama at the kitchen, beside the beautifully
made thatch house. Zhon Boshico [John Bosco] as mama fondly called him due to our
native tongue which was effective in my mother’s speech. You don big o, how my second
husband na, your father, and my sister – your mother. He replied mama,
saying they are fine and they sent their greetings, and some important
messages. Mama smiled once more, as she
said, ‘make ona come inshide come sup the shweet kekefia and igina beni when I
prepare spesiallay. [You guys should come and eat the delicious
plantain porridge and pepper soup I prepared specially]
As we finished eating, Bosco asked after Embelakpor,
my younger bro, but I cut him short before he could mistakenly ask after papa
again, saying Embelakpor is in school. He starred at mama and went to sit beside her, to
console her, mama you are a strong woman, papa is with the Lord, Bosco said. I also brought
good news from your second husband, mama smiled hearing Bosco calling his father
her second husband. Mbana ine tobou [thank you my child].
John bosco delivered the first envelope to mama,
bearing papa’s name – Mr Timipre Waibo, and another one bearing Mrs Imomotimi
Waibo. He further presented the last envelope to Seiyefa, bearing Embelakpor
waibo. Papa’s envelope contained 10,000 usd, while Mama’s envelope contained
8,000 usd and Embelakpor’s was 5,000 usd.
Just then I looked at Bosco, he knew I wanted to ask
about mine, but before I could say a word, he broke the news to us, Saifar! My
father asked me to bring you along with me to California, to enable you further
your education. I jumped up as if I was preparing to represent Nigeria in the Olympics
games at Atlanta. Mama started dancing
and started singing one song I haven’t even heard before. Indeed, great news
are keys to happiness. Joy filled our home.
After two weeks of preparation, it was time for John
Bosco and me to leave for California. Mama’s tears was all over my shirt as
she hugged me firmly. On the other end, Bosco was advising Embelakpor to be a
good boy and take care of mama. I promised mama I was going to make her proud. Come
here little boy, I spoke softly to my little brother, Embelakpor. I hugged him
and told him to look after mama and never follow bad friends.
We bade ourselves farewell as I and John Bosco made
our way to the Nigerian Airways plane waiting for the passengers to board. ‘Bosco
which kind thing be this na, see as e da shake, my eyes da turn me o’,
[what is happening, the plane is experiencing turbulence and its making me
dizzy] I said as we were airborne. Bosco laughed and said to me, ‘don’t be
afraid saifar, it will take us safely to the US.’
Months and years passed, after graduating from the
department of civil engineering in one of the most revered university in the
world, which I was the best graduating student from my set. The success story made
me so famous and I was given a great job and so many contracts to execute. My company
– WAIBO CONSTRUCTIONS was one of the
major construction firm in the US.
It was time for me to return to Nigeria. I visited Bosco’s
parents in company of their son. Mr and Mrs Wariebi Ebifegha prayed for me and
wished me well. After which Bosco drove me to the airport.
News had already gotten to Mrs Imomotimi Waibo that
her son is coming home. I made preparations for a vehicle to bring them to the
airport. This is to announce the arrival of Nigerian Airways from the United
States of America, according to Embelakpor, the voice was sweet and
lovely.
After twenty minutes of waiting, Embel shouted, mama
look at brother Seiyefa. They made their way to me and we hugged ourselves and
made way for the vehicle waiting to take us home. On our way home, mama was asking
a lot of questions that I couldn’t answer because before I could answer one,
without waiting to hear from me, mama will throw another.
After few months, I built a lovely duplex, and set
up WAIBO CONSTRUCTONS in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and our head
office at Yenagoa [Capital city of Bayelsa State], with over ten thousand
staffs all over the country.
Here is a letter for you sir, my secretary said,
handing me the parcel. It was a letter from the Head of State, appointing me as
the Minister for Works. I looked at Embelakpor who was just entering my office
at the moment and said to him, my brother God
can bless anybody, Just always
believe in God and keep doing your best, he will give you your heart desires.
