PROGRESS OBERIKO BLOG

SNIPER has been banned, but not these. Like unsolved arithmetic, I have no answer to it. It’s there in my head It has become my nightmare. Deep in my thoughts, there it is, seated with confidence! There’s absolutely no way out! What have I not done in this life? How unfair can life be? I act like it’s all okay, just to meet up with the life, but here I am, in the middle of nowhere fizzling away. I feel like God has blown me away like the beans shaft. I am dying inside. Yes, I have dreams, BIG DREAMS, but they remain mere dreams because life has conditioned them to remain so, they never wake up. My mates are already in University, I’m here "jambing" JAMB, and still being posted by the failures of Post-Ume exams. Some of my mates are done and dusted. Graduation and matriculation pictures overflowing on my timeline. And you say I should hold on? Hold on for what? It's too late for me already! ** ** *** My nudes leaked My reputation destroyed...

So it was in the season of “one chance” I took a cab. After normal negotiations, we agreed on price. Quickly dumped myself onto the front seat, as I was itching to get out of the scorching sun! Although I had my sunglasses on, the sun was capable of roasting a whole human being to ashes!  As I was trying to fix my seat belt, I greeted; - “Oga good afternoon o”. And he too responded - “Good afternoon madam’. But instead of beginning the journey, this man was just staring at  me... I paused myself to stare at the ‘starer’.  So to break the silence I asked: “Oga Watin happen na”?   Then he smiled, cleared his throat and adjusted himself; he looked uncomfortable, then he answered with an undertone of mild humor. - Eh..eh... Madam nor vex o, this one wey you cover your face like this so, I kon dey fear o; Before you go kon bring out gun ‘bell up’ me or kon kidnap me’.  I couldn’t hold it in, I burst out in laughter. lol But he co...

MAY-DAY! MAY-DAY !!! Africa my Africa! Fallen brothers! They sailed, suffered, and endured, Fought for each other, Had each other’s backs! Never was there strife, nor hate, nor scorn! But there came a time in their lives When the sword with which they fought battles, One picked and used on the other! 'We are one'..., thus goes the song! We are brothers, so we thought! Nigerians like thrash are thrown down from cliffs How has the high and mighty fallen! Artists beefing, Naija screaming, Women wailing, Bare breast cursing! My children are there! My brothers hustling, My sisters gasping for breath, Struggling for survival, But these cannibals slaughtering, Police standing-by, grinning end to end; Matchet rising, Blood dripping. Oh my! Oh! My poor Nigerians! Pouring down like raindrops from rooftops! No Mercy! Show them none! Thus they clamor! Forgetting the reverberating effect. Us Fighting us?...

The first time I had it, it tasted so MILKY. And I liked it. I sucked it very slowly and savored the LIQUID, the feeling left me in appetence.... swimming in my nostalgia. I drained all the liquid down my gullet... The fact that it was very chilled made it flow down my system so swiftly. As a matter of fact, it took him a whole lot to convince me to try it. Because I’ve always been very meticulous and skeptical about any kinda “canned handmade concoction” of any sort. He went further deeper in his job of trying to convince me, and another voice joined him, spelling out how nutritious it was, and how good it is in the body. After too many stories, I gave in .... And I said Lemme 'kukuma' try this thing sef! It was a fruit drink galore. She ordered sugar cane juice, he had Bitrus or B-whatever, while I decided to try it for the second time. As soon as I mentioned that I’d love to have TIGER-NUT JUICE, the table turned! And all eyes became focused on me. The m...

When I first saw them sucking, so many thoughts ran through my mind; I couldn’t help but wonder what manner of food that could be. Although I was very young, I could still replay the look on their faces whenever they sucked. I’m referring to the 'Calabar' neighbor we had, whose kitchen was marked by the unique redolence. The aroma alone does a public announcement that they are “Calabarians”. I dunno if you’ve tried this sucking before; but my first time was with Afang soup. Afang soup makes no sense without  “suckables” in it. Omg...I lack words to describe By now you’re wondering what exactly this thing is ... “Mfi”, as it is locally called, is simply unshelled periwinkles. It is mostly eaten by Cross Riverians and Akwa Ibomites; and it is characterized by so much sand content. You can tell when someone is cooking with “Mfi” during the washing... The process is so tedious. Enough water and enough patience are the basic tools for washing, as it makes so much nois...

Known for their most receptive and hospitable nature, Cross-Riverians are saddled with the flaw of living in their “Comfort Zone”... they ain’t hustlers; not all tho, but a large number. Not as if they’re lazy, I’ll be wrong if I address them as such. But they really do not have the spirit of striving, like, I mean hustling... or I should rather say they’re not industrious or not so business oriented.  No hard feelings, I served there, and not only did I serve there, I also got involved with the life of the people and their overall orientation; and I enjoyed my stay, but truth be told, most of the people doing business there are strangers, especially the Ibos.  But here is one out of the crowd of 'COMFORT-ZONERS'! One who chose to stand out, and have since been a bedrock of inspiration to many!  A young effervescent pretty graduate; She’s the female version of TIMAYA... The PLANTAIN SELLER! Call her madam “Bole” (Roasted plantain)... Call her the G...