By
Felix Ashimole
 Published
July 3rd, 2008
The thirsty dry blade of leaf sprouts to life as the first
showers of the rain descends, rejuvenating it. The dry
landscape becomes green and beautiful as dew drops reflect
against the early morning sun. With the rain are beehives of
activities in the animal kingdom. The ants commence
migration, moving to high lands to prevent death by
drowning. With the ants movement, comes the birds, perching
and picking as the colony of ants traverse the savannah.
The lower animals are not the only ones excited by the
rains. The deer, antelopes, elephant, buffalos that had
migrated to the periphery of the savannah in search of
watering holes, make a long trek back to the lush
vegetation, revived by the rain.
This journey often is pernicious. Most herds perish as they
cross the crocodile infested rivers/streams/ponds in search
of the promised land where fresh grasses abound.
The Fulani cattle herdsman is not left out in this rain
induced migration. The herdsmen, who had left the Northern
part of Nigeria during the dry season, make a trek back to
the savannah with their families, cattle and other evidence
of cultural interaction with the people they have migrated
to. The migration back by the Fulani herdsmen is a beautiful
sight to behold. You see the true love of the herdsmen for
his cow. He tenderly balances a weak calf on his shoulder;
lovingly call the other cattle to order as they attempt to
wonder off.
Another aesthetic pleasure is the colourfully dressed
herdsmen and their wife, often-wearing bra, these women show
a balance of bright colours that will make a peacock die of
envy.
As the Fulani herdsmen get to their abandoned home, the
animal in men spring up. Like the animals in the savannah,
they find that their pride, territory has been taken over,
cultivated by others and a fight ensures for territory.
Among the lower animals the weaker one that cannot get a
“she” to sire, leaves the territory to form a new pastoral
ground. But, among the human kingdom, the fight is settled
with machete cuts, Police station and litigation. The
Nigerian Police, especially the command in rural areas, make
brisk business and get high annual returns during this
season, as the station is full of cases of trespasses and
other economic infringements.
Apart from the exposure of the animal in man by the rain,
the rain also exposes the failed structural design of most
cities in the world. The last time the heavens opened up,
Areas 1-10 Garki was a no go area, Emeka Anyaoku Street and
a host of others were not spared by the flood. I question
why all these bridges in Abuja , if the rain can eat up the
street at will? There is no need to remind you that the
suburbs are no better. Those in power, believe that people
who live in Kubwua, Mararaba are sub-human, nothing must
be done about their drainage. A visit to Kubwa, especially
through NYSC gate, Phase 3 junction by Redeem Church , will
give you a bird view of the situation in the suburbs of
Abuja . Abuja is not left alone in this. The whole length of
Oshodi-Apapa express road, turns into a swimming pool;
Western Avenue-Ikorodu road, one of the busiest roads in
Lagos , turns into a lagoon, traffic goes at super snail
speed, once there is a shower. The residents of Orile,
Ajegunle and Okokomiko are not spared. The situation is not
poverty induced but failure of design and blockage of
water-ways, as Victoria Island , Aja-Epe express road are not
spared.
The gutters belch the dirt thrown into her by the animal
called man. Nylon bags used by women to protect their hair
from the rain; pure water sachets, empty bottled water, used
Always, used condom and other unprintable items, find their
way to the surface once it rains, giving our streets a
colourful configuration of rubbish. I often wonder what we
will look like when viewed by UFOs from outer space; won’t
the next generation brand us pigs?
Before the rain exposes the rot in our souls, there is need
for the governmental agencies or their friends they have
contracted refuse management to, to be proactive and clear
these stuff that await at the edge of the gutters before the
next rain descends.
Environmental protection agencies, should make sure these
contractors do not dump these refuse into the stream, river
or abandoned gutter. In fact, all intending refuse
contractors must have an incinerator, a comprehensive plan
of how to turn the refuse into a useable fuel and manure
before they are awarded any contract. Those responsible for
road maintenance, should constantly unblock drainages,
demolish houses on water ways.
Concurrently, those who have turned corn into daily bread
should be careful not to litter the street, or throw the cob
into gutters, river and stream. Same applies to those who
suck pure water and other items wrapped in cellophane bought
at the traffic jam. The hawkers and GSM recharge card
vendors, should be held responsible for the filth three
yards from their domain. They should keep it clean and made
accountable rather than their constant harassment, arrest
and detention by the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency.
This way, they become partners in making Abuja a clean city
and still eke out a living in this country where graduates
are roadside telephone operators.
That we must leave nature greener than we met her, is
non-negotiable but if the citizens are not well fed, it
makes no sense asking a Tiv man to be a rodent conservatism
activist.
 Felix
Ashimole
|
