FROM CANOE TO A BIG BIRD ABOVE THE EARTH— MY EXPERIENCE

By Asiayei Enaibo

God is not human; science is just a small revelation of God’s knowledge to humanity.

What are those things that we know that God doesn’t know? Nothing!

From the deep creeks of the Niger Delta region, where the mangroves obey the wind as the breeze tantalise them, the rivers, estuaries and brooks, my eyes have slightly seen something. Yes I am a Niger Delta journalist in GbaramatuVoice, people enjoy my local cultural flairs in story telling. Fishes like Kidowei and the sacred Barugu of Oporoza loved me so much so that I must tell their story to the world culturally. But time and season will one day permit me. I am a phenomenal storyteller with resilient stories, good or bad I am one happiest soul on earth at several atmosphere, happiness is a medicine for the soul, in my sojourn of life, i have lonely worked in the forest as a palm fruit hunter in Bobougbene which aid me the university education I am enjoying in my wittiest expressions. But I prefer canoe to any other thing. Canoe is life, canoe is the identity of the Ijaw people. There is no fear when you are on a canoe; for nature linked us to the waters of life, when are on a canoe, we are fishes fearless as our domain, when we are on a flight we are the Eagle in the Temple of Egbesu that is our fearless gown of hope and life.

Notwithstanding, my second flight on this wide world since I was born would remain special in my mind. I ought to have followed road but Ashaka of Osikinagba, High Chief Kestin Pondi gave a directive that Talking Drum must feel the benefit of his tireless voice in the narrative of the Niger Delta stories, his voice has echoed. So the ticket came to me like the Gbazagbapere Amadinorbou- Okun, the deity of the land and the sea that travelled to his abode like a jet from the fresh waters to the salt water to the sacred Bini-Ebi temple in Ogulagha kingdom .

Like waves upon the flat pans of the flight, humanity groaned in the heart, eyes dazzled, and the sharp mouth mute, then the intelligent professor who taught the pilot was afraid of his knowledge as the flight picked up to the air, foaming cloud shook the silver pans of the plane, eyes closed in fear, ears blocked but my eyes were open like Tunkpokubu deity to see all the happenings as I started to write my chronicle.

Yes this was my second flight, we all were under the guidance of the pilot. Few beautiful girls to daze our tension. They came with water to serve us as water is life to bribe those in fear. Before that, the crew members announced to us that there would be emergency exit, if it happened, because it would happen. We must prepare for it. I was not afraid because I had the native chalk of Ziba Opuoru, Ibomoboere Deity, Torumobramo in my pocket .

Enaibo the cultural journalist, did not doubt the knowledge of Woyin, above fear. I wrote my story on the cloud. Women cried for what they used their own money to pay in fear, and I could count the number of living corpses in confidence.

When you are travelling, drop enough money for your wife for the home keep of your children.

When you come back fine, when you are not coming back fine: for the journey of life is full of uncertainties. We all remember the story of the CEO of Acess bank.

Don’t travel with the whole of your family at once. Let one or two represent the living; the travellers might die in the journey, all plan to return home safely, let this masterpiece teach you a lesson of life not fear

Such a brief moment we heard the voice of those on the plane.

“We are approaching Abuja,” the voice came.

No music sounded interesting at that material point. More than 100persons on a flight, the good the bad, all secretly praying to what they believe in— the One true God to save them.

Then I saw Esenmo of Oporoza, with GBARAUN Egbesu drink as a toga of God’s presence on the plane, Enaibo, on his forehead crossed the sign of the Egregor of creation to watch him through out the journey. “Torumobramo, the consciousness! Save us,” I prayed, my lip was full of Ziba Opuoru deity the creator of the science and AMASEIKUMOR .

Who else was not praying on flight? Both the politicians who had not used their constituency money for development where their wives did not know their whereabouts too were afraid. Death is powerful!

Any unusual noise, they were guilty of their sins before God. Then once they landed from the flight, they became the saints and clean their fears with handkerchiefs.

My observations

Why were some of the feathers opened and others closed? What was going on? I shared a story with my seat-mate on the flight, just one word, “That is fine.” Then I was worried about the crying baby on the flight. Could it be fear or the eyes turning the baby too? But children couldn’t be afraid of anything. His or her hands were pure. As for me, I am aware that I am a sinner who is pure at heart.

The landing shaking of the flight reminded me of the unidentified corpses whose eyes and faces were broken. Everybody was equal, there was no security demarcation, no government protocol or DSS pursuing journalists for not snapping their boss. In fact, their boss too was praying for his life. The security was afraid too. Life was just one, on this flight, no business corpses and no economic corpses if the pilot failed. But if it were a canoe, I would jump into the waters to be saved! I thought wide. “Speed boat is better, some will be alive but for flight all will go to the air of life,” I said.

But God and Gods were behind the science of knowledge to safeguard us through out the journey.

Why almost all closed their eyes on flight because of fear? What would happen if the pilot too closed his eyes for fear? Where would we have landed?

My second flight’s thought, hope and victory as well as the uncertainties of life should also be part of my times table as we live on earth.

Life is like a flower. It grows rosy and withers away when the sun is severe on it. I have never taken the love of humanity for granted.
Gbaramatu kingdom is blessed! Agadagba is one of the happiest kings in the Niger Delta region. He is the King of Tompolo, Mr. Matthew Tonlagha, Executive Director Fenog; Chief Kestin Pondi MD Tantita, Dr Dennis Otuaro, Administrator PAP, Agadagba’s subjects are united to building a world of peace around the Gbaramatu Kingdom and humanity in general . Their love for the Talking Drum is beyond “Thank you!” Yes, the air waves were so high in the flight pans that even Christians were launched into prayers while Enaibo silently brought out his native chalk of Ibolomoboere Ziba Opuoru deity to pray. He was hopeful to preach the mercies of the Gods upon safe arrival. Yes, my journey was unfair that brought an unusual knocking of headaches while on board the flight but it was a lesson that disappointment is path of life. A man who cries out because of failure, will not learn the lessons of life, so I move on. Barr. Edgar Biu T.A thank you; Wuruyai Doubra, Engr. Ebikonde Sokoto and a host of others thank you.

We all arrived safely—-as I expected the Gods to do—–both at Murutarla Mohammed Airport, Abuja and Osubi Airport Warri Delta State.

Ziba Opuoru thank you; Amaseikumor Doo! if not now, it could be good tomorrow. I am a soul full of happiness.

Asiayei Enaibo
Writes from
GbaramatuVoice.
26th May 2025