WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BANISH ME FROM MY COMMUNITY?, BY ASIAYEI ENAIBO

I thought I am a very famous son of Ayakoromo and Bobougbene Communities, I have done all my best to make the town proud with what I know how to do best, even in the Niger Delta region.

In just few days to my traditional marriage ceremony, I was told that I have been banished by Nature without any offense, even the Unburied King Pere Bigborogha 11 and the Community Chairman could not explain to me.

They all stood akimbo to look at me on top of Canoes and said to me, I can’t come down again! Go back to where you are coming from! But I could feel pains from their eyes.

Talking Drum has been Banished annually without any offense, I received the letter, while in Oporoza. I walked close to the ears of Tompolo to inform him of my Banishment.I do not know what to explain to him. I bit my fingers in silent pains and soliloquized.

All Bobougbene Community women came out in a Peaceful protest on canoes on the street of the town to explain the reason of my Banishment without offense.

Governor Okowa, Lawmakers, have no solution to it, they said that is their community problem.

I was told that my mouth is too much that they have to abandon me in the prison of Flood.

Why Do you have to Banish me from my Community, Flood?

You have no pity on us?
You have come again, as big as Ayakoromo community is, you have come to Banish us from our home Town.

In every year, in every raining season, particularly this period, our houses submerged, Mud houses returned back to mud, block houses bend with empty rooms, chairs adrift away, children swim with ignorance happiness, in their cold play with the water, parents run Helter skelter to the chemists.

They asked us to relocate to IDP camps without food. Election is coming, myself and my hungry unemployed youths praise them for two cups of rice.

With many Okoide’s
Nothing has been done to Savage me and my people.

We become afraid to visit our communities.

Look at Bobougbene, look at Ayakoromo community, with plenty of grammarians, when flood comes and invade our library, we become mute, set our feathers awaiting to campaign for others, go into politics and Sand fill the town, they said no, let us use our big grammars as Campaign DGs.

Yes, flood has Banished the Talking Drum of the Niger Delta region.

Look at Gbekebor community in Burutu LGA, the town that wept before others when flood comes.

Dear Government, rescue us from this and I will not ask for any other favour anymore so Help me gods!

Schools are on session, but Bobougbene Primary school is on flood strike.

Nigeria Independence day, we were flooded by flood to March on flood with a shout of happy independence when we are not even happy, yes they have banished Enaibo from Bobougbene.

None of us is Jesus to Walk on water, why water keep coming to us again?
Bobougbene, weep not, when Jesus come again, for he shall sand fill the community and our Noah Boats shall be no more.

Could it be that God has not redeem the promise he made to Noah? God re- forgive us and save us from this annual Banishment.
Amaaan!

Asiayei Enaibo
the Talking Drum writes from GbaramatuVoice Media Centre