Rekindling the fire of faith

MY EXPERIENCE WITH BUTTERFLY CATERPILLAR IN OUR FRONTAGE IN MAKURDI

This fateful day, between 1988 or 1989, I was playing in the frontage of our block of flats in Air Force Base, Makurdi, while I was playing. I saw a maggot (the caterpillar of a butterfly), I do not know exactly what happened, but my attention is drawn away from it. However, before then, I have heard people say, “If the maggot enters your nose, you will change to become a female that is if you are a male.” Therefore, I had this preconceived knowledge because of what I heard and I accepted the information as true. Immediately I refocused back to the maggot, which was right in front of me, I could no longer find it. In fright, I screamed aloud and started crying that it has entered my nose. The fear was so intense that I could not think anything positive, cumbered with the thought of; I do not want to become a girl. Somehow, I realize I could no longer think straight and immediately started convulsing. The experience was a terrible one to the point that they rushed me unconscious to the hospital. This experience reprogrammed my mind and I started living in fear of the unknown. Fear became an inseparable pair with my thoughts creating mental images that often appear right in front of me, even when I see things, people tends not to see the things I see.

I started to fall sick frequently, such that the hospital became much more like my resident, with my late sister Mary always taking care of me. My parent was never giving up on me, especially my late mum. Until my dad’s retirement, all I know was spending my whole life in the hospital, in and out.

When we relocated from Makurdi to Otukpo after my dad’s retirement, I could remember, I left straight from the hospital and join the vehicle that has already packed our loads. I was with my dad and he carried me on his neck. I was just enjoying his warmth. I wish I could still feel that sensation as a child. I feel secure with my dad because he was like my superhero, indeed he is a strong man who never allow death to snatch my life.

While on transit from Makurdi, we stopped somewhere I did not know then, but when I grew up, I realize it was Taraku because I was mapping out every spot, while on transit, seeing the moving trees, with our vehicle appearing to be at a stop. I saw the tree moving, but in reality, it was not the tree that was moving but our car, which appears not moving. When we stopped at Taraku, I ate pounded yam with a very big chunk of meat with my dad. I so much enjoyed my meal and wish I could repeat the same experience with my dad; nevertheless, he is no more but lives in my heart. Sometimes, when I am taking my bath, it is my dad I see when I gaze at my legs. My attachment to my dad is so strongly like my hair to my head. The experiences I had with my dad are unforgettable.

When we took off from Taraku to Otukpo after we have finished eating, we got down to Otukpo, which appear like a very strange land to me as if I have seen it; nevertheless, I was only dreaming. From what I saw in my dream world, I loved the euphoria, as it is a very lively place. I slept off while on transit from Taraku to Otukpo, because I was very exhausted. When I woke up, this time around, it was not a dream. It is already the next morning when I saw myself in a strange place. I had to start learning afresh the literature of this new place, as the disposition of the younger ones I saw was quite different from the ones I left in Makurdi. I was used to speaking pigeon English in Makurdi, but here in Otukpo, I was surrounded by kids who speak Idoma, but I became much more attached to the Igede kids and could not understand why, but I think, maybe the Igede kids are more fun to be with. However, my mum is an Igede woman. In our house, we had the main apartment where we came to occupy and in the other apartment was my Uncle, Ikwue. Ikwue was my dad’s step younger brother, who was also with his family. The name of my uncle first son is Israel whom we also call Fenge, the second’s son is name Brown, the third is, Jack and the fourth is Igoche, who happens to be my namesake. My immediate family familiarized me with my uncle’s family and some other neighbours. I got familiar with some children in my area, which is Kano Street, or Sergeant George Street. The other streets where I usually go to play are, Kaduna Street, Zaria Street, J.C Obande Street, Lagos Street, Okenyi Street, Ogri Oko Streets, etc. I was a child that loves exploration and this made me popular in most of the street in Otukpo, as where I go, people would identify me for a particular, precisely, football, because I love playing football then. I had plenty of friends, of which Joel was like the closest of all my friends, others were Friday, Peter Eji and some set of friends who were older than I am. Amongst my older friends were Ikwue, Iji, Peter and a host of others. These names of friends I have mentioned are all Igede by the tribe. However, I also had some Idoma friends like Monday, Isawa, Ede, Adah, Obando, Jimmy and a host of others, who often come to my house to play.

In the year 1990, I woke up to a brilliant day with my attitude of playing. I got playing with my newly found friends, Monday, Adah, Abagonye and some other kids around. We were involved in a hiding and seek game filled with fun and would sometimes play into the night and still be playing if our parents does not come seeking after us to return home. It was great fun playing with my childhood friends, but somehow, our different interests started separating us while we grow into adulthood. Then, my cousin Igoche whom I was named after gave me the nickname Pele Chakpa, but I changed it to Chakpansi. I love my cousin so much because he built me boldness that made me very courageous and strong-willed, such that none of my mates could bit me up. I was always fighting and all of my friends became afraid of me because of my stubbornness. Then, if you find my trouble, I will just tell you, “I will wound you oh!” Therefore, some of my mates started calling me, “I will wound you oh!” especially Abogonye. All most all the people in my area use to say, “This barrack boy that is very stubborn.” I was very stubborn never looking for people’s trouble but will give you double if you find my trouble. I was only stubborn to protecting my right when I know I am right. I was only five years then. I had already had brief schooling in Makurdi where I did just Nursery classes with Air Force Nursery/Primary School. I received many gifts; I do not at all know what they were for until I later realized that it was for my outstanding performances in my class while in the school in Makurdi.

I love playing football, so I got into playing street soccer. It was fun playing soccer with other kids because I was a very skilful player. There is this family in front of my family house who deals in selling assorted drinks and food. The woman’s pet name was Madam Sharp. Madam Sharp is not married legitimately, but have five children, name Omakiche, Omepa, Esther, Ajiya and the last Amedu. Amedu was between my age range, or I am a little bit older than he is. Amedu was my good friend. Amedu’s mum loved him so much, as my dad did love me. Therefore, whatever Amedu requests from his mum, she will get it for him. Moreover, whatever my parent buys for me, Amedu’s mum will also get for him. It was very strong competition from his end because my parent was not getting these things for me to compete, but it became obvious that Amedu’s mum was doing it for the competition. One of the things that prove this is when my dad buys my football. Then, we used to call the ball fell.

Life growing up as a child was fun full and amazingly interesting…