Chapter Four

'I understand your point, Ayibaefie. But you should know that you can never wave behind our past. We must tell our stories from generation to generation,' Tariebi said.

A student piped in loudly, 'Aunty, is it the story of the Oloibiri community? Somebody told me that you're from this village.' 

 Abinla glared at Bola, who made a face right back at her.

Tariebi now looked completely flustered. 'Bola, please. Uh, as I was saying, we can't rule behind our past.' She looked at Bola. 'I know you come from the Yoruba tribe and so might take everything here funny. Maybe, I should tell this story because of you...' She paused. 'Yes, I come from Oloibiri...of course Oloibiri is a small town in Ogbia Local Government area of Bayelsa State. Did you know that the first ever oil was discovered in this community since 1958...' 

 'I have read that history over and over again. It's so boring,' Bola murmured, yawning tiredly. 'I don't even know why I followed my Aunty to this good for nothing village. I should have stayed with my family in Ikeja,' he complained, regretting ever coming here. 

 'Bola,' Tariebi said, 'stand up and complete the story.'

Bola reluctantly stood up. How am I going to complete the story? Do I know what was in the teacher's mind? I don't read people's mind, right? Anyway, since it was the story of the popular Oloibiri community, I think I will surprise everyone, Bola thought with a smile. Clearing his throat, he began, 'I heard from my grandfather that a pipeline was laid from this community to Bonny in Rivers State for Shell oil terminal but despite being rich in oil, your community is still among the least developed in the Niger Delta region. The sign of poverty is glaring around here...'

 'Bola, are you telling a story or are you mocking us?' Tariebi angrily asked Bola.

 Bola shrugged his shoulders. 'You asked me to complete the story. So, what else do you want to hear?' Bola cursed in his head. Aunty, are you blaming me? Didn't you ask me to complete your story? I just told the story of how my grandfather narrated it to me. I hope you don't blame me. It's not my fault that heaven blessed you with poverty. He scoffed. Your community story suddenly seems to me like a sick cosmic joke...

 'Bola, I understand that you don't have feelings for the poor villagers because you come from Ikeja. I'm sure that after a few weeks you will go back home and continue to live the life of the rich,' Abinla turned to Bola and said. 'Our people are dying of pollution every day, we suffer from different kinds of ailment, our rivers are polluted, the fishermen who were known for catching many fishes now go fishing throughout the night and come back with nothing because the fishes are dead...' 

 'Are your fishermen waiting for JESUS to walk along the seas of your poor community?' Bola said, and most of the students laughed. 'This isn't the seas of Galilee. He would only help Simon and Andrew his brother to catch many fishes...He won't come to this forbidden place.' He scoffed and added, 'Abinla, don't tell me you're one of the disciples of Nostradamus? Are you seeing tomorrow?' He chuckled, feeling suddenly amused by Abinla believing she would change the world into becoming breathtaking.

'Bola!' Tariebi yelled at Bola. 'What is wrong with you?'

'No matter how you yell at me, there won't be any trace of the Federal Government to help you, which is why I would suggest you people protest against the government and all the oil companies around this area. If you don't protest and keep telling stories nothing will change. You people are rich in oil but cannot boast of good power supply, portable water and other social amenities despite the huge contributions your people make to the nation, the Federal Government would never consider developing this place... Facilities in this school are in a sorry state, and every morning you people have to trek over here just to be told stories that ache the heart. How silly!' With that Bola took his seat, prepared for any punishment Tariebi would give him. He wasn't afraid anyway. If he was ousted from the class, he wouldn't bat an eye. He would calmly dust his trousers, pick his beautiful blue high-end backpack and walk away.

 The classroom was in total silence as everybody was shocked at his rudeness. Then, Tariebi broke the silence after a moment, saying,' Bola, I understand that you're rude but I still think that you made a point which is why I won't ask you to leave the class. But I will tell you this, in March 2001, the then President of the country, visited Bayelsa State, laid a foundation stone for the construction of Oloibiri Millennium Landmark Projects, which was supposed to house an oil and gas institute but unfortunately for us, the foundation never passed through foundation level. Aside from Oloibiri, other oil communities have also joined forces to grab the government attention, especially to help us with infrastructural development, but nothing was done....The too much gas exploitation has exposed us to unabated pollution which gave rise to health challenges,' she coughed, as if to remind them that she was also a victim.

 Abinla reached for her water bottle and handed it over to Tariebi. 'Here.'