OGURUGU AND THE TIME PAST

OGURUGU AND THE TIME PAST.

Permit me to open this discussion with the word of Paul Kagame, the current President of Rwanda, that “Life is best lived by looking into the future, but better understood by looking into the past.” Indeed, going by the quote above, one would better understand how far Ogurugu has come and consequentially appreciate the present, and definitely would keep the hope high for the future.

Meanwhile, this brings me to my chosen topic “Ogurugu and The Time Past.” Using Ogurugu market as the center to xray the four cardinal points (geographically) of the community and you will understand with me that:
*Adita – Opkotopu village, lay at the Eastern part.
*Ukpale – Achanya village; to an extent, some part of Ukanu axis, lay at the Norther part.
*Ukwaja village, which include down to Egah-Imabolo river axis, lay at the Western part; and of course,
*Obatamu, down to Ofegbe – Ofeulogo village respectively, lay at the Southern part.

Having expressed the four cardinal points of Ogurugu in this manner (thus, just for the purpose of this discussion), I will now like to make my submission about the chosen topic known to you.

For those who could recall, it was precisely in January, 1996. And of course, the weather was quite unbearable as the harmattan wind kept blowing – making the lips dried and white, and then the back toes broke and looked rough like the shell of tortoise.

Vividly, I can still recall. It was actually one of those evening in the month of January, 1996. Far away in the sky around Ukanu – Ukpale, and Achanya (that’s the Norther axis) was a mixture of lightening and gray smoke. While the evening was getting darker, the smoke in the sky was getting thicker.

And just then, the atmosphere became tensed. Yes, I can recall. Our mothers and sisters who were still in the market – mostly the ones that lived around the mentioned places (Norther axis), abandoned their items in the market and began to run to their various houses.

I can recall every bit of that incident. There was wailing and loud crying from that axis. Mama Aladi (fondly called Iye Aladi) had her wrapper fell off her waist as she was running and screaming for help.

Actually, it was fire outbreak; wildfire outbreak – bush burning! The fire was so severe; so intensive as it was wagging its consuming and destructive tongue in the air. And then, there came those sounds that accompanied the burning dried-grasses that sounded as though the sound of banger (popularly called knockout).

Just like a war movie, within few hours, many houses (thatched houses) along Ukanu – Ukpale – Achanya axis, were raised down by the wildfire. So disheartened. Properties worth millions of naira were lost. My family friends; my brothers and sisters were all rendered homeless. So sadden.

===OGURUGU AND THE TIME PAST===

However, today, I stand as one of the most privilege testifier – bearing witness that after twenty-three (23) years of that ugly incident, pragmatic development (basically in terms of modern and gigantic houses) has enveloped every corner of Ogurugu as it were.

Praise Thy Lord Almighty!!!

Nevertheless, I must quickly seize this opportunity to commend, appreciate and celebrate all the youth of Ogurugu, for their unrelenting zeal as well as their unquenchable urge for progress of the community.

This is just the beginning.
More development on the way…

We pray: Never Again Shall We Experience Any Form of Destruction Either by Fire or Any Means…Amen!

Let’s trust in God, double our efforts…double the hustle.

By God’s grace, Ogurugu shall be greater and better than what it’s today.

Let’s keep upholding the peace in the community.

Let love continue to lead.

Yours Brother,
Akor Gabriel.

(Co-editor, Home Front Magazine, Jos).

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/270911496386024/permalink/1851924834951341/