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| John Uyeh |
I first wrote this article in this column in May, 2010. I am now inclined to reproduce it in view of the persistent restiveness in our dear Isoko.
I think that I am qualified to pass a personal message to our Isoko youths. I have gone through the youth stage myself; I am now above 70 years in age. Our elders said, “OKPOKWAYE JO OMOTE OKE JO” (an old woman was once a girl).As the clock does its tick-tock inexorably, so does everyone tick away, from childhood to youth to old age. I am a father of some youths who are in their 20s and 30s.Therefore I heartily consider any Isoko youth as my son or daughter. To me, “what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander”. I am also a very keen observer, vivid seer and clear hearer of Isoko affairs. Let me add, without being pompous, that I have travelled far and wide on this planet and I have read a lot. As we say in Isoko, “ITHIHI ME I KRI OTO NO” (my footsteps have stayed long on the ground).Therefore a message from me to Isoko youths may not be out of place.
Youth stage is a very remarkable period in a person’s life. It is the period when the graph of life rises steeply to its peak. At childhood the graph’s trajectory starts from a low horizon; and at old age it falls from the (youth’s) peak to a low horizon again. It is at the youth stage that there is the strongest, hottest effervescence of life. The blood courses through the veins very effectively; the muscles twitch and the sinews can be seen when performing a laborious task; the legs can stand firmly on the ground to bear any weight, just as the jack of any vehicle does. It is the period of adventure and bravery─ the type exhibited by youthful Theseus, Achilles, Hercules, etc, in Greek tales.
Youthfulness is, to a large extent, dominated more by idealism than realism, more by impetuosity than patience; more by “what ought to be” than “ what is”, etc . Yet, all at once, it is a mixed bag. Right step/wrong step.Carefulness/carelessness.Wisdom/folly.Commonsense/mistakes.Discipline/indiscipline. Focus/blurred vision of life. Success/ failure. At last, joy or regret in old age.
Successful youths are admirable models all over the world. Especially, they are a pride to their parents, relatives and their communities. Here, we are talking of youths who have worked hard and attained excellence in their various fields of human endeavours─sports, music, video/drama, academia, profession, business, leadership etc. Good enough Isoko can boast of such admirable (Youth) models. We do not have space here to list all of them but we can mention just a few. Victor Ikpeba ( Owhe)and Jonathan Akpoborie (Aviara) were great footballers in their youthful days. They did all of us (including Nigeria) proud. Veno Marioghae (Araya) and Evi Edna Ogholi (Emede) used their musical talents to bring fame to Isoko. Two brothers, Zeb and Chico Ejiro (Ozoro), and Fred Amata (Oyede) are forces to reckon with in the Nigeria─ film/ movie industry, in Nollywood. Isoko youths are numerous in the academic terrain─as lecturers, graduates and students. They are in various professions, and they are very successful. Check it out: they are the disciplined, cultured, patient, hardworking, focused, goal-oriented type. They are the ones who are ready to learn and improve themselves.
The flip side has youths who row against the tidal flow of life─idle, not focused, not disciplined, not ready to learn, low self- esteem and without any ambition. Their stock-in -trade is keeping bad companies, throwing culture overboard, disrespect for elders and seniors, etc. At the least opportunity they embrace unrest, robbery and violence as is witnessed in some Isoko communities. Some years back, Isoko used to be as peaceful and calm as the water of an inland lake. But sadly, in recent years, many communities have been thrown into blood-chilling savagery and violence─ the type not even read in the novel, “THE CORAL ISLAND”, written by R.N. Ballantyne.
The worst angle to the issue is that such misguided youths are used by “warlords” and power- intoxicated persons for selfish agenda. The “Powerful” persons do not use their children; they use other parents’ youths. In Isoko folklore, OKPOLO (the weaverbird) would ask: “OJO OYEWO, OJO OYEWO OJO RE WO EMO OJO” (one is a parent, the other is a parent, why should one carry away the young ones of the other?). Even then, why should a youth allow himself to be in the witches’ cauldron, their theatre of diabolic activities while the children of the sponsors are in the comfort of good schools and good positions in life? When will such a youth have his own family and train his children? After spending his youthful energies in dastardly acts, how will his old age be? Our elders’ proverb has some philosophical words, viz, “A RIE OMAHA JO HO, A RE RIE OKPAKO JO HO” ( If one does not live a good life during his youth, he cannot live a good life at old age).
The Nigerian socio-economic conditions are very tough. True. Therefore there is nothing a youth can do, False. With the right attitude, right motivation, right choices, right focus, hardwork and prayers (yes, prayers), one can invest one’s youth in meaningful endeavours which could yield dividends at old age. Of such endeavours is self empowerment through education. “Knowledge is power”, they say. The world has realized that Human capital development is the best engine of growth and development. Education is freedom, progress, position, self-assertion and confidence. It is all and all. No one can take it away from you when you have it. “The pen is mightier than the sword”. So the three key words to Isoko youths should be: READ, READ, READ.
Of course there are many other endeavours by which one can empower oneself if the “book route” is too rugged. There are successful and well-to-do mechanics, welders, fitters, carpenters, vulcanizers and other technicians. Skill acquisition centers are springing up here and there through the Oil companies, DESOPADEC, NDDC and the Delta state government. Such opportunities are worth exploring.
Opportunities for self fulfillment and actualization are quite diverse- in sports, music, trading, small and medium scale businesses. What is needed is the right attitude. The beginning may be rough, the middle full of thorns and thistle. But, invariably there is compensatory ending. A verse in the Anglican Church hymn divinely confirms it “….the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower”.
The youth regime is transient, it does not last forever. As a clock ticks every second, so does it tick away youthfulness. The message is simple: make the best of your youth stage, not the worst of it. At old age there would always be some reckoning.
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