I am from Adazi-Ani and I have in my life time heard countless times that we are not so conversant with water, matter of factly we do not have streams or river like our neighboring towns. History had it that we used to have one named NWOCHA but the water started acting up by taking lives unnecessarily and so was banished. It settled in Oraukwu our neighboring town. In fact I also heard that those days when they went to fetch water in the said river and river starts its turbulence, people around will ask if an indigene of Adazi was there and if there’s any they should leave immediately and when they do the water calms down.

Now I have no business with water, I have never thought of swimming nor entering the pool. I have attended picnics during my school days and I clearly and consciously avoided the pool.

One time in school days during water scarcity, I went to Otamiri river with school mates and I didn’t venture close, I just gave my bucket and they helped me fetch and that was my first and last.

In the course of my job as a Sales personnel we have had lots of events by the pool side and I wasn’t fascinated at all, I didn’t even go close to the pools let alone putting my leg in them.

Now in 2019 during the incessant traffic at the Asaba bridge, I went to trade visit with my colleagues in my trade and after which I parked my vehicle in front of my customer’s shop and I jumped into their ride to pick something from them. My intention was to enter public transport when coming back. On getting to the bridge we met the longest line of traffic I have ever seen on the side of my return.

While I was on their vehicle, I had made up my mind to sleep in a hotel and come back the next day but I remembered my official vehicle was parked in an unsafe place and I was with the key so I was now contemplating on how to go back and while I was thinking aloud, my colleagues mentioned the boat to me and I canceled it immediately and they started convincing me telling me of our colleagues that follow that route on a daily basis. Hmmmm I called them, they were my younger colleagues and they affirmed that they always do and it was a hitchless adventure. They too convinced me.

Now if you know me very well, one of my greatest strength is Courage and I take risks but calculated risk. My colleagues dropped me at the boat station in Asaba and luckily ( ironically ) it was the last load for the day. They asked me to enter the boat, I asked how much they told me 300 naira , I asked for the life jacket, they said it wasn’t available that I should enter, I refused and they went in search of life jacket and they got one for me and I wore the safety jacket , paid and I entered the boat.

I bade my friends goodbye, told them I would beep them once I arrived my destination. I asked the captain the duration of the journey and he said 5 to 7 mins. We embarked on the journey, we were 8 passengers and I was the only one with life jacket. One minute or two into the journey, men and brethren the boat spoilt. Before embarking on the journey I told them it was my first time taking a journey across the river and my fellow passengers assured me that I shouldn’t bother that at the blink of my eyes that I will get to my destination.

While we were on top of the water with the spoilt boat, I maintained my cool, looking at my countenance you wouldn’t know it was my first time, the other pro passengers started fidgeting and panicking, I didn’t mutter any word. I was saying my prayers in mind calmly and waiting for what will become of us that evening.

The captain started paddling the boat like canoe and boat was heavy for him, I could sense his struggles, I was just praying telling God to have mercy. Journey of 5 mins took us 45 mins and we arrived at the river bank. I just alighted and the other passengers were hailing me, I didn’t answer them. I just removed their life jacket, handed it to them and left.

I got home that day told my sister what happened, she didn’t even allow the gist to digest she went and reported me to my parents and I was summoned for a meeting, let’s not talk about the outcome of the meeting.

Men and brethren if you cannot swim and you do not also have a life jacket please abort the mission of traveling by water.