By: Oturubo Tamaramiyenmene Collins .
All fishing camps, Communities, son's are daughters were all prepared for the festivities that came with the annual Amaseikumor festival, ready to clean up the evil in our lands unknowing to us, the real evil was just a step away ready to wipe us out from the surface of the earth .
I saw it happen before my very own eyes, it was like one of those unbelievable rumours that actually manifested in real life, we were a peaceful people at war with the federal government, our crime? We can't be silent over the underdevelopment ravaging our communities, we won't condone the " monkey dey work , and bamboo dey chop " imposement.
Our enemies were so optimistic in sending the entirety of Gbaramatu kingdom into a State of hibernation, but they forget that "AMA TEI KPO KIRI TEIGHA" .
In our warrior like spirit, the youths took up challenge to protect our most treasured habitat, not minding how sophisticated the Nigeria millitary warfare was, the old ones were praying for the safe return of their children, our King , Late Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, HRM, DSP GODWIN KOGIDI BEBENIMIBO (rtd), OGEH GBARAUN II, couldn't move an inch away from the GBARAUN EGBESU TEMPLE , fervently praying for safety of our sons in the battlefield .
Our old women chanting " WONI IDUO WOMO KORI EMI OO, WONI WONI BO WARE SUO OOO" as they match in harmony accross the Communities in solidarity, praying for the fortification of the son's in the heat of the engage of bullets.
Our priests ( OSAIN KARE ABU) diligently seeking answers from the gods of our forebearers for this is beyond human comprehension.
MAY 15TH, you snatched away alot of treasured souls in Gbaramatu, one I can never forget is the death of MR. ATU KENIYE, who was a victim of the first air attack in the OPOROZA-WEI WARE, I saw the man who was full of life gasping for breath, he was such a jovial man, one of the best master of ceremonies (MC) I have ever seen, may his gentle soul continually rest in peace (ISE).
Like the conquerors enjoying the booties of war, we still suffer the psychological trauma of what was never expected, the physical injuries will never heal, not to mention the psychological injuries.
Okerenkoko Community ( the heartbeat of the Niger Delta struggle) was razed down, Okerenkoko became a shadow of itself, the millitary carted away with all our valuables, destroying all the beautiful edifices that took us sweat and blood to build.
But were we actually defeated ? NO IS THE BIG ANSWER .
As our enemies were put to shame.
Today we celebrate our heroes full of live in the after Life, Okerenkoko Community today boast of structures that cannot be found even in most modern Urban cities of the world
Today those who attempted to sweep over name beneath the carpet actually took the name to the highest mountain with global recognition .
Today we celebrate for we are a tribe that cannot be erased out of the surface of the earth, we can never go into extinction, we will live forever .
Today we celebrate because we are the actual VICTORS .
HAPPY GBARAMATU KINGDOM SURVIVAL DAY
Thanks alot Sir
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