Title: Home Away From Home
Author: Olayinka Oyegbile
Publishers: Target Response Associates, Lagos
Reviewer: Segun Ozique
This is a historical life-journeys of a writer in the Nigeria’s-changing City of Jos, Plateau State. “Home Away From Home…History Of the Ogbomoso People In Jos,” gives a vivid, frank and opinionated perspectives on past events, opens up subject areas scarcely explored by other historical writers and no matter where you stand on the matter of Jos crisis, this book will broaden your existing knowledge of the politics and power play of the different inhabitants; indigenes and settlers in Plateau State, Jos in particular.
As stated in the introduction, this book is in most part a book that chronicles ‘the history of how Ogbomoso people arrived and settled in Jos, their business contributions to the growth and development of the economy of the city, the state and the Northern part of the country in general.’ Then it delves into contemporary debates referencing articles, interviews and events that happened within the period under consideration and how they affected different individuals and families; all victims of the crisis. Each chapter identifies and addresses specific subject matters and particular topical issues. DoubleO, rounded up with personal opinion aimed at addressing present-day controversies surrounding the city of Jos’ general struggle for identity as a microcosm of a bigger pluralist demand that no citizen ought to be limited anywhere in Nigeria by ancestral origin, etc in comparison with what is obtainable in other parts of the world. By and large, the conclusions interestingly opens the door for further exploratory debate and writing about such issues as identity, indigeneity, place of birth, ancestral home, freedom of association, beliefs, politicizing, manipulation, the list is endless. The book provides information on how prejudiced people with hidden self interest scapegoat Muslims and Christians to carry out vendetta and other heinous crimes.
The author proves he has, not surprisingly, very good skills for journalistic dialogue, presentation and a nice sense of pacing. After a slow, almost boring, for one with no interest in historical narrative, start, it then sprang and picked up momentum and then rolls smoothly through the one hundred and seventy six pages.
Hear him romanticize his extraordinary city called Jos; ‘It was perhaps the only city in the country that was truly cosmopolitan without being industrial. There were Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Berom, Anaguta, Afizere and a host of other minor ethnic groups. In truth, it was the real rainbow city with a melange of tongues and religions. It was perhaps the only existing Tower of Babel without the confusion! It was a city where Christians and Muslims cohabited without anyone caring a hoot about the differences of faith. It was a city where a church with a vast piece of land without blinking an eyelid would donate a portion to a mosque or vice versa.’
Then hear the painful regret, realities and sadness as he sees present day, Jos; ‘That was then. Not any more. The harmonious co-existence belongs to distant past. The devil has taken over the soul of this beautiful city. This city that used to remind me of the late Alan Paton. The cold and chill of harmattan have disappeared. The beauty that could rival any of those cities in Europe has turned to ashes…Now Beelzebub, the king of hell and Armageddon has taken over.’
Olayinka writes clearly and engagingly. Readers interested in Nigeria, its origin, ethnicity, religiousity, regionalism and political power play as well as history, their stories, culture, etc will find the book both stimulating, resourceful and convincing.