AFTER the morning and afternoon sessions, the train moved to Tombia town. There the 96 year old monarch, and literary guru with over fifteen collections of poems to his credit Chief C.A.O. Otobotekere was on hand to receive ANA.
As guests were seated, Otobotekere danced elegantly in his free flowing and flamboyant regalia into his sitting room. As the music composed in his honour played in the background, Otobotekere, a retired oil magnate, swayed left, right, centre, to the admiration of the people, some of who joined him in the joyous mood.
Ukah recalled on the many occasions when he had been warmly ushered into Otobotekere’s home in times past. “It is like a second home for me”, he said with deep excitement.
River Nun which is nearby has inspired many poems not just by the host, but by Gabriel Okara who actually devoted a whole book to the solemnity of the river. A river with deep soothing breeze, endless from year to year, Nun is neither numb or dumb, but quietly gregarious, inspiring endless lines of poems. A visit to the river proved its efficacious healing and quiet embers, its alluring nature, clean, beautifully lugubrious. It’s allure, pull and attractiveness made us ponder and reflected on Nigeria’s perturbations.
Otobotekere treated guests to sessions of readings and a lunch that was taken well into the evening. It was all worth it.
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