Onye?

My parents christened me Adepoju Paul Olusegun but many, especially friends, call me Pauloh! I was born to the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Adepoju on Tuesday, the 5^th day of March, 1985 in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. I had my primary, secondary and most part of my tertiary education in the city I love so much, Ibadan. At the tail end of my undergraduate studies, the academic luminaries at the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) considered my program in Ibadan illegal and proffered a bail out option that which one of my pals christened “the scattering Tyndal effect” which dispersed us like the wind-borne pollen grains in pollination to different universities across the nation and yours sincerely, in the twinkle of an eye, landed in Owerri, Imo state, east of the Niger to round off my 5-year turned 7-year program at the state-owned university, the prestigious Imo state university.

In all sincerity, leaving a city that I have lived for most part of my life wasn’t an easy one. I can still recollect with fond nostalgia my incessant prayers for an Ibadan- friendly solution, prayers that God neatly filed in the Heavenly trash bin and looking back, I can’t but thank God for His action without which I wouldn’t have been exposed to, acquainted with and be a part of the much misconceived, misrepresented and under-understood lifestyles of the people originating from the Southern part of the country (the Niger-Delta) a life that I refer to as the N’digbo life.

Most non- N’digbos see the Igbos as a set of Nigerians who are unique in a number of ways which include their being illustrious, business-minded and profit-oriented. A typical Igbo man exudes over- confidence and an aura that makes it a last resort option to do business with him with the fear of being swindled a belief which for long has enthroned the Igbo community as Nigeria’s brain bank. The Igbos love money and a lot of them would go to almost any length to accrue wealth. These and lots more are the issues that come to mind whenever when one comes in contact with these amazing people from the Niger-Delta.

I expect my stories to serve as an impartial assessment of the Igbos which could help Igbo leaders evaluate their people and make amendments on the areas where shortcomings are noticed. It’s also meant to enable the various governments concerned to hear the yearnings and the pulse of the people they are meant to serve and fashion out ways to meet the areas left out or taken for granted but that means a lot to the citizens. I also want my stories to serve as an indispensable resource to non- N’digbos who are involved in any way, with the Igbo community.

As I welcome you on board, I want all to know that for me, it would be Herculean a task to reminiscence my very interesting and quite eventful stay in Owerri. The most difficult part would be finding the right words to express them but I will surely put in my best. That I promise.