The Ripples

By David Udo

For decades, the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has known no peacein a cycle of government affronts, actions and inactions, and counteractions by the aggrieved and marginalized people, a potent web of violence, aggression and counter-aggression is established and the fate of the Nigerian state, which hangs helplessly on the balance of oil swing, is put on a pivot that tills towards anarchy. The land is engulfed in the ripples; a life-size momentous wave, a little to the right and a little to the left.

The book, the ripples, is a poetic expos of the politico-psycho-economic interplays and manifestations of many years of mistaken and ruthless actions on the part of the authorities, as well as misplaced priorities, conspiracy and betrayal on the part of the people of the region. These have created ripples that spread in tangential propagation of no return.

This is a soul tonic, a poetic humour engraved in the graphic of human adventures, errors of commission and omission.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Feb 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482826258

David Udo

David Udo: Poet, novelist, prolific story teller, is a Fellow of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigerian; member and officer Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He is the author of Horns and Tusks, the Ripples, Night Call and Nutcut (poems). He is an ardent advocate for global peace with keen interest in events around the world. David, his wife Grace and two sons, Brian and Joseph, live in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Book preview

RIPPLES IN

THE NIGER DELTA

"The stubborn retention of the status quo,

and its manifest rejection by component parts,

is the heart of the delta crisis…,

the urgent task for us at this moment is

to climb out of the pit"

-Professor Wole Soyinka-

Vanguard June 28, 2009

THE LAST DAYS

We emerged from the world of blackness

Into our now world of darkness

Throwing our hands in the air

To find outlines of the world of lights

All we find is fear

Even when we die

Our fear before us enter the grave

Inter our bones to decay

To make flesh sprout, again

To shoot forth fear

In these days kidnapping earns

Fat ransoms to save souls from miscreants

Political killing is traded in high places;

Deceit,

Blasphemy,

Blackmail,

Sycophancy,

Conspiracy and

Hypocrisy is bred

To make lies hanging on the line

We bend our knees to the ground

Seeking refuge from the One on High

To redeem us from the

Prophesies of the fore-days

Consigning these daysafter

The last days, as the evil days

BEYOND OUR REACH

Kakpeŋta ȯkȯŋ udȯk anim usuŋ inwaŋ

We sow seeds

To reap sand

To crack our teeth

We bake oil

To make pipeline flow beyond,

Beyond our reach

To fetch us canned oil

The canned oil saps us dry

And dry our pockets too

Drying our bones

To pieces of dry bones

Like the door