Sitting in my chair at this time, all I can think of is my life. At my young age of 55, I can only say God has been faithful. I have a lovely husband who respects me, two wonderful sons who are now fathers to a beautiful girl each. I wouldn't have asked for better daughters-in-law than Ajoke and Kelechi; who make me feel like I am as young as they both are.
It all began on the 5th of March 1959, when my mother was delivered of me after 8 hours of labour. I was the talk of the town and other villages around because my parents had waited 9 long years for a child. I could only imagine the trauma my mother especially went through. My two siblings came in the short period of three years and I loved them so much. Although we were growing, I knew our large consumption of pounded yam reduced our rate of growing tall.
I attended the primary school in my village and I loved my friends so much. We had no choice than to sing while walking to and back from school, or playing our local games since there were no other activities like there are now with televisions and the likes. We fetched water from the borehole the government made when the elections were close and that made life easier. I was made tho headgirl of my school because no one ever beat my record of passing 3 of the 7 subjects we ever did.
I had grown so fast that it dawned it was time to go to the Secondary school. My school was about 6 kilometres from home but with my peers and I walking and playing, I always looked forward to the long trek.
I learnt so fast and already decided I'd want to be the governor's wife when I grew up. But like the saying.....if wishes were donkeys, even beggars would ride on them; little did I know about being a governor's wife.
Life wasn't so bad after all until the war began.......
Watch out for Part 2.
