By Chris Onokpegu
As a Deltan, my visit to Asaba for the last National Sports Festival in December was my fifth time ever.
My first was when we decided to do a story on the exploits of Delta state in sports under the administration ofJames Ibori. That was when we saw athletes training on daily and being paid salary. The story was interesting.
The second visit was when the Asaba International stadium renamed Stephen Keshi Stadium was under construction. My colleague and I were taken round the construction site by my amiable senior brother, Moses Etu. I remember he told me to always come home so that they don’t deny me opportunity when it comes but due to too many engagements, I couldn’t.
The third time I was in Asaba was when I paid a visit to a lady I thought I would settle down with but God knows better and that did not materialise.
My fourth visit to Asaba was when I went to bury my biological father. After driving hours on the road,no was tired and so I made a stop over and the following morning, I head straight to my Village.
As I earlier stated, the last visit was my fifth. It was unique, memorable and interesting not because I spent 10 days for the first time but because I met so many people from different States, tribes, religion and even from different country, notable amongst them are the scouts from the United States of America, USA.
More interesting is the opportunity I had to meet my adopted father, Elder Solomon Ogba and Chief Tonobok Okowa. Although Okowa met me for the first time as a controversial person but did not welcome me like the prodigal son Jesus Christ described in the Bible (joke) when I offended him. I also met a person I always admired when he was with AIT/Raypower. I used to listen to Political Platform because of him until he was appointed the Commissioner for Information. Mr. Ehiedu Aniagwu, I appreciate your relationship sir and the mature way you handled the Journalists during the festival.
In all, I was able to meet with old and new friends especially amongst my colleagues in the professions; get new connections and share business ideas with others.
Meanwhile, as a Deltan, I have been to other parts of the State like Warri, Ughelli, Kwale, Ozoro, just to mention a few and the people are known to be accommodating, caring, funny but Asaba people seem to be different. Some of them are always wearing long faces probably maybe we met them when they were in a bad mood or it was a tactics for people not to come close because we know when visitors are around like when the Festival was on, the implication of that is, by now, some of our girls would have been vomiting.
Also who knows maybe those that were wearing those long faces are even strangers staying in Asaba, but I know very well that a typical Deltan is a funny person, a comedian. They are cheerful and will make you laugh until you break your ribs hence the comedians from that axis. The governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is a typical example, always wearing a smile even when nobody is cracking a joke.
However, one thing that I also noticed about the Asaba people is that they know how to greet very well even though they don’t put up smiles.
Another visible thing is that Asaba has one of the best if not the best sporting facilities in one stadium in the country. The state-of-the-art facilities is one of the reasons why the State is dominating the Festival and also producing athletes for the country that are representing at the international stage.
Another thing I noticed about the Asaba is that the people are decent. Although there are no perfect society. Unlike when you visit some states in the country, the first thing you notice is the presence of prostitutes on the streets especially around the area events are taking place but that was not the case. They may be existing but they are not operating in the open despite the closeness of Asaba city to other cities across the River Niger. Asaba ladies dress decently.
The guys are also not left out. Unlike what is seen in other states including the federal capital territory, Abuja, where touts are seen everywhere on the streets, Asaba is different. Every young man is doing something reasonable: driving keke (tricycle), trading in the market, going to school, involving in small scale businesses and most importantly they are involved in sporting activities hence the few crime rate. Despite the fact that security is top notch, the youths are gainfully-engaged. Imagine only two thieves were caught throughout the two-week festival. This confirmation was made by one of the top police officers at the entrance of the stadium.
No wonder, Asaba is safe even at night. In some parts of the country, you cannot move around at anytime of the day or make phone calls, your phone will be snatched. It is also interesting to note that Asaba is calm and because of the peace and unity amongst residents, a visitor will not know that there are other tribes living in Asaba if they are not told. There is peaceful co-existence amongst residents.
It is because of the peaceful atmosphere, that people from neighbouring states especially filmmakers use it as their destinations for the shooting of their films. I discovered that hotel accommodations are always scarce during the weekend because of the influx of people from the neighboring states because they see it as their safe haven especially those traveling from Abuja and other states or even from outside the country.
Well, Asaba is serene with the trees and flowers especially around Nnebisi road but more needs to be done in the area of cleaning of the environment by residents and business owners.
I am also not impressed with the other parts of Asaba especially Ibusa road, that is an entrance from the major expressway to the State capital. There are no street lights, no flowers and the area is dusty.
I also noticed that motorists especially tricyclists don’t obey traffic lights which is not good enough for a city like Asaba. However, I love the fact that their market places are decent. They don’t allow people to sell by the road like it is obtainable in some states let alone is hawking allowed on the streets.
Some of us that came from other States are also not impressed with the transportation systems especially the littering of the town with Keke (tricycles). Government should either invest in taxis or allow investors into the sector like we have bolts or Uber. People couldn’t make personal movement with taxi instead they were forced to settle for Keke where they squeeze themselves.
During my 10 days stay, I didn’t come across potholes. That is a big kudos to the government. Dr. Okowa deserves the highest commendation not because he is my governor but for the foresight in having an overhead bridge at Koka junction. It is long overdue and the bridge will not only help reduce traffic gridlock in that area but will save the lives of residents who take the risk of crossing the ever busy Asaba-Onitsha expressway.
Let me conclude by saying that I enjoyed every bit of my stay in Asaba and to crown it up, our state, Delta swept all the medals remaining just few for their visitors, so that it doesn’t look as if they are wicked. Asaba people and Deltans in general, we say a big thank you to all that made our stay memorable.
