Tomorrow, February 14, is St. Valentine's Day.
I have gone out since yesterday to distribute dozens of copies of my popular book of love, "The Language of True Love” on Bonny Island in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. I gave a copy to a tall and handsome Dutch who gave me a ride in his white jeep from the Nigerian LNG Estate to the Nigerian LNG Roundabout where I distributed more copies of the book to two Igbo vendors of VCDs to sell them. I had a brief discussion with the kind Dutch man before we parted. The Dutch man told me he has been working on Bonny Island since 2005 and happily secured with his wife and children. I told him that I am writer.
"You are a romance writer," he said as he looked at the title and romantic couple on the cover of "The Language of True Love".
"I write more on politics, poems and fiction," I said.
I told him that the peaceful environment of the Nigerian LNG Estate on Bonny Island is very conducive to the peace of mind a writer needs to write serious literature. I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos city or what Thomas Hardy called far from the madding crowd.
He nodded in agreement with me.
I told him that first Dutch man I met when I arrived Bonny Island was Mr. Wilmar Bliek and commended Mr. Bliek's good management of the Nigerian LNG Estate.
There is peace in the Nigerian LNG Estate, but there is violence in most of the host communities as unidentified and well-known militants have been on rampage and held hundreds of foreign oil workers and local oil workers hostage since 2003 with many casualties. Foreign oil workers dare not use the dangerous waterways, because hundreds of them have been kidnapped and later released in exchange for huge ransoms. Some have been killed and thousands have left the volatile Niger Delta for the safe parts of Nigeria. Unidentified gunmen shot and killed two male Naval officers last Monday, whilst they were escorting one of the Nigerian LNG ferries across the Bonny Channel. The management of the Nigerian LNG has suspended the official Ferry Service until further notice and a similar decision was taken last year when militant killed two police officers guarding the passengers and goods on a Nigerian LNG ferry. Dare devil gunmen and militants have forced the management of the Nigerian LNG to use helicopters to fly workers and others over the dangerous waterways to save lives, and use barges for the transportation of goods.
I did not want to discuss the Niger Delta crisis plaguing Nigeria, because I did not want to digress from the topic of our discussion or dampen his cheerful mood on the eve of St. Valentine's Day.
I thanked him as I alighted from the vehicle. I shut the door and he drove off in the direction of the Nigerian LNG Plant Complex in the Industrial Area.
Beware of online Valentine's greetings, because they may contain Internet worm and singles should beware of sex on Valentine's day, because of the rampant cases of STDs and HIV/AIDS.
What do you wish for the Valentine?
I would have loved to be with my one and only Val, Queen, who is far away in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). I have already bought a rose flower and other gifts meant for her as Christmas presents, but I have not been able to visit her. I have been delayed by unforeseen circumstances, because of the dangers of crossing the sea from Bonny Island to Port Harcourt before going on to Abuja by road or by air. I called her yesterday and told her to be rest assured of my love. I promised to come to Abuja later, she would be satisfied after my visit, and I have called her again today.
I have never loved anyone as I love Queen since I was born.
If I Could...
It started slowly.
Then it continued gradually and before I knew it, I have fallen in love with you.
Love comes either slowly or quickly.
But you will always know that you are simply in love.
