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| Mum, my cousin, Wumi and Deola, a family friend can be seen in the picture. |
Once again, My folks will be moving to another. My first experience of them moving was when I was a little boy, probably about two years old. I could remember I was in a pick-up van. Sometimes I think I dreamt this (Funny I haven't asked my parents about the pick up van). We had lived at Afam, near Port Harcourt in Rivers State. I was born there.
We moved to Jakande estate, Isolo. I Still remember we stayed in Block 385, Flat 6. Some cool place to have stayed. It was there we started worshipping with the Foursquare Gospel Church. We also worshipped with the Christ Apostolic Church, going with a neighbour once or twice and the Methodist Church sometimes (Dad preferred this church as he had an Anglican background). But we were established in the Foursquare gospel.
We would later move when I was twelve, that's in 1998. I remember Dad and the landlord (or was it landlady?) had an issue they dealt with on a Sunday before the period. I wasn't home but I heard something. And then he made plans for us to move to Ikoyi.
Ikoyi came at a time I wanted him to publish a magazine for me. I had written a book filled with words and got a cartoon from a friend, Michael to add. I gave this to him to publish. I didn't hear anything about it again.
I also remember having to go to Ikoyi for cleaning some weeks before finally moving. We watched an interesting match that day. Nigeria against Spain. Nigeria won that game 3-2. A good comeback Spain didnt expect. It was a France '98 match.
Going to the Island was a life-changing experience. Having to meet new people.
'You'll meet new people, maybe more exciting'. Dad said then. I just looked at him. I didn't understand.
I got to know better. I look back and appreciate that we moved.
Growing up in Ikoyi was one of the best things that happened to me. having to meet great people like the Iwealas' (yes, they are related to the former Finance Minister), Okonkwos', Abus', Ilokas, Nwachukwus, Foms', Paases', Fanisi's, Oyelades and the Ugwokegbes. Also having to attend Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Ikoyi Baptist church. I loved the place the house was located, at the top of a three storey building housing six flats with a car park and a boys quarters on the ground foor. I could see the house where the then Fortune Bank MD lived. The exciting things were the cars I could see from my view.
Ikoyi affected my mentality. I loved the sights I saw. The buildings, businesses and people. And then having to attend Covenant University (a story for another day). Covenant University, the school where in my final year, I heard they were moving again. To where? Ajah.
Apparently, they had decided to rent out the Ikoyi house. And move to a bungalow they had been building for a while. The same house they are moving away from today. And by this time, 2.57pm, the 12th of October, 2015, they should be waving goodbye to the Ajah house.
Mum called yesterday and said they were finally going to move. Packing had been done gradually for about two months. This time to Lekki Gardens.
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