The Return (1993-2005, IBADAN)
There is a period in bible history that is referred to as “the silent period”. This was about 400 years between the end of Malachi and the birth of John the Baptist. It was said that during this period, there were no new scriptures or revelations. The period after their departure was the equivalent of the silent period in our relationship with the Ojehs. The Durojaiyes had moved to Kurunmi Road, and we were growing through high school. The route of the cross-country race took us from Sankore road to Kurunmi road, and I would stare at No. 1 Kurunmi road as I ran past. As I ran, I would comfort myself with all the memories that the house held. There was no way to get much news about Uche and Emeka. All we heard then were rumours that Emeka was going to the N.B.A.
In 1998, I had a holiday job that involved operating an email address for the whole of the University of Ibadan. There were two functional emails at the time – The commercial one at the library and the official one at the V.C.’s office. This was how I got in touch with most friends who had moved abroad and now had access to email. I searched for Uche’s email, but I had no idea how to get access to it.
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Internet access started growing in the early part of the 2000’s and I opened an email address on excite.com. Somehow, I got Uche’s Hotmail address, which I sent an email to, and he responded after a while. School and life happened, and another silent period started, which only ended in 2005. My dad informed me that the Ojehs were in Lagos and that Uche asked after me. I got Deacon Ojeh’s number, and he sent the address. I found my way to their location in Yaba and saw Uche and the dad for the first time in about 15 years. Uche didn’t look so different (except for his bushy hair), and he immediately asked if he could get a shirt that looked like the NYSC vest I was wearing. I found the request to be interesting. How many people return to Nigeria after a decade and then immediately seek symbols of identification with Nigeria?
Uche seemed to be on a mission to make up for lost time. Anytime I looked at my phone and saw a strange number, it was Uche calling to say he was around. His cousins (Ope and co) bore the brunt of Uche’s demands to go everywhere and see everything. He could be at his aunt’s house in Victoria Garden City at 10 pm and then inform everyone that he wanted to go to Ikeja. It was hard explaining geography, safety and traffic to him.
After a while, he was as comfortable in taxis as he was in his aunt’s car. Uche’s aunt was a director at a bank in Lagos. It was often funny seeing the receptionist thinking of calling security to drive out the funny guy that showed up with crazy hair, shorts and a smile before his aunt asked him to be let in.
