CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY
It’s a beautiful day today, the sun is on a
low temperature, no sign of rainfall and
everywhere is absolutely quiet and peaceful
and I don’t feel like doing anything, no
going to shop, no going to the market or
even visiting any of my friends, just want to
be in my own and think about my life! First
of all let me introduce myself; my name is
Okerevu Jimoh I am 39 years old and am
from a small community called Okumehi in
the great land of Opete. I’m a stylist by
profession and also a trader. And here is
the story of my son “Asipita De-Boneless”
On the fifteenth birthday of Asipita, Asitita
was born on the 22nd of February 1980 into
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the family of mr and Mrs Ojatuhuo in Oride
l.g.a. of Opete land.
Mr Ojatuhuo is a fine young man at his 30s
by the time we had met and a great farmer
from Oride l.g.a., he is known for his
hardworking skills, diligence and
dedication. He never participate in any
illicit during his youthful age. Ojatuhuo is
from the family of Mr Okatahi, he is the first
born of Mr 0Katahi with three siblings, two
boys, two girls making four altogether. Mr
Ojatuhuo is also a great trader who used to
travel across different communities to sell
his farm product and was known for his
wonderful experience in farming and
trading, he never attended any school in his
life but was one of the most brilliant man
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among his age mates. He is also one of the
few men that own a bicycle in the
community. We met during one of market
days at a well-known market in the land of
Opete called “Ohu Manaka” that was where
our journey of life begins.
Oride is a well-known town in the land of
Opete, it is one of the largest l.g.a. in the
state which was known for its fertile land,
riches, hardworking men &women with
beautiful teenagers, people from Oride are
known for their hardworking skills and
hospitality, most of the men engage in
farming, hunting, trading and well
educated background. Oride is a very
popular town beautifully decorated by
nature with a paramount ruler called
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Ohinoi while their women are into weaving
of cloths, braiding of hair, farming and
other sources of income. Their children are
well cultured and hardworking.
CHAPTER TWO:
MOTHERHOOD
At 8:25pm on the 22nd February 1980, I was
rush to the hospital due to pain of labor
3hour later I put to birth given birth to a
bouncing baby boy. It was a rainy day and
everywhere was quiet, few moment later
the whole ward was crowded with people
and everyone was full of joy for the news of
my safe delivery we were discharge two
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days later due to same pains that were
came up after delivery. On the third day at
home things were going smoothly and
easily, we did exclusive breastfeeding, the
baby was increasing in weight for six month
we could weigh about 8 to 10kg which was
a beautiful thing.
At the age of two Asipita we started to
observed that Asipita had never made any
move concerning walking, all he ever does
was to caw as fast as his knee could took
him. At three to four he could talk, eat and
does other things on his own but walk. I
and his father became worried and a little
bit disappointed, but we still kept our hopes
high, we took him to several hospital for
checkup but no medical statement could
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prove his inability to walk. I on my own
also took him to some herbalist and prayer
houses but to no avail. I became devastated
and confuse, didn’t know what to do
anymore, getting different advice from
different people including my best friends
Asimi and Osheyiza.
Asimi is my childhood friend, we attended
the same primary school back then at my
home town in Okumehi, she is a mother of
two and works as a fashion designer at the
market square, her husband is a taxi driver.
Asimi would always give me hope on
Asipita’s deformation, which she would
often say everything is possible in the hands
of god almighty, that I should always pray
and wait for god miracles on my boy. She
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would be there to support me emotionally
and morally and she would took out of her
busy schedule to come over and play with
Asipita, teaches him some nursery rhythms,
alphabets little arithmetic these really helps
me a lot.
Unlike osheyiza “Amebor” Osheyiza is my
stylist colleque at the market square, but she
talks too much and gossip about things that
are supposed to be kept secret.(like my
mom used to say “Those who talk too
much, when they have nothing to talk about
then they begin to tell lies”) Osheyiza took
me to different native doctors and herbalist
and still went around telling people about
it, she often made mockery of Asipita by
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calling him names like mosquito leg and
others.
CHAPTER THREE: SCHOOL
DAYS
When Asipita was seven we decided to
enrolled him in school due to his fast
thinking and smartness, initially he refused
complaining about his disability but after
some words of encouragement he finally
accepted with the help of the wheelchair his
father bought for him from a local market
popularly known as Panteka to help him
move from one place to another without
becoming a liability to other pupils in his
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class. Asipita was admitted into primary
two for his level of intelligence and
understanding. He got admission into
Enimre Nursery and Primary school
Idapokiti, Oride l.g.a.
Schooling was easy at the beginning,
sometimes he would even waked up very
early and crawl to wake everyone else so
that he could get prepared for school but as
time goes on we started receiving complaint
about his class mates and school mates who
made gest of him due to his disability. They
got to the extent of even giving him names,
names like ; De crawler, De wise wizard,
Onyigogonor, Longerman, Crutches boy,
but the most popular one is “De Boneless”.
He was also deprive of some class post as a
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result of his deformation, to the point that
he became so depressed that he decided to
quit school and would wept all days and
night and refuse to eat anything. Few of his
mates would come over to check on him
during closing hour, but he would refused
to see or talked to anyone, except his best
friend Shola who wouldn’t leave until he
comes out.
Shola is a neighboring kid who attended the
same school with Asipita he is two years
younger than Asipita and a very brilliant
boy too. Shola’s mother Mrs Bola is a
teacher in one of the primary school on the
community and his father Mr Bola is
working at the community micro finance
bank, the parents are very lovely and kind,
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they would come over during some
weekends to talk with Asipita and most
times bought him some gift, talked to him
about the importance of schooling and what
he could become if he is educated, the fun
he has missing and how shola misses his
company. After much talked and few weeks
at home he finally accepted to resume back
school. Which was a great relieve to me, his
father and the Bola’s family. On his tenth
birthday Mr Bola bought him a brand new
wheelchair which also made Asipita to be
more interested and excited about school.
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CHAPTER FOUR: SUCCESS
At the age of eleven he was already in
primary six and was one of the best pupils,
if not the best, their graduation date was
fixed to be on the 17th of July 1991. On the D
day of the ceremony the field was full of
different people from several schools.
Parents from far and near were present and
the local government chairman was present
too, the occasion was an exciting and
memorable one, children representing
different cultural group, some were on
debate, quiz, games and other exciting
activities. The chairman gave his speech and
prices and award were given to the teachers
for their diligence, dedication, selflessness
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and positive impact on the children. Prices
and gift were also given to the best pupils
on each of the activities and Asipita was
named the best pupils of the year for his
active performance on quiz and other
intellectual activities. It was another joyous
day just as the day he was born. After his
common entrance examination and
interview in primary six, his result came out
excellent.
Few weeks after the third term holiday his
admission came out and he got admitted
into one of the most prestigious secondary
school in the local government area named
O.T.C. (Omega Teachers Colledge). For his
junior and senior secondary school
education. OTC been one of the oldest,
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prestigious and reputable secondary school
on the land of Opete, which was found in
the year 1944 and have produce heroes and
heroines in the past. With a beautiful
uniform dresses of white and kaki. Short
sleeve and nika for the junior boys with
pinafore for the junior girls, then long sleeve
and trouser for the senior boys with skirt
and long sleeve top for the senior girls. The
school’s motto: “In All Things Moderation,
With Exception of Study”
Asipita was admitted into JSS 1 one A with
the serial number 015 and in blue house on
sport wears. Asipita met another set of
students in his secondary class with few of
he’s mates from his primary school.
Secondary school was a little bit differ
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compare to primary. But quite fun and
advance, they were offering about ten
subjects which were; English, mathematics,
social studies, home economics, integrated
science, introductory technology, civic
education, physical health education,
IRS/CRS, Agricultural science. Asipita’s
best subject were mathematics, English and
other science based subjects, he would
always said he wants to become a doctor in
the future so that he would help people like
himself and also find solution to his
deformation. These made some of his mates
to make mockery of home the more ,
sometimes he feels like given up until
fortunately enough he came across Mr
Eniola Akiridolu, his English teacher. Mr
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Eniola is from the western part of the
nation, he studied literature in English at
Obafemi Awolowo University Ibadan, Oyo
state and got his masters & doctorate from
oxford university at England. But decided
to share he’s knowledge, wisdom and
experience among the younger generation,
starting the junior class to the senior classes.
Mr Eniola became a very close friend and
mentor to asipita because of his frequent
depression, which he played a very vital
role on his academic performance. Asipita
still kept his nickname De Boneless, he
would participate in many of the school
competition and interschool quiz and
would came out victorious and still remain
the best among his mates.
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CHAPTER FIVE: TRIAL TIME
In JSS three(3) a new boy was transfer to
O.T.C. from another school, because his
parent were recently transfer to Oride
internal revenue office. The new boy was is
called Onoja Idris. Onoja was also the best
student in his previous school, he had never
last to anyone right from his primary school
days up till his junior secondary school, his
parents Mr & Mrs Idris Ocheja are both
educated and were both working at the
internal revenue office. At O.T.C. Onoja
became a competitor to asipita and these
became a great challenge to asipita, for he
had to work very hard to keep up to his
standard and reputation as the student. The
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competition continue till end of the first
term examination and Onoja beat Asipita at
an average of 96.6 : 96.4 which made Asipita
to be depress and disappointed in himself,
but Mr Eniola would always use his
wisdom to encourage and motivate him to
put more effort and work more harder. Mr
Eniola used to tell give him a word of
motivation like “Believe in yourself , there’s
no limit to what you can achieve”. I and his
father also did our best and support him in
every way we could, fortunately enough at
the end of his junior school, Asipita bounce
back on his feet and became the best student
again. And they all got promoted to senior
secondary class.
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CHAPTER SIX: MIRACLE
It was 5:10am in the morning on the 22nd
February, 1995 which was Asipita’s 15th
birthday, we had made arrangement on the
previous day concerning his birthday. His
father bought him a new suit and a brand
wheelchair, the Bola’s family had promise
to bought him a three step cake, my friend
Asimi he’s Godmother had brought
minerals and some other gift wrapped with
a shiny nylon few days earlier. I myself had
went to the market to bought everything
necessary for the day. His father also made
arrangement for D.J. and also invite our
local musician. We had plan to throw a big
party for him been his 15th birthday, but to
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our greatest surprise the lord Himself also
have His own present. At 5am that morning
I was still in bed when I heard an unclear
voice calling me Mummy! Mummy!!
Mummy!!! I quickly jump out of bed, it is a
wonderful sight, an unbelievable miracle,
the greatest surprise of all time. Standing
before me, my humble self and my darling
husband was Asipita De Boneless on his
two feet, I scream out of excitement at the
top of my whole tinny voice Oh Adaamiiii
!!! my lovely boy took his first walking step
at the age of (15) fifteen. In a little or no
moment the whole compound was filled
with neighbors from far and near to witness
the miracle of god on Asipita . it was an
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amazing day for the entire community and
the talk of the town for the whole week.
Few weeks later he was still practicing how
to walk properly, his father had bought him
crutches and walking stick to aid him in
walking, soon days became weeks, weeks
became month and as months pass by
Asipita could walk perfectly, he had been
jogging to school on daily basics.
CHAPTER SEVEN: CEREMONY
Two years later Asipita was already in SSS
3, he had been participating on the school
games and inter house sports, he was also
one of the fastest runner in the school, with
the help of the school sport master coach
Baje. Coach Baje was once an international
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football player, he is known for his sports
skills like; running, football playing,
swimming and other athletics. He also aid
Asipita a lot during his days of learning
how to walk and coach him on his running
skills. Coach Baje has played enough roles
on most of the past students from the school
to win lots of prices and awards for the
school which also promotes the school's
reputation. Asipita is a living prove of that,
everybody were proud of him including Mr
Eniola, he's mentor and friend. Asipita was
made the school's senior prefect (HEAD
BOY) he was very punctual in class
dedicated to all school activities, he later
became friend with Onoja since the
beginning of their senior class, Onoja was
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made he's assistant and also the school
laboratory prefect (Lab prefect) both of
them were best friend and the best in their
academics. At the end of the section Asipita
was preparing for his final year examination
(WAEC) and he had to also represent the
school at the national level, on 500-meter
race of the national Olympic event, which
was held at the national stadium at the
federal capital territory. At the stadium,
people from different locations were present
to witness the event, ticket were sold at an
affordable price, Mr & Mrs Bola alongside
their son Shola, Asipita's friend, Onoja and
his family, Asimi and other neighbors were
all present, including me and his father to
cheer up our star. As soon as the event
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commence each participants had entered
the pitch with their unique uniform, Asipita
too entered the pitch with his well fitted kits
and his nickname crested behind him as De-
Boneless, almost one-quarter of the stadium
people started to cheer up his name
shouting De-Boneless! De-Boneless!! De-
Boneless!!! It was an amazing view that day.
There were different representative from
different schools and organizations, almost
all the O.T.C. staff were present including
the school's principal, Mr Eniola and of
course coach Baje, the school provide a bus
to convey people down to the event center.
At the end of the event Asipita was emerge
as the winner of the race and was awarded
a golden medal, making his school, his
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family and the entire people of Opete
proud. He was rewarded with a scholarship
up to the end of his university level.
To God be the glory
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