CHAPTER EIGHT

Okoba village lies forty miles on the other side of Warri. It is a small fishing village inhabited chiefly by fishermen who combine farming and hunting to make a comfortable living. For a long time, it was popular for the varieties of fishes they produced, which were made available for sale in the cities and other parts of the Delta area. The suitability of this area for fishing is enhanced by the fresh water swamps of the river Niger delta that empty its waters into the Atlantic ocean. But five years ago, this village became the most populous tourist attraction centre in Nigeria because of the Seadra’s Paradise Hotel. The idea of this beautiful paradise resort first came when a multi-millionaire Michael Oguma thought of building himself a retreat villa along the shores of the Atlantic ocean strictly for his own recreation – where he could fish, hunt, have a nice bathe and the sun. A year later he decided to develop a tourist center that would provide similar recreational activities for strangers who were visiting the country. Seadra’s Paradise Hotel which cost about 2.5 billion naira to build is now the best tourist centre in Nigeria. As at now, it is a source of foreign exchange for the country. It is well connected with good roads, first class swimming pools, accommodation, fishing, hunting opportunities, good food and other luxuries of life that give a person what is only obtainable in paradise. The hotel consist of four ultra modern three storey buildings. The ground floor of one of them contains the reception, a well furnished bar and restaurant and the administrative offices of the manager and other important personnels. The three floors which are made up of modern large rooms, fitted with toilets and bathrooms, can provide accommodation for one hundred visitors at a time. Linking this building from the back is the catering services department which consists of two long houses, one of which is used as residential quarters for the staff. Facing the main entrance of the hotel about one kilometer away to the right of the area can be seen the villa built by the millionaire for his own recreation.

A network of interlocking tiles covering the whole grounds also extended to form a road that led to the villa. Pine trees and other flowers around the grounds form a beautiful shade and gives a panoramic view of the hotel. Situated in strategic places within the grounds are fascinating images, most unique among them is the image of an Egyptian woman carrying a silver pot from which water pours into a circular pool in a continous circle.

Maximum security exists within the vicinity of the hotel. A very high concrete wall with a main entrance gate surrounds the ground and opens into the sea to provide a good view into the massive and raging water of the Atlantic ocean. A thick high concrete of the same level with that of the grounds provided a mini wharf for the speed boats packed near a harbor house where equipment for fishing and other games could be borrowed.

On Saturday, there was always a mad rush at Seadra’s Paradise Hotel. Activities are highest when there is no rain. It was the third Saturday of September. It was this Saturday that Dawson had planned for their visit to Seadra’s Paradise. They were particularly lucky as they had the car at their disposal. His father was away on a business trip for the weekend. As soon as he finished dressing, he went and knocked on Justina’s door. He entered. She was still dressing, her hair falling down on her shoulders. Dawson went behind her and had a handful of them, sniffed and caress them. He turned her face towards him and kissed her on both cheeks, and patting her on the buttocks, went out.

‘I’ll be in the garage, meet me there as you finish’.

After opening the garage doors, he examined the level of fuel and oil in the engine. He was in the garage for about five minutes before she came walking down from the door connecting the garage to the parlour. Justina was looking her very best and Dawson approved and admired the way she dressed.

‘Huh!, I bet you look five times prettier,’ he said, and walking up to her, kissed her on the cheeks.

‘You should be in the movies’ he continued

‘Looks like we’re almost late for the fun, because if we are to take the publicity given to the Hotel seriously, fun starts as early as nine o’clock on Saturdays’.

Dawson opened the two front doors and they got in. Dawson turned the ignition key and fired the engine, then letting in the gear, he edged the car out of the garage and drove slowly to the gate. He looked left and right, and seeing no car coming from either way, taking right, he drove into the highway that led to Okoba village and which would finally take them to Seadra’s Paradise Hotel. It didn’t take them long before they got to the Silverline (Nigeria) Limited office block facing a straight road that bisected the Okoba highway. At this junction, passengers can board a taxi or bus heading to Benin. The morning buses must have departed except for a few people loitering about in the Veranda of the station. After this junction, it was free sailing with both sides of the road covered with extensive area of over grown tropical grasses dotted with few shrubs and a considerable amount of towering trees. About two hundred metres to the village was a sign with its bold words spelt out, WELCOME TO OKOBA AND SEADRA’S PARADISE HOTEL.

A little more driving brought them to the outskirts of the village. The major part of the village was on the left side of the road and as they drove at steady speed through the main street, they saw peasant farmers on their way to the farm. Others were busy, especially the wives, sunning the produce from the farm. They could also see a few tourists bargaining for some items by the road side. They came to another sign which read: THIS WAY TO SEADRA’S PARADISE HOTEL.

The hotel was on the right hand of the road. And as soon as Dawson finish the sharp curve, they came to a mighty gate. Although the gate was open, a heavy barrier was in place. Dawson stopped at the gate. Two heavily built men came out of the gate house, one of them carrying a big hard cover notebook. He handed Dawson a biro to write down his name and car number. After that, the gate man put his hands in his pockets and produced a red triangular plastic tag like a key holder, and taking the biro from Dawson, he wrote down the number of the tag against Dawson’s name and handed it to him. All these took less than a minute. These are visitors tags which are returned when they are finally going out. The other man lifted the barrier and Dawson drove through. Just ahead was the car park and seeing a space between two cars, he edged the car into it and cut out the engine. They came out gracefully and after ensuring that the doors were locked they went their way to the reception lobby.

‘It looks like the place is worth it’s name’ remarked Justina

‘You’re right’ he returned

‘And see all this people’, this is a surprise’

‘A real big surprise’ she said full of smiles.

They were both taken in by the scene. About forty cars were in the parking lot. A big standard swimming pool covered the centre of the ground and as they walked to the reception lobby, they could see people swimming vigorously. Dawson glanced at his wrist watch; it was 11:40am. Other people were either lying idly under sun umbrellas, or sun-bathing. A few however, were sitting under sun umbrellas and having one form of drink or the other. They were all shapes and sizes; fat and plumpy businessmen in their middle ages tapping their protruding stomach; tall, slender and lanky looking men and women, boys and girls doing one thing or the other. Most of the tourists were either British or Americans and they could be seen especially the women lying directly under the sun in beach wears and big sun goggles. Waiters in numbered uniform patrolled the grounds discharging their duties. The outside alone is enchanting.

When they got to the main entrance of French doors, the doors opened on their own and they went in. The reception was well furnished. Directly in front of them was a flight of stairs that led to the residential rooms. To their right was a fairly wide space at the end of which was a counter and behind it were two girls, one sitting close to the control switch board while the other girl was the one that directed them to a door just by the stair indicating the bar. Just before they entered the bar, they did not fail to notice that the reception was fitted with a TV from which played one of “Abba’s musical videos.

The bar turned out to be a generously large parlour with an inverted L shape. Behind the counter was the barman and all kinds of liquor well arranged in a shelf. To the left of the bar, almost concealed by a semi-wood partition of about four and half feet high, with an open end near the wall was the restaurant. There were about sixty tables with a vase of carnations placed on top of a red – white check materials covering the tables and carefully arranged with chairs to take about four people. The whole place was fully air conditioned. Dawson, followed by Justina pushed his way toward the corner of the bar and sat voluptuously in one of the tables, well surrounded by executive chairs. All the other tables in the bar were furnished equally. Dawson nodded his approval after both of them have settled down. Then looking around he signaled to a passing waiter and ordered a bottle of Harp, stout, and two bottles of Sprite. While they waited for the drinks to arrive, Dawson took in the situation. Soft music drifted from hidden speakers, and a couple of people sat in different places talking softly while they sipped their drinks. He turned to Justina.

‘Darling what do you think of this joint?’

‘Well, according to the name, it is a real paradise spot, don’t you think so?’

‘Paradise spot! That’s an understatement. It is a real heaven on earth.'

While they were talking, the waiter arrived with the drinks, dropped them. Dawson nodded in his direction as he took his leave.

‘If we can afford it, after our marriage, we’ll go to a place like this where one can leave the world and its troubles behind’ Justina put in.

Dawson kept silent. After sipping half of the content in the glass, he ruminated for at least two minutes then clearing his throat, said;

‘I feel like a dead duck’. It’s over nine months since my graduation and there is not a single hope of getting fixed up in any place. Its not that I haven’t tried, but everywhere seems to be a wall against me'.

‘Don’t worry, you don’t know what may turn out for you. You may get a surprise just when you are on the verge of giving up’

While Justina was speaking a medium weight man of average height wearing a flannel grey suit stormed in. Dawson, who saw him at once, gave him an indifferent stare momentarily and shifted his gaze to the beer bringing tiny bubbles in his glass. Justina who was sitting beside Dawson also registered the appearance, but with a surprise. It was her boss in the office. So Mr. Edward is also a regular customer to the Seadra’s Paradise Hotel, she thought. She tapped Dawson softly under the table and told him that the man who has just come in was Mr. Edward, her boss in the office. As soon as Mr. Edward Ajagha got used to the dim environment around him and was heading for a lone table, Dawson waved him. He was a little surprised at the person who waved him, but as soon as he saw the girl sitting beside him and recognized her as his secretary in the office, his smile broadened.

‘This is a big surprise, your appearance gave me the jolt of life. What on earth could you be doing here, for God’s sake, he said to Justina as he approach the table’. Then on to Dawson, he said: ‘How are you my friend?’ and extended his hand for a shake.

Dawson rose to shake his hand. 'Good afternoon sir'.

‘You are welcome’

Justina, full of smiles, and who seems full of words to say, introduced the two men to each other.

‘Dawson, I want you to meet my boss, Mr. Edward Ajagha, and to Edward Ajagha, she said; Sir, please meet Dawson Corridon, my fiancee’. They shook hands the second time.

‘I see, you are fully enjoying your leave, good. I wish both of you good luck, put in Edward and made an attempt to move on. But then, Dawson was already saying.

‘Why, please join us Sir , if you don’t mind’. He signaled to the waiter who, watching the whole situation from a corner came gliding to their table.

‘What will you take sir’, asked Dawson when Edward Ajagha was fully seated.

‘Gin on the rock, please’, and make it a double shot.

When the drink arrived, he took the glass, took a long sip from the glass and set it down on the table with a soft thud, and then rested his back on the soft cushion of the chair.

‘I’m very grateful’, he said.

‘When you need a drink, it sure hits the spot. You are here in Warri too or you just looked in. he asked, directing his attention to Dawson.

Yeah, I’m here in Warri, we came to look this place over and spend some times here before we turn in’.

‘Just where are you fixed up in town, I mean, where do you work?

Dawson shifted uneasily in his chair.

‘Well, really, I’m not yet fixed up in any place. I’ve just finished my Youth’s service. Anyway, I hope to be employed very soon'; he said confidently.

‘Oh, yes’, remarked Edward,

‘It’s just that it is not as easy as before, but sure, you’ll get something. I wish you the best of luck. And on to Justina, shifting his gaze automatically, he said;

‘You sure know where to pick your cards when it comes to having a good time. I like you for that.' Justina smiled

‘Hey, am dead, it’s always like you, sir, to be flattering but it was Dawson’s idea that we should come to this place and it has actually turned out to be splendid’, she said mildly.

They drank on and there was silence.

Edward glanced at his watch, took his glass, drank the remnant at a gulp, and again set the glass down with a thud.

‘I feel like I could do with something in my feed bag. I’m burning out’, he said ‘

I don’t know how you feel but eh…..

‘Yeah, we had it that after the drink we’ll go down to the restaurant.

Together they moved to the restaurant. They both asked to see the menu. A variety of dishes, local and foreign were on the menu.

‘Just how much are you hungry’, Dawson asked.

‘Plenty’

‘Okay, will mutton pepper soup followed by Omelette and then Jollof rice, dodo and chicken be okay by you? Dawson asked

‘That’s perfect, never been better and a chicken’ he echoed.

A ready waiter took the order and moved off. About forty people were already taking their lunch. About two minutes later, the mutton pepper soup was served.

They savored the contents of their plates completely and proceeded to the omelette and finally descended on the jollof rice, dodo and the chicken. Edward Ajagha ate with the concentration of a hungry man. Not many words passed between them during the meal. Dawson admitted that the taste of the food was tops and nodded his satisfaction.

‘How often do you come here’ Edward Ajagha shot the question at him as he pushed his empty plates away and made for a juicy lump of the chicken.

‘Well, I’m not regular, but I hope to be. This is my first time of coming to this place.

After they have finished eating, Mr. Edward, took out a packet of ciggerate from his pocket, drew out a stick and offered the packet to Dawson who refused it.

‘I don’t smoke,’ he said

They rested for a while, and talk dribs and drabs until the waiter came around with the bill. Dawson took the bill to examine the cost. It was heavy, but nevertheless moderate for everything they had earen.

‘Don’t worry yourself about the bill. I’ll pay it', said Edward

‘But you don’t have to do that, its been a pleasure meeting you and……’,

No! No! No!, never mind that’, he took the bill from Dawson as they rose to their feet. ‘You two have liven up my afternoon’. Edward Ajagha settled the bill at the counter ands as they moved out, pressed a hundred naira note in the palm of the waiter.

‘We are more grateful than we can express to you. Thank you for everything!', greeted Dawson.

‘Forget it, he said.

‘Justina, I miss you in the office. It’s like hell managing without you. but I don’t mean to cut your leave short'. They were still talking as they came out into the hot sunlight,

‘Well, I guess I will leave you now. It’s been a pleasure knowing you. I’d like to seat under one of these umbrellas and feast my eyes on the scene. Enjoy yourselves’ and with a brief hand shake Mr. Ajagha moved off.

They watched Mr. Edward as he walked away and they too went off to the beach house where they borrowed a boar for one hour and fishing gears. With the help of a guide that drove the speed boat, they sail offshore to a lovely swamp covered with red mangrove trees. Dawson set out his hook and line equipment and started to fish.

An hour later when they returned Justina was carrying two big silver cat fish and four mullet. Five minutes later saw them driving through the barrier at the gate and on to the highway that would finally take them to Warri.