By Tonye Clinton Jaja
Nigerian home videos (Nollywood) are so popular here in Lesotho that the citizens of Lesotho (especially the females) are even speaking the Igbo language that they pick up from those movies!!!
I was shocked when one of them started saying: ” Ekwensu e romance mammy water “!!!
This is a catchphrase of Chiwetalu Agu, one of the popular Nollywood stars.
The other day, I went to the corner shop on the street where I live to buy something and an elderly lady walks up to me and says since I am a Nigerian can I prepare a charm for her that can make more customers come to her shop, just as she sees it done inside our Nollywood movies. I was in complete shock.
When I recovered from my shock, I managed to tell her that I am a lawyer, not a native doctor, that the only “charms” that I prepare are written legal documents!!!
The catchphrase: ” Ekwensu e romance mammy water ” is what keeps coming to my head as I watch the unfolding drama as Governor Fubara tries to romance or woo or seduce Amaewhule and his 26 lawmakers!!!
In Igbo language, Ekwensu is the “botanical” name for the Devil, while “mammy water” is the native name for “mermaid”!!!
So the catchphrase: “Ekwensu e romance mammy water” means that the Devil is trying to woo or seduce a mermaid!!!
The metaphor that it conjures in the mind is that the Devil being a very malevolent evil spirit is trying to seduce an innocent mermaid into a love tryst!!!
Although between Governor Fubara and the Amaewhule and his 26 lawmakers, it is difficult to tell which is Ekwensu and which is the Mammy Water!!!
As is the usual rites of passage during seduction, the “coy” maiden doesn’t usually say “yes” at the first time they are asked out by the suitor!!!
Like a mammy water/mermaid or young maiden that is playing hard to get, the initial “love letter” from Governor Fubara has just been rebuffed by one member of the Amaewhule’s 27 lawmakers!!
Governor Fubara, should bear in mind the words from the movie Troy (2004): ” Soldiers know nothing else than war, peace frightens them “
The godfather of Amaewhule and his 26 lawmakers, is a veteran warlord and “jury consultant” per excellence, he has many notches of the Supreme Court of Nigeria victories up his sleeves since the year 2008!!!
Someone once remarked: “he cannot feel at ease where there is peace, because he thrives on crisis”!!!
In January 2025, it was reported as follows: “An ex-Commissioner for Works and later Water Resources during Peter Odili’s administrations in Rivers State, David Briggs, says the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, cannot survive in a peaceful environment”!!!
It is like trying to fuel a diesel-propelled car with petrol!!!
Governor Fubara should bear in mind that it takes persistent and repeated efforts to achieve peace in Rivers State for the benefit of the greater good of the greater number of the indigenes of Rivers State!!!
While bearing in mind that adherence to the Rule of Law, the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 should remain paramount and cannot be sacrificed on the altar of any so-called peace-making gesture!!!
As we would say in the local pidgin English language, Governor Fubara should: ” shine his eyes”!!!
He should proceed with extreme caution bearing in mind that he is “romancing with the Devil”-Ekwensu e romance mammy water”!!!
Due to many years of being in the trenches, “soldiers know nothing else than war, peace frightens them”!!!
If Governor Fubara is in any doubts about the way the perceive his peace gesture, let him read the following below:
“The Senior Special Assistant to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, has urged the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to release all the money owed to the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
Olayinka, in a statement on Sunday, said Governor Fubara does not need to hold any meeting with the House of Assembly members over his failure to pay their salaries and allowances for several months.
“Fubara does not really need any meeting with the House of Assembly members to pay their salary and allowances that he refused to pay.
“He should just release the money to the appropriate body to pay the Assembly members.
“When you lose a war, you lose all rights of negotiation to your conqueror.
“You fought someone, deprived him of all his entitlements for over one year.
“The man defeated you in court and the court said you must pay all his entitlements that you seized.
“You are now asking the man to come and meet you in your bedroom.
“Issorite,” Olayinka wrote in a series of posts via his X account.”
Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja,
Executive Director,
Nigerian Law Society (NLS).
