When we were living at Ikot Ekpene Road, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Stabienski was a young man, who was squatting with our neighbor.
Nobody knew his real name, except Mr. Kalu, in whose home,he was taking shelter. I was in JSS 2 at that time.
"Nwanne awum onye Russia, na we dey rule this world -- onweghi ihe koro anyi! (I'm a Russian, and we rule the world -- we don't lack anything!)"
That was his signature response, anytime he's hailed "Stabienski!"
He was a tall lanky young man whom I'll categorize as a petty trader, and the ladies always laughed each time he says "onweghi ihe koro anyi(we don't lack anything)"
You don't lack anything, and you can't afford your own place?
People made fun of him, especially the ones he'll tell "anam ere assorted biscuit ndi russia(I sell assorted russian biscuits)."
You'd wonder when Speedy Biscuit turned into russian biscuit -- it was really funny.
Stab was practically a poor man, but will still bring a carton of biscuit to share for some kids in the compound on certain weekends.
Sometimes, they even pray for him.
I remember when a woman asked how he'll survive, seeing that the location of his kiosk wasn't a place of good traffic. Out of pity, the woman told him to stop sharing his biscuits when he was even yet to make profits.
But the man who's well-known for being hopeful, will always reply with "awum onye russia -- onweghi ihe koro anyi(I'm a russian -- we don't lack anything)"
At a point, whenever he's not using his signature response, you'll hear him reply with "ozo na-abia(another will come)"
I remember when a lady made fun of him for having the guts to ask her out:
"Stab, inekwaram anya ofuma?(Did you look at me properly?) Iche nam wu onye biscuit?(Do you think I am a biscuit person?) Common likapu ebe a osiso(Common get out from here now)"
He replied with "I'll take you to Russia o," but the lady and some other neighbors laughed without control.
While some tenants saw him as a symbol of mockery, some of us saw him as a representative of hope.
I was once ill during my SS1 days, and Living Word Academy was a very competitive school -- one of the top 5 schools in the East then, and unarguably among the top 2 in the city then.
I was scared I won't do well in my examination, for I was down with serious illness. Then I remembered the undying power of professing positivities by Stabienski.
I left my house for Jeffrey UDy Ogwo 's house, so I could collect some notes, since I was absent for a week. Stabienski even made matters easy by saying " You have a russian blood -- you won't lack anything in this exam"
I claimed it with an Amen, and the strength to study with illness came. That was the period I took the 3rd position in school. Stabienski was proud of me, and kept saying "Nwanne, ibu onye Russia -- anyi adighi alacki anything!"(Brother, you're a russian -- we don't lack anything!)"
I later left for Government College Owerri, and by then, we had relocated from Ikot-Ekpene road, to another part of the city. Sometimes, I still visited, just to see a young man who will never stop at being positive, even though he had a wretched life.
One day, I was told that Stab was no longer squatting with Mr Kalu -- that he had gone back to his village in Anambra. I felt bad, and wished that someday, his positive professions will be manifested.
In 2011 -- while doing my NYSC in Edo -- I visited Aba to see my family. I was somewhere around Cameroun road, eating Beans with Pap in a tea center. Across the road, was a newly built 5 storey building, with a sweet Architecture. I was admiring it from my seated position, when a limousine stopped in front of that very building.
The limo was escorted by two Army vehicles. As the escorted man came out from his limo, people started shouting with joy. You could observe that he was someone they were familiar with. The owner of the Tea Center even jumped up, while shouting:
"Stabienski uwa nile!(The World's Stabienski!)"
I knew there was only one person with such nick name, and my ears didn't deceive my eyes. The man being hailed by most persons around the vicinity, turned towards my direction, and I couldn't believe my eyes:
"We don't lack anything!" I screamed.
"Nwanne you know him," someone said to me.
Stab was wearing a swallowtail suit, with a black hat, and a walking stick. You would think he's one of the lords in England. I couldn't have access to him, for the crowd didn't allow anyone near, coupled with military protection.
Two white men stood there with him for about 10 mins, looking at the building. From their facial lineaments, you could tell they were likely Russians.
He then retired into the limo with them, after which they zoomed away with the convoy. People said it was one of his new houses in real estate. They said he's so connected, and that the Kremlin is aware of his dealings in Russia.
I went home sad that I couldn't get access to him, but was happy that the young man I saw as a source of inspiration, really found his way in life.
I woke up this morning on a sad note, but remembered Stabienski Okeke and the little lessons his life presented to us. And while my father was talking to me on phone this morning, he asked:
"How is Everything in Enugu?"
With a courageous voice, I forgot about my woes and shouted with this reply:
"Awum onye Russia -- Onweghi ihe koro anyi(I'm a Russian -- we don't lack anything!)"
We laughed over the phone, and my spirit was awakened again.
Never settle for professing negativities -- always incline to positive professions. It has power.