Tantitta walks through the creeks not as a shadow,
but as a living giant with a warm smile,
its face glowing like the morning sun on river water,
its eyes deep with compassion,
seeing the pain of the downtrodden
and the silent cries of the forgotten.
When Tantitta steps on muddy paths,
the ground turns smooth and steady,
when it passes by weary travellers,
its shadow wraps around them like a warm blanket.
It carries the cool breeze of evening peace
and pours hope into places
where hope had long been lost.
It comes without the noise of drums or pomp of trumpets,
not seeking applause,
but walking gently, humbly,
like the quiet hands of a mother tending her child.
These hands build bridges over brokenness,
heal wounds left unattended for years,
and turn rough roads into friendly paths.
Where motorists once groaned in frustration,
they now hum in joy as their wheels roll smoothly,
and where despair once stood like stone,
laughter now dances in the air,
warming hearts like sunlight after rain.
Tantitta is a river spirit dressed in kindness.
It pours fresh, sweet water into thirsty homes,
washing away years of neglect and pain.
It lifts the heavy burden of poverty
from the backs of the poor with gentle strength.
It leans close to wipe tears from widows’ faces,
restoring their dignity,
and planting smiles that blossom like flowers
in fields once overrun by weeds of sorrow.
It does not turn away from the weak ,
instead, it bends low to hold them up,
and carries them forward into brighter days.
The fishermen know its name in the deep currents of the water,
they whisper “Tantitta” with thanks
as they cast their nets into safe rivers.
Market women bless its name silently
as they arrange goods under the morning light,
knowing safety and better roads have returned.
School children write “Tantitta” in the secret diary of their hearts,
because their classrooms now stand strong,
their chairs and desks no longer break beneath them,
their books open wide like wings ready to fly,
and their future is unlocked from the darkness ,
thanks to Tantitta, our Messiah of hope.
Tantitta is more than patrol boats and strong iron,
more than watchful eyes along pipelines.
It is the loyal friend who stands by the jobless,
the helper who bends down to lift the weak,
the guard who protects waterways so they remain calm and safe,
and the loving hand that holds the Niger Delta steady
like a mother holding her child against her chest.
It reaches into the dark pits of idleness
where dreams were starving and lonely,
and pulls youths into the warm light of work,
work that crowns them with dignity,
and brings bread and joy to their families’ tables.
No one who meets Tantitta goes back the same,
it touches lives and leaves kindness behind.
And behind this living soul called Tantitta
stand three men of truth and courage:
GOC Tompolo, the wise Chairman whose eyes see beyond the horizon,
always thinking of how his people can rise.
Engr. Kestin Pondi, the strong pillar
carrying many dreams and making them stand tall.
Engr. Matthew Tonlagha, the gentle rain of compassion
whose kindness is soft but whose resolve is firm
like the roots of the mangrove that hold the riverbanks steady.
These three men are the beating hearts inside Tantitta’s chest,
the minds behind its vision,
and the hands behind every road, school, job, and smile it gives.
Together they build bridges over troubled waters,
they heal wounds with the medicine of love,
and they guard their people as if guarding sacred treasures.
Tantitta speaks the language of Izon
truth that walks without fear,
love without borders,
compassion that has no walls.
The Messiah does not boast in crowded marketplaces,
does not shout for attention,
but lets its works be the loud drums,
and lets the joy of the people
be the song that rises into the sky
like birds greeting a peaceful dawn.
Tantitta, River Messiah
you who wash the dirt from our roads
and the pain from our hearts,
Tantitta, Hope Builder
you who lift our hands when they are too weak to rise,
Tantitta, Guardian of the Delta,
you who stand firm as a lighthouse guiding ships through storms,
continue to sail into our lives.
May your nets always bring peace instead of trouble,
may your anchor always hold in the rich soil of hope,
and may God’s never-ending river of blessings
flow into your noble work,
and into the hearts of the three giants
who steer your golden ship
towards the shores of humanity.
EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO -- writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State
