The Travails of Mudiaga

The Travails of Mudiaga is a novel that teaches the reader that there is ability in disability. The story states that being disabled does not equate to stagnation and underdevelopment but a surmountable challenge that refines the individual for the better. This children's story dovetails the humble beginning of Mudiaga's life and the adverse effect of oil exploration and exploitation in the lives of the Niger Delta people who are constantly bespattered by oil activities and corruption. Born disabled, Mudiaga is buffeted with not only the inability to walk but also the useless child who is a burden to his parents. Despite the physical challenges, Mudiaga summons courage and anchors his faith on the power of education and honesty. Eventually, he becomes the shining light and the messiah of his community by identifying the oil thieves that have brought so much suffering and horror to indigenes of his community. The arrest of the oil thieves brought peace to the community; so, Mudiaga's act resonates with the axiom: 'The rejected stone has become the chief cornerstone.'. The Travails of Mudiaga is must-read for all since it foregrounds the interplay of ecological disaster and human health disorders.