₦airaland Forum

fam24:
It is a real lesson. Eni to ma gan, ese a tiri i.e someone who will be tall, his leg will be thin. I'm happy for Olu.

To Domawoleye, A big thumb up to u sir. Well done.

By the way, I doubt if u are not Olu. Olu now write short stories and his wife encourages him to write his life story which Domawoleye writes on naira land.

well you are not far from the fact...but not entirely. Cheers!

charijee:
[color=#EE7600]What a happy ending .....nice working with you Domawoleye [/color]

Thanks for the push Charijee!

wasak:
nice one.really interesting. I have a relatable story too based on true life experience, I hope to write someday

start writing it on Paper now.. Procrastination, the thief of time.

Dear Peeps, I want to say a big thank you to every nairalander that took time to read this piece. my respect and appreciation goes to every one that wrote down something to encourage or criticize me. it was wonderful. without your comments I would not have finished this Story in March, your hunger for more spurred me into critical thinking as to what next to write and how to write it so as to worth your time. you Guys are too much. if you enjoyed this piece then I would enjoy you to read up "Restless" at https://www.nairaland.com/1789365/restless...story-survivor. I will sure complete it now that I have your backs. I was scared of Pirates before.

much Respect to the Under listed in no particular Order

Peacefulness
Stonecoldcafe.....you stuck with me from page 1.
Rocksteady1
jesuzboi
AlphaBravoIndia..........(Charly Delta.......Oscar)
Okwilliams
apholaryn
Stez
Skinnydude
53cur3m0d3
Charijee
missmossy
Ifyude
prettyjoy
wasak
Olaitan3784
demmy66
heemah
jollyjoy
Abbamizzy
Barbieniece
ezystar
agileson
Donpoker9
Slimjoe
rondo235
Anaso9
Costlybabe
prettyjoy
Crislyn
bibie01
Olanipekuntomi
sebak
onosj
Timothy313.

I also thank you for all your votes for me as the best new comer in the month of March. I hope I win. Much thanks for Cuddlemi for nominating me. you are blessed.
domawoleye@yahoo.com.

Peacefulness:
What a happy ending! Oga Doma weldone. Is it a true life story?

The Story is based on a true life experience the names of Characters are not real though.

EPILOGUE

I am writing this story from the comfort of my study in my farm house. I am just forty three years old now in 2015 but the things I have been through in life makes me feel like I am seventy years old, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly.

I am now into full time farming. I am also a writer as well as a consultant. I have some short stories published to my credit. It was my wife that actually encouraged me to put my life experience on paper so as to serve as a source of encouragement to those in unpleasant situations in life. Today I am also a worker in the house of the Lord where I worship and I cannot but give glory to God for all that happened to me in my life, I believed it was his way of preparing me for my today.

Funmilayo is away in Accra girls academy Ghana, while Kayode is at Command secondary School Abakaliki, they are both far away from home. Ekundayo and her younger brothers are also at Command Secondary School Abakaliki, they are all Boarders. During the holidays all the Kids come to my farm or they go to Abakaliki at Baba Dayo’s work shop to work and earn some money.

Amaka is presently a special adviser to the Oyo state Governor on legal matters, she has a Chamber in Enugu and another at Eleyele Ibadan. The competency exhibited while representing her Clients in Courts in Ibadan endeared her to the state Government that she was nominated for the appointment and the fact that she was Igbo married to a Yoruba man helped cemented her credentials for the appointment.

My farms are doing great, the palm plantation in my village rolls out hundred of drums of red palm oil for Companies and northern traders yearly, the Palm Kernels are not enough to meet the demand from companies that produce soap and farmers that need them for feeds preparation including my farm here at Ibadan too.

There is much to be gained from a palm plantation; when the fruits are ripe, we set traps and catch wild Boars and Rodents that come to eat up the fruits from its bunch or the ones that have fallen to the ground due to the activities of rodents, these are roasted and my share sent to me at Ibadan, and one thing I had loved from Childhood was Bush meat! When it is time to prune the branches of the palm trees, we sell them off to Basket makers in the community.
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I had gone back to Lagos after my annual leave in 2004 and resumed duty as the A.O. Finance. The monthly booty kept coming and I kept putting it in the separate bank account I had opened for it. I continued working while I monitored activities at my farms and residence. I sneaked into Ibadan or Esa-odo on free weekends and public holidays to monitor the work in progress.

My palm seedlings survived the first scourge of dry season and rain season, they developed new roots and I was assured that they would grow well, the weak ones and the dead ones were replaced while I handed the Farm over to an Igala Man that has being in our Village for as long as I could remember, we called him Baba Agatu.

The Farm at Ibadan was also completed in due time and the House at Eleyele too, it took us a whole year to get all these in place and I was ready for our plan B.
I made up my mind and went to meet my C.O with a mini tape recorder in my breast Pocket. I once again told him of my fears and my desire to be posted to another office. He went berserk and started to threaten me.

Look lieutenant! He said; I have had enough of this your stupid talks about not liking what we are doing here and wanting to leave the pension Office! Did I bring you here in the first place? Look if you are not comfortable here you better resign and get the hell out of here!
Think I will resign sir! I said; I have a feeling that all of these will back fire some day! I do not want to go to Prison again, not now that I have a Wife and Kids that look up to me!

Anything you want to do, do! He shouted; but let me tell you, people like you that have tried what you are trying to do are six feet below the earth now! And yours will not be an exception, I promise you that! You will just disappear! Where is captain Adekunle now? Where is staff sergeant Adamu? Where are major Isiaka and Corporal Johnson? They all tried to be stubborn but they forgot that the stubborn fly follows the Corpse into the grave! My friend, go and ask questions! Do you know the caliber of People that are involved in this cartel? Do you know how many heads that will roll and the number of families that will be shattered if you sing? My friend, this is not 82nd division Enugu o! This is Lagos! He shouted; my friend, leave my Office this moment before I charge with something that you will not be able to explain.

I stood up and saluted him, and then I told him that all the monies paid to me are still intact in my account, I asked him if he wanted it paid into his account. He was furious and he lost his cool and punched me in the face. I fell down on my butt. I got up and asked him why a general could condescend as low as to physically assault a fellow Officer.

I will give you another blow! He shouted: in fact I will slap you! And with that, he slapped me in the face, I screamed and fell down again.
In fact! Ojo, you are dead meat! You are dead meat I promise you! He fumed as he left his Office and banged the door while I was still on the floor rubbing my cheek.

I went home to meet my Wife who had flown down for the execution of plan B, and we replayed the tape recorder and heard all that transpired between me and my C.O.

We did not sleep at home that night; we went to a Hotel outside the Barracks and slept. The next morning, I went and submitted my resignation letter to my C.O.

The beauty of it was I had done a total of over fifteen years in the Army and I was pensionable. I would have loved to get to the rank of a more senior Officer before retiring but I guess that was not my destiny.

I submitted the letter to him with a Copy of the tape recorder in a compact disc; I saluted him and left his office as abruptly as I came in.

He knew my wife was a Lawyer, he knew she was the one that instigated the move at Oputa panel that eventually led to the dismissal and jailing of nine men and the demotion of a Colonel to Captain. He also knew she must the brain behind the recording of my discussion with him, he knows he was doomed if anything happened to me.
He called me after two hours and asked that we met and talked at the Officers mess immediately, I told him I would be available in the evening, he was so scared of my every move that he drove straight to my house to meet me and my Wife.

We talked for sometime but I told him that my mind was made as per leaving the Army. I told him I was not going to expose the decay and corruption at the pension office but if anything happened to me or my family, then the tapes would circulate and all hell would be let lose. He agreed to protect me and my family until his dying day. He was on his knees asking me to beg my Wife for him as he does not trust Lawyers especially female lawyers! He wished he could swallow all the words he uttered in the tape. The General was begging and crying like a small Boy before a Lieutenant and his Wife! Amaka later promised to bury the hatchet and he left our house with thanks and prayers for us.

I officially resigned from the Army in the month of March 2006 as a pensioner and came to settle with my family at Ibadan. Today my Wife speaks fluent Yoruba and is working for the state government. I have over fifty permanent staff on my pay roll. We sell eggs daily in thousands of crates, we supply fresh fish and Chickens to over twenty fast foods, it is a matter of first booked first served.

Traders in the Market book our Turkey, Sheep and Goats in advance. The grass cutter and the Snail farm are Money Spinners. My major challenge is to meet the demand of Customers. Politicians book my turkey and Ostrich months before they are matured so they can use them as gifts to their Political God fathers. Ostrich lay an egg in a year so it is very expensive.

I give lectures at symposia on Agriculture and Aquaculture, I have regular inflow of students on industrial attachment; I have investments in chains of businesses and my fifty million naira booty realized from the Army pension Office is still growing in the fixed deposit account. Indeed life, they say begins at forty. I guess I was not destined to stay in the Army because whenever I wore those boots, things go sour for me; it is like there are thorns in them that I had to pull them before I get some comfort. But the Army prepared me for my today; it was a means to an end for me.

THE END.

I told my Parents my experience at my new Office and we all resolved that I leave the Army for good; after all I have enough money to move on.
By the end of the second week of my leave, we all drove down to Esa-odo, I drove in my Nissan Xterra fully dressed in my Army uniform, mama and Oga Luke drove her Car in turns while Baba Dayo drove in his Nissan path finder, the Kids were with us as they enter any Car of their choice whenever we stopped for refreshment or for biological reasons.

It was in 1991 that I left home when I visited mama after the depot training. That was thirteen years back, I was a private Soldier and we lived in a small mud house. Today I have come back home in my SUV to a duplex that was once a mud house!

Mama and Baba Dayo had sneaked out of the Village in rags with mama going insane and being abandoned by all to lick her wounds alone, but this day, she drove into the Village in the Comfort of her Car, with three healthy looking Kids and gorgeously dressed that our People opened their mouths in awe and reverence.

The popular but Baba Miko poor is now a force to be reckoned with as he had already told the whole Village about what God had done for him in Igbo land and an eye witness had gone to see and confirmed it to the Villagers.

We drove straight to my house and the convoy entered the Compound at exactly 4.00pm. I was impressed by the quality of the edifice that welcomed me home, the butterflies where running around inside my stomach; I took time and walked round the house as Baba Dayo and Mama coordinated the off loading of our Vehicles. There was a Plant in the generator house, there was an empty Dog house, the grasses were well mowed and the flowers well trimmed, I took a look at all of these and the big building and I wondered if they really belonged to me or I was in a dream.

There was no light in the Village so we put on the generator as we put things in place in the House. Baba Dayo had taken time to provide the best wooden furnishing in the house.

I wondered when mama went to sleep that night because we have hardly settled down than her sycophantic friends started pouring in.
I woke up late the next morning, It was the noise from outside the fence that woke me; I opened the door of my room and stepped onto the terrace upstairs to behold the crowd of Villagers that had come to fetch water from my house. They started to cheer at me immediately they saw me; I waved at them and went back inside the house.

Our case was like the proverbial Igbo saying that “Onu kwuru njo, ga ekwu mma” “the mouth that spoke evil shall later speak well”. The Yoruba’s also said that “Owo epo ni aye nba eni la, wan o kin la Owo eje” “ it is the oily palm that the world licks with you, not the bloodied one” that is to say when the going is good, many people will be your friend, but when the going gets tough, they all run away. Our People have no shame! They came in their numbers to gossip with mama, they told different versions of what each person had said against my family at different times and places. The women were busy maligning one another just to gain mama’s friendship. At the end they all left with nylon bag containing Rice, salt and match boxes.

The men were scared of me, they would rather go to Baba Dayo who had told them that I was angry with the whole Men in the village for not rising up to help me when I needed them most, especially the Kabiesi. It was made more obvious by the fact that I refused to go and pay homage to him upon arrival at the Village.
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Mama and Baba Dayo’s traditional marriage was performed at Mama’s family compound, the dowry was fully paid up and every item that needed to be purchased was bought. Prayers were made and the Spirit of my late grandfather was appeased forever. I was avoided by my mother’s family members because it had been like that while I grew up in the Village; I had no friends save for Oga Luke.

The Kabiesi came to my house like Nicodemus at night some days to my departure from the Village, he apologized for his neglect of me and mama, he said he had no body in the Army to go to with my case and his Chiefs advised him to stay off my case so that he does not incur my late grandfather’s wrath. It takes a man of honour to apologize especially a king, so I knelt down in front of him as a mark of respect and acceptance. He offered to give me a chieftaincy title to pacify me but I told him that I was not ready yet.

Very early the next morning he came to my house and we drove with my Parents to the piece of land he gave me and retrieved thirteen years ago, he doubled the portion and returned it back to me. We all thanked him and took pictures on the land with him. Immediately we dropped him off at his house, Baba Dayo called the Surveyor that handled my building project to come over to the house; he came and we instructed him to get land registered in my name immediately and get all necessary documents handy, I then told him to get me the estimate of what it would cost to plant Palm fruit seedlings on the whole of the land, it was about fifteen hectares of land.

I also drove to Ibadan in company of Baba Dayo and Oga Luke to scout for lands to establish a farm and where to build a residential apartment. I had made up my mind to leave the Army and retire home to Ibadan with my family. We finally got a thirty hectare of land along Lagos-Ibadan express way adjacent to the famous Sat guru Maharaja Village, I paid three million naira for the land and I immediately contracted the building of my farms to an Architect introduced to us by a friend of Baba Dayo. He was experienced in designing Farm houses so I told him how I want the thirty plots of land divided. I needed portions for fish pond, Pigs, grass cutter, quills, Ostrich, Chickens, turkey, goats and sheep’s and I needed building for farm house as well as Offices. Baba Dayo, Oga Luke and the Architect have been to very big farms and they assured me that together we shall get it right. I also bought two plots of land for three hundred thousand naira at Eleyele town to build a personal house and Office apartment for my Barrister! With these machineries in place, I resumed back to duty after thirty working days leave.

CHAPTER 23

January 2003. I was short listed amongst the candidates that applied for the direct short service commission into the Nigerian Army, having graduated with a second class upper degree in Business administration and management.

My wife had given birth to my second child whom we Christened ‘Luke’ after Oga Inside for bringing Amaka into my life, we named him Kayode after Baba Dayo because he was the Father I know, having stood faithfully by me and mama through thick and thin, we named him Chukwuemeka because everything was the Lord’s doing.

Menopause caught up with mama as she had two successive miscarriages after her third born. The Doctors had to warn her to stop trying to keep a pregnancy that would not stay, so she gave up and focused on the three with her.

I went to the Nigerian defense academy and spent another six months on training and re orientation into the Officer cadre of the Army. My performance was outstanding and I won the Chief of Army staff Sword of honour as the overall best Cadet on the P.O.P day.

I was posted to the Finance Corp headquarters in Lagos from where I was subsequently sent to the Army Pension Office Yaba. My arrival to the pension Office was greeted with resentment, the news had gone round that I was the Soldier who dismissed and jailed two serving Officers and two retired and three serving Soldiers and three retired and also demoted a Colonel in Enugu, I was given a cold shoulder in all the Offices in the department, I was treated like a leper, I was in the wrong place, everyone was avoiding me. The most painful thing was that no one mentioned the fact that I was imprisoned for over six years and denied re absorption for over five years by these men, and during all these years, these people were eating my money.

After spending six months in Lagos, I was confirmed as a full lieutenant and given the responsibility of the A.O pension office. It was at this new role that I knew that the Army was not meant for me any longer; the level of decay and corruption at the pension Office was alarming! My seat was a very hot one because it was my responsibility to send the monthly gazette of Pensioners to Finance HQ, my C.O, a Brigadier general called me to his Office and told me to simply sign and send the Gazette based on the status quo.
But on my own I took time to verify the records of all the Pensioners on the Army payroll. I had not even done that of two states when I discovered a whole lot of irregularities. First of all, thirty percent of the Pensioners from Edo and Delta states were no longer alive and their families had stopped receiving their monies, but the Pension Office still send their names to HQ for payment.

Secondly Many Soldiers that have left the Army by way of absconding or early retirement without pension are being paid pension by Army HQ.
Thirdly many Soldiers that have died in Active service either at a peace keeping mission or at home are being paid pension meanwhile their families are still waiting to hear from the Army.

My Job was to certify that all was well and instruct the Army HQ to release such funds daily! It was like sitting on a keg of Gun Powder!
No wonder many Soldiers in Finance would give their right arms to be posted to the Pension Office, I was told that many Officers that have sat on my seat are billionaires with investment all over the Country. Even a private Soldier in Pension Office goes home monthly with loot of a million naira, most of them have fleet of cars and houses in town to the envy of Soldiers in other units.
When I thought over all of these, I knew this money was blood money and I did not want it! This was exactly what was done to me that led to the incarceration of nine Soldiers.

I summoned courage and went to my C.O to explain my findings to him and the reason why I would not sign the status quo and send to HQ. What he told me baffled me. He asked if I had come to dismiss and jail him and his team too. I begged him to post me to another section or out of the department entirely but he said he does not have the authority to redeploy me to anywhere because I was an Officer like him. He said that only Finance HQ can redeploy me but warned me against going there with my findings; he said I would be shooting myself on the foot if I tried it.

Eventually I agreed to sign and send the status quo to HQ but I do not want any share of the monthly loot. My Commander refused! He said my monthly share is three million naira raw cash and I must collect it as that would guarantee that I would not sabotage them. I had no choice but to drive home with two “Ghana must go” bags containing three million naira cash at the end of my first month as a full Lieutenant.

I could not sleep all through the night as I kept vigil looking at the money stacked away in my toilet. I had never been so close to such enormous volume of raw Cash, even when I was compensated with my eleven years Salaries and benefits worth Seven million naira as a Soldier and twelve million naira as settlement for five years inconveniencies suffered, the whole sum of nineteen million naira was paid into my bank account, I did not see it as raw Cash. Even when I gave Baba Dayo the sum of Five million naira to help demolish the Village mud house and build me a Duplex, I wrote him a Cheque and not raw cash. The smell of raw Cash filled my room that night that I had to move it to the Toilet. I was scared.
The next morning I drove from work to the Bank to open a new account for the loot, then I went back to work as if nothing had happened, but my Boss was uneasy with me, he called me later to his Office and told me that I was being watched at HQ Finance because I was unstable and thus a potential danger to certain big red necks that benefits from the monthly booty too. He warned that I should keep my lips sealed else I might meet a mysterious end in Lagos, either diabolical or physically. He said anyone who wants to take away food from his mouth should rather die!
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I was granted my annual leave of thirty working days in August 2004, I travelled to the east to be with my family in Enugu, my Girl was five and my Boy was two years old, I spent a week with them in Enugu before we all moved to Abakaliki to spend few days with my Parents. It was at this point that Baba Dayo told me that he went home with his Path finder and the whole Village marveled at his transformation. He had told them that I was now a senior Army Officer and had sent him to the Village to build my House for me, he said he built the whole house within seven months and locked up the gates after furnishing all the rooms and Kitchen, he said the money was very sufficient due to cheap labour and cost of materials in the west that he had to build a three rooms Boys quarter behind the duplex, he dug a bore hole and erected four giant G.P tanks, two tanks supplied water into the house and two tanks are channeled to outside taps for the community.

He had used that opportunity to see mama’s kinsmen and when they heard his success story and the fact that mama was doing well with three other Children, they sent her younger brother to Abakaliki on one of Baba Dayo’s visits while building my house to ascertain mama’s real condition at Abakaliki; he went back to the Village with new clothes and shoes and goodies for other family members as evidence that all Baba Dayo had said in the Village was true, he told them that Mama owned and drives her own Car too, they had no choice but to call a family meeting and decide to welcome mama back into their fold.

ifyude:
Weldone,Dom Amaka is really an angel sent by God to bless ojo .keep it coming really enjoying the story. Dom you abandoned the other work ( the survivor) you didn't finish it again,am still waiting to read the end of the story.

Ify I will conclude "Restless" after this.

peeled

peeled

peeled

stez:
wa oh good work, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel may we all find happiness in our life

amen o! Thanks Stez.

Next update on monday morning. Weekend engagements.

okwilliams:
I vote domawoleyeI vote domawoleyeI vote domawoleye

Thanks Williams

peeled

I later took a commercial motor cycle to the barracks to spend some time with Ayo the Barber, it was a Saturday and he did not go for lectures. I sat there and listened to the barracks gossips as customers came in and left. I was flipping the pages of a newspaper but my mind was somewhere else. I have waited for over a year without a head way to my being recalled into the Army. How much longer do I have to wait? What would I be doing while waiting? I thought of going back to Abakaliki but I know Amaka would not like the idea so instantly I made up my mind on what to do as I wait to hear from the Army.

On Monday morning I went to withdraw twenty thousand naira from my account and I went straight to Nnewi market in Anambra state to buy a fairly used Motor cycle. I bought a Yamaha 125 series with a very sound engine and good frame. I got it serviced there and rode it all the way to Enugu.

The next day I chartered a Pick up Van and went to my Unit to see the quarter master and together we went to the store to collect my property. The R.S.M came around as we were loading the van with my Luggage, I did not greet him, he went around the Van looking it over and inspecting the goods we were putting inside, he used his swagger stick to hit severally at the van making as unpleasant noise, he then came behind me as I bent to lift a Chair into the Van and he poked my butt with his swagger stick. I stood up and turned to face him.
Criminal! He snarled

I gave him a cold and hard stare and he turned and left saying Get out! Get out of here with your stolen property!
I continued with lifting my luggage into the van.

On Wednesday I sorted out my documents and went to the institute of management and technology (I.M.T) Enugu and purchased a form into the preliminary department to study business administration. (PREBAM) I submitted the form and the next day I started lectures with the students while I wait for the admission list to be published before I could pay my school fees and do my registration, however the first semester exam was in a month’s time.

I also went to the office of the West Africa examination council W.A.E.C and purchased the General certificate of education form (G.C.E) the examination would be written in November through December.

My age had been reduced by two as evident in my sworn affidavit so by the time I would graduate in 2002 or 2003 as the case may be, I will still be eligible to go for the compulsory national youth service Corp as I will still be officially below thirty years of age.

After one month of buying the Bike and running around for School activities, I was short of cash, I needed money to fuel my Bike, I needed money to buy hand outs and text books at school, and I needed to buy books in preparation for the G.C.E examination. I also needed to feed and buy school clothes. With all of these expenses before me, I had no choice than to start using my Bike for commercial purpose, commercial Cyclist are called Okada Riders in Enugu, so I became an Okada man at weekends and after School hours on week days, I was lucky I bought a good Bike so I was not having problems with the engine like some other Okada men. It was fun conveying People to their destinations for money, my knowledge of the geography of the state broadened and I was my own boss.
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On a Saturday in September I drove tom Abakaliki to visit mama and her new baby. She delivered a baby girl in July, a carbon copy of mama but with long limbs and hands like the father, they say she will be a tall girl when she grows, she was named Abosede because she was born on a Sunday, she was named Ekundayo which means from sorrow to joy and her father’s name was Michael kayode Ayeni.

My Folks have fully settled down in Abakaliki and they have lots of friends and well wishers both at work and at church. Baba Miko had bought a lot of tools and equipment for his Carpentry and furniture works, he has paid the part payment for a Shop but the present tenant was yet to vacate the place since he still has three months to the rent expiry. Baba Miko was a seasoned Brick layer as well as carpenter back in the Village though he was poor and I marveled at the transformation in the life of the two, it is true that if two people are meant for each other, everything they do together always flourish because all their elements will work together in harmony and whatever they venture into will prosper.

I told them what I have passed through since our last meeting till date. They encouraged me with words and mama said she feels my case needs spiritual intervention, she said we should take the R.S.M up in prayers and fast for three days waking up at every 12.00PM to pray and commit my case to God to fight my battle for me. We all agreed to start the fasting and prayers on Monday but I did not do it, I forgot about it the moment I climbed my Bike en-route Enugu on Monday Morning.

I came back to Enugu to face a very tight schedule, Examination was around the corner, I had outstanding quizzes and assignments to tidy up and submit. I had to read for my Prelim examinations as well as my G.C.E. I still hustled with my Okada at night and on weekends, but I was not deterred, I was used to hard life, a man has got to be a man!

CHAPTER 18

Amaka came around for Christmas. I had written all my examinations and I was somehow free for the time. She was depressed after I told her of what I had been through since the month of May when she left and what prompted my being an Okada Rider. Tears rolled down her cheeks as I spoke, especially the fact that I now survive as an Okada Rider. I kissed away her tears, I told her to allow me to ride the Okada now that I could, I told her to take solace in the fact that I am also in school, and I told her that an Okada man is better than a Prisoner. She understood. She always does. We made love slowly and purposefully that night, the tears came running down her cheeks as she mourned and clung to me as if I was drifting away.
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Together, Amaka and I went to the headquarters of the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army to see the general Officer Commanding, our mission was to book an appointment with him. We got there and filled the forms handed to us by the Secretary, a Staff Sergeant with very conspicuous tribal marks that gave him away as an indigene of Oyo or Ogbomosho. He read through the form that we filled and he asked me the purpose of our visit. I said it was official

Of course I can see that is what you wrote here! But how official do you mean? He snapped.

Okay! Sorry sir, I came in respect of being recalled into the Army. My C.O has sent my letter to him.

Since your C.O has sent your letter to him then what are you here for? He asked

Oga sir! I said: it is a long story please; I just need to see the G.O.C.

You can’t see him now until after the elections! You know we are handing over to Civilian by April or May so everything concerning recruitment and recalling of Soldiers have been put on hold until after the military hands over! He said with a touch of finality.

Amaka then stepped forward and asked; are you saying the G.O.C cannot see a Soldier in distress because of elections? How is that?
Please who are you madam? Are you a Soldier or the Wife?

I am his Lawyer! Amaka replied

Oh! You see yourself now young man! The Civilians have not taken over yet and you are bringing a Civilian Lawyer to see the G.O.C! Can’t you get a Military Lawyer? Or are you not aware that we have our own Lawyers? He asked

Oga! Amaka interrupted, we are not here for any case! Everything has been settled in court already, I am just here to attest to the fact that this man here is free, that’s all!

Who told you he is free? Ehn? Who told you? The stripped face asked

Please what is going on in this Army Division? Amaka asked aloud. First! It was the R.S.M stopping him from seeing his Commanding Officer! And now you too do not want him to see his G.O.C! What are you Guys afraid of? Ehn? What are you Guys hiding that you do not want the Authorities to know?

Look here woman or young girl or whatever you say you are! Stripped face stood up from his sitting position and fumbled with his belt; who are you calling Guys? Are you mad? Ehn? Look I have daughters of your age at home no, so don’t come here and insult your father!
I am not insulting you! I am only stating an obvious fact! If you have nothing to hide, then let him see his G.O.C! Amaka insisted.

Just like that? If you have nothing to hide then let him see his G.O.C! He mimicked Amaka. Do you know the meaning of G.O.C? It means general Officer Commanding! This man is bigger than any Governor! He commands more than ten states in the east, south- south and middle belt region! And you just want to walk in and see him like that? He brought out a note book and started flipping through the pages; you see all these names? These are people that are on queue to see the G.O.C, some of them will not see him till another G.O.C takes over! Come back after the presidential elections I say!

Okay! No wahala! Ojo please let us leave this place! Amaka said as she left the office while I tagged along.

As we stepped out of the building and walking towards the Car park, we saw my R.S.M discussing and gesticulating frantically with a Captain on Uniform, he was facing our position while the Captain backed us but he stopped talking the moment he saw us, the Captain turned back too to stare as us as R.S.M told him something pointing his stick at me.

What are you doing here? He barked as he approached us with his swagger stick stretched forward, Amaka walked away to the Car while I stopped. I decided to answer him because of the presence of the Captain. By the badge and Beret of the Captain he is from the Finance Corps.

I am coming from the G.O.C’s office I told him.

To do what? He shouted; he looked visibly scared; are you mad? Look at this criminal o! Look! The fly that refuses to heed warning follows the Corpse into the grave o! I have warned you to stay of the Army premises but you are being obstinate abi? Okay we shall see! We shall see! Have you heard of accidental discharge before? Have you heard of stray bullet before? Don’t worry, soon you will not only hear of it but experience it and you will not live to tell the experience!

The captain also seemed uncomfortable as he looked from right to left to be sure other s Soldiers are not watching the scene.
R.S.M, take it easy! The Captain said, there are better ways of handling this issue.
Which issue Oga? The R.S.M asked; issue with this small rat? This stupid Scallywag? I cannot have issues with him! He is a dismissed Soldier!
R.S.M, please come along! The Captain said as he hurriedly left the scene, the R.S.M followed him murmuring. Amaka was already in the Car waiting for me.

We drove to the Mammy Market so I could get my hair cut; I got to know from Ayo that I could also see the G.O.C at the Golf course the same days the C.O goes there.

After spending three weeks with mama and her husband, yes! Husband I said; in my home town, if a man and a woman are cohabitating, they are as good as husband as wife! And if there is a Child in the union then they are confirmed husband and wife, they can talk of paying pride price anytime they are ready, and in my mother’s case who would collect her bride price? It is me nah! So by virtue of being her only relative who did not abandon her, I pronounced then Man and Wife! I have given Babe Miko my mother free of charge. Though Babe Miko kept saying they will go home in due time to ratify everything with my Mother’s family, he said there is a traditional way to go about it. And the truth is that my Mother’s family had known and liked Baba Miko when he was wooing her before she blindly fell for my Dad.

I travelled to Ezamgbo to visit Oga Luke (Oga Inside). I stopped at Ezamgbo junction along Abakaliki-Enugu express road and took a bike to “Luke Umahi farms” as his farm of twenty hectare was called. There was a sign post bearing “Luke Umahi Rice Farm” at the junction of Ezamgbo community.

I was intimidated by what I saw. The expanse of land green with young rice plants was so wide I could not see the end from the beginning; it was like a green sea. The field was swampy and the plants flourished in it.

He was in a conference-like room at the farm house discussing with some Students from the Federal University of Agriculture Umudike who had come on excursion to his farm. My presence disrupted the session for a moment as Oga Luke rushed out of the hall to welcome me; he introduced me to the Students and the accompanying Lecturer as his friend in the Army. I joined the Student and listened to Oga Luke’s Lecture on rice farming, I enjoyed the Lecture so much that I contemplated setting up a rice farm some day. We went on a field trip with the Students and they left at 3.30pm for their School. There were some Students working already on the Farm as part of their Industrial attachment programme, while others were paid labourers.

Oga Luke then took me to another arm of the Farm that was for leafy vegetables alone, three plots of land was used exclusively for vegetables farming and it belonged to his wife of twenty four years. The three plot was divided into portions for various vegetable such as utazi, water leaf, ugu (fluted pumpkin) anghara leaf (Garden egg) pepper, onugbu, (Bitter leaf) Okra, Uziza, scent leaf, green vegetable and Okazi leaf. The plants were very plump and healthy. Oga Luke’s Wife was there with two girls plucking pepper into Baskets in readiness for the next day’s market, the next day was “eke owo” owo community market day, and she had gathered three baskets full already. She sells her vegetable on any of the Market days of neighboring towns such as Nkalagu, ezilo, eha-amufu, Ntezi, and owo. The market days could be Eke, Orie, Nkwo and Afor. In those days in Igbo land, a Child born on Eke Market day is named Nwa-eke pronounce Nweke (Eke’s Child) a child born on Nkwo Market day day is called Nwa-Nkwo pronounced Nwankwo and Nwafor and Nworie as the case may be.

She was happy to see me but the joy was short lived as a quarrel started immediately between she and her husband. Oga Luke had introduced me to her as Ojo onye Army (Ojo the Army man) and she replied; ehen! I know him nah! Is he not that Soldier man that was in Prison? The two girls assisting her in the farm had taken sharp glances at me then they started laughing.

Oga Luke had chased them from our presence as he reprimanded his wife. They spoke in their Omalante language (Ohaozara dialect) I knew I was the subject matter so I told Oga Luke not to worry, I told him she was not lying after all but he had insisted that it was insulting for his Wife to have related me with the Prison and to worsen everything she did it in the presence of her maids! He did not like the kind of image she was portraying me in the presence of the maids, he said before I know it now, everybody in the farm will know that I was in Prison. I understood his point. Even though I did not like what the woman did, I did not want to be the cause of their misunderstanding. She later abandoned the basket and knife in her hands and walked out on us grumbling.

By 5.00PM, we ate fufu with onugbu soup (Bitter leaf) with roasted Anu Nchi (Grass cutter meat) and some other meaty proteins that I could not decode in the soup. Oga Luke’s wife later brought us a keg of fresh palm wine with two Calabashes to drink with, she poured her husband a calabash full and handed it to him with both arms stretched out, he collected it and took a long swing at the sweet liquid while I salivated as I watched the second calabash being filled by the Wife. She filled the second calabash and was about to hand over to me when her husband started with her again in their dialect, she withdrew her hands and while grumbling, she drank from the Calabash before passing it to me with her right hand. Oga Luke screamed at her again in their dialect pointing his fore finger at her in a warning gesture. She recoiled from me and filled up the Calabash to the brim before handing it over to me with both hands after which she stormed away grumbling only to return minutes later with a bowl full of assorted roasted bush meats spiced with Utazi leaf, palm oil and pepper. I was in heaven on earth at Oga Luke’s farm house.

Together with Madam Luke we ate up all the meat in the Bowl and drank up the keg of palm wine, even though she sat away from us as she gnawed angrily at her meat while stealing scornful glances at her husband who acted as if she was not even there. He was busy telling me stories about the Ezamgbo people and their culture and about his experience in farming.

After the meal some of the maids came and cleared the plates and bowls of water we used in washing our hands. Oga Luke called the girl that carried the bowl of water I used in washing my hands back and instructed that she poured the content on the floor away from us where I could see it. The wife got up at this point and started another quarrel in their dialect as she left our presence.

I followed them to their house in Oga Luke’s Peugeot 504 Pickup Van and the couple quarreled half of the way home. We got home and I was showed the room to sleep in. Their Children are grown up and were all at Enugu schooling at E.S.U.T, they have three Sons. They have two teenagers living with them at home, they are Madam Luke’s Nephews schooling at Ezamgbo boys high School.

I had already slept off at 8.00PM when the noise from the sitting room woke me up; it was between Oga and madam. I wondered what the problem was again and wished I was not connected to it. I tried to go back to sleep but I couldn’t. Madam Luke later came to knock at my door, I struggled out of the bed and opened the door, she told me that there was water in the bath room for me to take my bath, and then she turned back and slammed the door at my face. Oga Luke started to bark at her almost immediately, she came back and opened my door, and then she closed it gently and left grumbling. The two have lived with each other like that for twenty four years yet they are still together so I did not interfere in their bouts. The problem was that she could not bring herself to serve or respect an ex convict like me. I understood.

I spent a whole week with Oga Luke. We slept two nights at the farm house. On one of those nights, we woke up very early and went round the farm and retrieved six giant Grass Cutters caught by traps set in the farm. Oga Luke said some Villagers do come early to his farm to steal the catch from his traps. He recounted a scenario where he came to the farm in the morning and saw someone shoe and pool of blood on one of his traps, the trap had been pulled out of the soil and disengaged.

After a week at Ezamgbo, I had learnt a lot about rice farming. I went back to Abakaliki with enough food stuff and vegetables and eight smoked Grass cutters.

I was with mama till May 1998 I had spent over a month with them, I was enjoying myself and did not want to leave until Amaka came to visit us and she reminded me of my unfinished business with the Army in Enugu.

Amaka stayed with us for two days during which we went to Mama’s shop and she was surprised at what she saw, she was impressed to see that Mama had changed from the ragged Village Woman to a Modern and trendy City Lady, she was also happy to see that mama was making good money. She was also impressed at my dexterity at hair dressing; she never knew how good I was. I did not remember learning to fix or dress female hair; I simply grew up doing it because it was mama’s only source of income that guaranteed my meal ticket. I introduced Amaka to all our Customers that came to the Shop that day as my fiancée that I told them about. She promised to be coming more often to visit mama and to learn the hair dressing trade also.
Together we drove in her car to Enugu leaving a weeping mama and a sad babe Miko behind on a Sunday morning in may 1998. Mama EDD was in July.

Chapter 17

Aluta continua! I went once again to see my C.O and I was intercepted by the R.S.M as I entered the gate to our Unit. He chased me out of the premises threatening me with his swagger stick. He warned me never to step foot into the premises again else he would declare me a persona non grata in the whole of the Barracks. I was shocked because I was not expecting such reaction from him. Where did I wrong this man? I asked myself.

I walked back to the mammy market to cut my hair. I entered a Barbing salon close to the tarred road that ran behind the market called “Ultimate Barbing Salon” the owner was a young Yoruba boy called Ayo, he was also a student at the institute of management and technology (I.M.T) Enugu, he goes to school in the morning and returned to his shop in the evening, he had a paid Barber that works all day at the Shop.

I was used to shining my head since I left the depot but that day, Ayo gave me a style that made me smile, he capped it all by giving me a slit at the left side of my head like that of Yinka Ayefele the popular Yoruba gospel singer. He then washed my head and applied “Sulphur eight ointments” the menthol from the cream charged some nerves in my head, I was impressed and I paid him twice his fare.

I sat down in the small but cozy shop to flip through the pages of a newspaper as I ruminated over the drama that ensued between me and the R.S.M. Amaka had gone back to Abuja, I have no friends in Enugu to go to, I was just alone. I then asked Ayo how one could see the C.O apart from the Office. He told me that the C.O plays Golf on Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings at the Enugu Golf course. It was Thursday that day so I waited for Saturday morning. I went to a nearby beer parlour and drank two bottles of Gulder beer before going home to sleep.

I went to the Golf course as early as 7.00AM on Saturday and watched out for the C.O’s arrival. He came around 8.00am and I allowed him to greet his friends before I approached him and introduced myself and my mission. He asked where I had been all this while; he said he had sent my file to the G.O.C through the R.S.M since last year. I shouted ye! And I held my head with my hands. He asked what the problem was and I told him that the R.S.M would not deliver the message. I told him of my experience with the R.S.M.

Well, he said: I cannot imagine that I will send the R.S.M to the G.O.C and he would not deliver my message! Do you know the consequence? He asked me: yes sir! I replied. I told him that the R.S.M hates me and had been stopping from from reaching him all these while. He asked me the reason and I said I do not know but the R.S.M kept calling me names and had sworn to declare me a persona non grata in the barracks!

Well, he said: I do not know where the two of you knew each other from, so go and settle your scores with him, all I know is that I have sent your file too the G.O.C and I am still expecting a feedback from him
Sir! I called him can I say something please?
Go on! Speak! He said.

If it was the R.S.M you gave my file to take to the G.O.C, then I can bet on my life that my file did not get to the G.O.C! it is one whole year since I came to you in company of my Lawyer with my exoneration letter! I was discharged in May last year sir! This is June 1998 sir!
Yes o! You are right, he said. It should not have been this long before the G.O.C replied! Okay I know what to do! I know what to do and with that, he slung his Golf Kit bag over his shoulders and walked towards his friends. I just stood there clueless for a moment before finding my way to a nearby shop to buy Coke and bread for breakfast!.

CHAPTER 16

It was like Childhood days again but this time around, not in penury but in abundance. I spent over a month with Mama and Baba Miko, freedom is sweet! It takes people like us to appreciate the importance of freedom.

Imagine a situation where I wake up in the morning and take my bath and eat Mama’s or Baba Miko’s delicious meal, then I decide on how to spend the day; do I go to Mama’s Shop? or do I go with Baba Miko to work? or do I just enter into the Campus of Ebonyi state university and feed my eyes? It was 1998 and Ebonyi state had been carved out of Enugu state so they have their own university now. Abakaliki had become a Capital City and the prospect for development in the town had made Baba Miko changed his mind about going back home, he planned to set up a furniture making business in Abakaliki because he envisaged that the demand for Wood works would increase with the influx of People into the new Capital City.

Sometimes I just sit at home and watch movies as long as N.E.P.A permits, the generator Baba Miko bought had been transferred to Mama’s Shop but they planned to buy another for home use. I was indeed enjoying myself here with Mama, I determine the food that we eat in the House as Mama would always ask me of my choice of food before entering the Kitchen to cook, if it was Baba Miko that wants to cook too, he does the same. Baba Miko was never married so he had been doing his own cooking all his adult life.
The family bond that eluded me as a Child, I began to experience at adult hood. Baba Miko was a natural Father figure to me and I took him as such immediately, the relationship between him and Mama was like that of two Pigeons in love.

The two of us were always teasing Mama in her pregnant state; we assisted with the house chores and in the Kitchen too. I do the dishes after our meals and I clean up the house in the Mornings, that is if Baba Miko does not beat me to it, but it was generally fun and peaceful, I never heard the two raise voice at each other through out my stay with them, Baba Miko has a very large heart and he still sees my mother as that sixteen year old Girl he wooed twenty six years ago, he adored her and now that she was expecting his baby, he practically pampers her like a baby. This is what my mother had missed all this years for marrying the lazy handsome honey coated tongued Man called My Father!

I was excited with the fact that I was expecting a younger Sibling, mama and I wished it would be a Boy because we thought it would make Baba Miko happy but Baba Miko insisted he preferred a girl as he already had a Son in me, he said he needs just a daughter to join me in the family and after that, he doesn’t want any more Children, he wanted Mama to rest. But Mama told me in secret that if God permits, she will bear him three Kids within three years, she said she cannot have just one Child for him, she said he needs Children that would bear his name.
The first day I followed Mama to her Shop was a Friday and I was over whelmed. The way Students trooped into her Shop to make their hair for weekend runs was alarming; there was no more space to sit down and the Students were collecting numbers as they waited for their turns. Mama had two paid assistants that helped out at the Shop yet they could not rest because the Students kept pouring in.

The Students say Mama’s hand does not give them headache couple with the fact that her job was very neat. Mama had no choice than give them value for their money because she knew where she was coming from. In the Village where she was, she could plait someone hair and at the end they resort to quarreling because the Person would not tell her from the onset that she does not have money. In the Village the hair she plaits for one hundred naira, she collects three hundred naira at Abakaliki. Washing and setting in Abakaliki is done at three times the price in the Village so why won’t she put in her best?

I had to assist in plaiting and fixing weave-on for some of the Students that day and I received a lot of tips. The Girls were confused as to who should make their hair between me and mama because our works are exactly the same. They said we were apprenticed under the same Tutor. Mama was to them my elder Sister for no one could ever believe she was my mother so there was no need telling them otherwise. Even though they heard me calling her Mama, they thought it was her pet name from Childhood.

Mama’s level in Abakaliki had actually changed and for the fact that she does business in a Campus environment, she had to change and adapt to the fashion en-vogue, she never wore Buba and wrapper to work, she wears jeans and T shirts or Skirt and blouse, her graying hair now looks dark and lovely courtesy of the several sheens and hair treatments she applied for she changed her hair style weekly, mama had a Baby face naturally so she passed for a young educated lady in her twenties. The only handicap was that she could not speak fluent English and she has a strong Yoruba accent so she settled for the Pidgin English she could speak well.

I started to frequent her Shop regularly for the next two weeks, first because I needed to help her make more money and secondly to flirt with the Girls. It was not easy for me to take my eyes off the girls that came to mama’s Shop! My Gawd! Igbo girls are beautiful! In all my life I had never been in company of young girls like this, I had never being in a position where I interfaced with so many girls, I had not gone to the university by then so it was very difficult for me to see a skimpily dressed beautiful Lady without losing concentration, I tried not to stare by could not help it, how could one be plaiting a lady’s hair and just below my eyes her cleavage is open and gaping at me? My heart beat was always running fast.

And just as one girl is leaving another beauty comes in with her charms. I was in bondage, a bondage I did not want to be free from. It was at mama’s shop that I came to understand the term ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’ and beauty comes in different sizes and shapes!
It was mama that came to my rescue, she had been watching me all this while as my mouth dropped open and my eyes pop out at the sight of any beautiful or skimpily dressed Lady. She said I should voice out my thoughts instead of staring like the severed head of a cow on the butcher’s slab.

Pay them compliments! She had told me; tell them what you admire in them, if it is the eyes or the dress or the hair! Tell them how beautiful they look and flatter them, tell them they are torturing you and you would have loved to go out with them if not that you are engaged to their sister! She said if a girl comes to make her hair I should pay her compliments and when she is done I should flatter her more.

That was how I earned the name “Ogo” or in-law amongst the girls and I was free with all of them, I was free to stare freely and openly while paying compliments while the girls purposely flaunt it for me to see the more! Jeez I missed mama’s Shop in Abakaliki. But that was when I started to respect male stylists everywhere in the world. They are actually living in self imposed psychological bondage.
Some of the Students wanted to know my department as they thought I was a student of Ebonyi state University helping out my elder Sister at my lecture free periods, I told them I was in E.S.U.T Enugu.

I started going to mama’s shop earlier than mama while she comes later with my food and we work together till 5.30PM before going home to prepare and eat dinner with Babe Miko if he is on day duty, but if he is on night duty, he prepares dinner for us before leaving for work, he leaves the house by 5.30pm till 6.00am the next day.

charijee:
Nothing for us today?

Tomorrow Chari!

bibie01:
I'm here bae, thanks for the mention.
Oga Dom, I will follow you whereva yu may go Eagerly waiting for d story to begin..
*occupying my reserved sit, hugs twinie*

Cryslyn, Onosj, Jollyjoy and Bibie01 where are you Guys at?

stonecoldcafe:
what is r.s.m?

Regimental sergeant major! he is the highest rank in the Other ranks cadre. ( Non Commissioned officer) W01 OR W02 as the case may be.

CHAPTER 15

I had hoped and wished for freedom from Prison all those years, believing the free world is safer than being behind bars. When freedom eventually came, I had challenges to contend with in the real world.

The immediate issues where; where to go and where to start from, as in how to get my Job back, the second was how to take care of mama and settle Baba Miko and finally how to manage my budding romance with Amaka in the midst of these challenges.

Mama had completely recovered and all bills were settled before she was discharged from the hospital. Baba Miko was fortunate to have started getting acquainted with the Hospital management immediately he came to Abakaliki, he had been washing their Cars and helping in fixing anything that needed repairs in the building so it was just natural they gave him a temporal job as a guard when one of their old guards retired and went back to his Village. He was to be on shift duty. We decided that he stayed put at Abakaliki for now, he said he would save up some money to buy modern tools for his Job before returning home or start life all over at Abakaliki.

I discussed with mama and Amaka on my next move and we both agreed that mama stayed with Baba Miko in Abakaliki while I go to Enugu and see my Commanding Officer with the exoneration letter the Court gave me.

It was at this juncture that I asked mama to tell me what I do not know about his relationship with Baba Miko.
Mama Miko told me that Baba Miko had always loved her, he started pestering her for marriage since she was a teenager long before my Father came along with his sweet tongue and wooed her. My Dad was very handsome; he was popular with his dances at social functions and church services. He was more of an extrovert compared to Baba Miko.
Every young girl at that time wanted to be identified with my Dad so she could resist him when he came for her because she felt she was lucky to have him. But my dad had turned out to be a disappointment. He was very lazy, he loved fun and hates work, he could sit over a keg of palm wine and talk about his plans for a better future but it ends there! He never moved a muscle towards acquiring and developing Lands for farming like his mates, instead he resorted to selling off his lands to his mates and drinking the money.

I asked my mother her age as at that time and she said she was just sixteen years old when she conceived me, which made her forty one years old now, I had always thought she would be older, I never knew she had me at so tender an age.

Baba Miko had left the village out of frustration and shame because our People have a saying that “it is the brave man that snatches the wife of a lazy man” every man in the village at that time knew Baba Miko was a strong and hard working man so for a well known lazy and unserious man like my Dad to collect a woman he was interested in, was a big slap on his face so he relocated to Ogbomosho.

He returned to the Village when I was ten years old to find a wife only to discover that my mother had been widowed for about a decade, he did not marry again, and rather he approached her and restated his love for her but my mother told him she was afraid of marrying again. But Baba Miko remained in the Village so he could be around her and he too refused to marry.

I told Mama to give him a chance; I told her that no man can love a woman more. The man had sacrificed everything for her, what Man would abandon his work and Kinsmen in the village and follow a Woman to a strange land to start living in servitude. The fact that he got here and sought out a means of survival showed that he is a determined and ambitious man. I told her to stay with him so I can go and pursue my own destiny. She prayed for me and Amaka and we all slept at Baba Miko’s two rooms Apartment and left early for Enugu the next day.

We went straight to see my Commanding Officer, Colonel Garba whom Amaka met the last time she came for my Cheque book but he had also been transferred and replaced by a Colonel Akindele, a Yoruba man. We discussed with him for about one hour updating him on my case, he brought out hand over files from his predecessors and saw the copy of the letter the Police had sent to the G.O.C to release me to them for investigation, he called for a new file from his secretary and he put the letter into the new file, he then collected the exoneration form the Court gave me and put in the file too, he said he would take the new file and explain to the new G.O.C. Amaka then told him to make photocopies of the exoneration letter and give us the original, he obliged.

So you are very free now? He asked at last

Yes sir! I replied

And this lady here is your Lawyer? He asked again

Yes sir! I replied

Good! Good! Boy! You would have gone through a tough time! How come the investigation took too long? He asked.

The Police abandoned the case immediately he was moved to Abakaliki! They wanted him to rot there. Amaka replied.

Kai! Sorry o! Not to worry, you will be rejabbed into the Army, I will personally take your case up, he promised.

When we left the C.O’s Office, I went to see the new A.O and introduced myself, A.O is the Admin Officer and second in command to the C.O. he congratulated me and welcomed me back.

I went and looked for the R.S.M who almost jumped out of his skin when he saw me; he was the same R.S.M seven years ago. He asked silly questions that annoyed Amaka. He was so pessimistic and incongruous asking me if I was sure I was free indeed! He asked if the family we robbed are aware that I have been released from Prison; he asked if I was sure I did not break out from Prison; it was Amaka that cautioned him by asking him he if he was scared that I was back, she told him that everyone had been happy to see me back except him, she asked him that if I were his Son and have been to jail for seven years, would he treat me the way he had just done? He felt challenged and demanded to know who she was. She told him she was a Barrister and my legal representative from Abuja. He turned and hurriedly left us.

Something is wrong here! Amaka had said that day: the way this man reacted shows that he does not want you around, you need to be careful Ojo, she had cautioned.
Our sergeant Korofo ran towards us as we were about entering Amaka’s Car, he called out my name and I turned to see him running excitedly towards me, we embraced.

Old boy them don release you? He asked

Yes sir! I replied

Ha! I happy for you o! Thank God! I talk am! I talk am say you no guilty! I tell them say you must to come back one day! He said. He stretched his hands and we shook hands like men, he pulled me close and we hugged, then he whispered to my ears ‘wahala dey o! Oga R.S.M no like as you return o! He say Criminal na Criminal, he say him dey go tell C.O not to allow a Criminal back into the unit, so make you be careful o! I thanked him and he left. I told Amaka what he said and she advised that we be vigilant and careful.

We drove to the house of Saka my friend, he had married with two Sons, and he was shocked to see me. I greeted his Wife and played with the Kids, I pulled him outside his house and apologized for the incident that happened seven years ago, he could not accept my apology, he was dumb founded because he knew I had come to show myself to him that after he abandoned me for seven years, I came out alive, after all what are friends for? It could have been me with him in a stolen Car he bought ignorantly; I would not have abandoned him like that.

Amaka and I later drove to the Mammy market to eat, I pointed to her the shop I had rented for mama seven years ago, and someone now sells provision in it. I saw few Soldiers that still remembered my face, some thought I was posted out to another state, some also thought I had been in Lagos with the green Berets, the Army football team while those that knew what actually happened came and congratulated me, they said they heard of Mr. Chike’s arrest and they knew I would soon be free. I saw two of my mates with the rank of Corporal hanging on their arms; I congratulated them on their promotion.

Amaka and I then drove to Dannic hotels at new Haven and booked a room to spend the night. We discussed in detail and planned on the way forward together.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Amaka happened to be the only daughter of her parents; she lost her mum to Cancer when she was just fifteen. She has two elder brothers both married to white women and based abroad, the eldest is with the United States marines Corp while the other is an Architect. She studied law at the University of Liverpool and came home for her national youth service Corps and upon completion a friend of her father’s helped her secured employment into Gani Fawehinmi Chambers, she was posted to the eastern region with head office at Ziks Avenue Enugu, now she has been posted to Abuja. She is twenty three years old while I am twenty five now.

Her father is not a millionaire but he could afford the basic necessities of life, he was a Civil servant that grew through the ranks to become a magistrate Court Judge before retirement, he invested his money in educating his Children and he had no favourites amongst the Children.

I asked her how her father would react if he got to know about us, she said her father does not care, he is only interested in his work and his books, if the mother were to be alive, then we would have cause to worry.

Amaka had been spending her savings and salaries in pursuance of my freedom. I asked her what made her to help me and went through the hardship with me, she said it was because of the passion with which I begged her to help my mother, she said she watched as death gradually ate her mother up yet they could not help her, all her father’s connections and monies could not stop cancer from killing her mother whom she had loved so much. She said it is hard to see a man that would forget his own problems and take risks to save another like I did for mama.

I told her that most women of our time would have run away from me once they see how attached I am to my mother; they prefer a man who has no mother at all. She said she believes strongly in the law of Karma that what goes around, comes around. She is a woman, if she dislikes my mother, her son’s spouse would dislike her too in future, she said.

Finally we agreed that I rent a two- room self contained apartment outside the Barracks and wait till I am recalled into the force. I had some money on me.
That night, she gave herself to me without reservation. Making love to Amaka was different, I was not paying for it so I was not selfish and brutal, we had the whole night to ourselves so I was not in a hurry, and we made every minute count. I had to increase the volume of the television so as to douse her mourns and my grunts.
Three months after my release from Prison, I was yet to hear from the Army. I realized that the C.O was avoiding me, whenever I went to see him, his secretary always gave one reason or the other to prevent me from seeing him, however I was patient, these big men are always busy and I did not want to choke him. Such things take time I thought.

By March 1998, it was six months out of Prison; I travelled to Abakaliki to see mama and Baba Miko, I went to their house but it was locked and no one was at home, then I took a Bike to the Hospital to see Baba Miko. He was so happy to see me after six months, he was all over me with questions which I answered as much as I could, he was looking very healthy and happy in his work uniform, and he took me round and introduced me to People as his Son in the Army.

I asked after mama and he said she went to her Shop, he had opened a hairdressing Shop for her very close to the a private Girls Hostel for university students, he said mama makes more money than him now, he said she was waiting for me to come so she could give me money if I have not resumed work yet. He said there was something he would have loved to tell me now but would rather wait till I see it myself because he does not know how I would react. I asked him if he beat my Mother and he said no he would never do that.
He was on day shift so we were together until he closed at 6.PM and we took a bike home together.

I could not help laughing when I saw mama, I reeled with laughter as I entered their house and she turned around from the refrigerator to welcome Baba Miko home, she was shocked to see me and the drugs in her hands fell to the floor. I saw her bulging stomach shooting out from her small frame, it was strange to me because I never saw her pregnant before, I laughed and fell on the Couch in the Parlor while mama ran into the other room ,she was shy.
Baba Miko just stood there grinning while I hailed him; Baba O! Baba o! eku ise sir! Well done sir!

Chaptet 15 tonight. Stsy tuned.

agileson:
Just started reading but in awe of your writing. The mixture of culture, proper grammar and simple diction tastes sweeter than amala ati ewedu. Please continue

I am flattered my boss! Thank you very much.

53cur3m0d3:
Hey DOMAWOLEYE, I've always wanted to give this as a suggestion if U wanna be a strong contender for the newcomer of the month award. Take a cue from Fantasyisland, our last winner. Observe her style of updates. Her fans know when she updates so they don't have to be impatient. She serves it as breakfast and dinner and everyone smiles. do U know what it feels like starting Ur day with such story that shows a man of valor, the fighting spirit and also ending the day with it? All I'm saying is get an update structure that suits your schedule and U'll attract more fans.
U've a good plot, now give us a nice update structure and we'll all end up winners. #My2cents

my brother I thank you so much but truth be said I cannot guarantee a fixed schedule. You will hate me if I do. I can write now because I am on casual leave. And I am trying to finish this story before I go back to work. My next update after today's will be on Wednesday. I will be travelling . Pls bear with me. One love!

Cybershow:
oh i dn show o.... U av a nyc piece kip it comin

nice concept! Powerful delivery. Well done

Of course not! Wahala still dey for front.

jezuzboi:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Abeg, I hope this isn't the end of the story oo.

CHAPTER 14

Two years passed quickly and my mother improved with every passing day; she had regained her weight, though she has never being a big person, she had always weighed about fifty five of sixty kilogram, her glow had returned but she could not talk, we communicate by writing in Yoruba language or by sign language, she wrote that she does not know why she could not speak and she had tried to loosen her tongue to no avail. The Doctor assured me that she would talk in due time, he said she had been mute for years without saying a word so she had lost her sense of speech but it is recoverable by special therapy and with the rate at which my mother had fought to come back to her senses, she would talk soon.

On the fourth day of May 1997 barrister Efe followed by Oga Frank the Warder came to our cell in the afternoon before visiting hours calling out my name right from the entrance of the corridor to our Cell, I jumped up from my afternoon sleep scared as to why my name was been called aloud in such manner, I was the only Ojo in the whole of the Prison.

They got to the gate of our cell beaming from ear to ear; Chike has been arrested o! He shouted; Chike and the gang have been arrested! Chike came home to visit his family at Easter! He was nabbed by the Police! He is busy singing to the Police at state C.I.D Enugu as I speak with you! Barrister kept repeating.

I ran wild inside the cell, I screamed till my head ached, I hugged each and every inmate; I hugged them so tight my arms were aching afterwards. An elder inmate started a worship song and the whole cell became charged with rendition of worship and praise songs. I rolled on the floor like Baba Miko and wept tears of joy after almost seven years of incarceration.

Where is Barrister Amaka? I eventually found the voice to ask Barrister Efe; she should be in Enugu by tomorrow, she has gone to Agbor to inform the Agbor Police and the prosecuting Family about the latest development.

Kai! This Amaka na man! I shouted; what a man can do a woman can do better! Imagine what the Police station at Agbor could not do, a single Girl has done it! Ha! May God bless her! May God give her a husband that would appreciate her! A man that would know her worth! Ha! Victory at last! Glory be to God almighty! I danced like I never did for a long time, as my fellow inmate sang I danced like David danced in the Bible.

October 9th 1997 I was set free by the Court! The hearing was brief and clear. Baba Miko, Mama, Barrister Amaka and Oga Inside were all in Court. Mr. Chike and the gang were all sentenced to life in jail with hard labour without option of fine or bail.

The Judge took a cursory look at me, and then he skimmed through my file
How old are you? He asked me directly.

I remembered what Barrister Amaka had told me; I was borne on the 6th of September 1974 ma! That means I twenty three years old ma! I said.
And how long have you been on awaiting trial? She asked.

Since 1991 ma! About six years plus now ma! I replied

She nodded her head, she skimmed through my file again then she removed her glasses and cleaned the lenses before putting it on again, she looked at the Counsels and beckoned at them to approach her, they did and discusses for about ten minutes then the Court went for one hour recession.

Immediately the Court reconvened, the Judge court came in, received our compliments and proceeded immediately with the hearing.
Mr. Ojo Makanjuola Stephens! You have spent over six years of your life in incarceration already! You were sent to prison when you were barely seventeen years of age, a minor! A juvenile! A teenager! Whoever did that? That was wrong!

The purported crime which you committed at the age of seventeen should have been taken care by a juvenile Court and not sending you to a maximum security facility, the Police did not help matters as they were in a haste to heap all blame on you and bury the case. The divisional Police Officer and every Police Officer that handled this case shall be arrested and prosecuted for negligence of duty and gross incompetence!
For having spent six years in Prison already, Mr. Ojo Makanjuola Stephens! You are hereby discharged and acquitted of all charges and you are free to go home in peace. She banged the table and she rose! Case closed!

I turned back to see my Mother talking hurriedly and gesticulating to Baba Miko who stood looking at her with opened mouth. mama has started to talk! I walked towards my friends, I hugged Oga Inside, I patted his back and thanked him for everything, I moved towards my mother, she was on her knees with arms spread toward heaven speaking in tongues and in Yoruba language, It reminded me of her night vigils back in the Village, I turned towards Barrister Amaka, she just stood there as if afraid to move, tears were pouring out of her eyes, Oga Inside came behind me and nudged me forward then he whispered into my ears.

She was not wearing their Lawyer uniform as she was no longer my Counsel, she wore a light blue Jeans and a fitted white silky blouse that clung to her body; I walked straight to her with open arms and embraced her, she wept uncontrollably as she rested her head on my shoulder and wrapped her slim hands around my neck. I raised her chin and looked into her eyes, they were inviting and our Lips locked.

ezystar:
Hello Doma..am kinda new here and I was forced 2 comment on this thread. Jux one word''AWESOME''....I also have to say dat this is d most touching story I have ever read.. Nice work and pls am hungry 4 more.

Thanks a lot my Brother! please vote for me o!

CHAPTER 13

FEBRUARY 10TH 1994, we were in Court and the only new development was that the Lady that was raped in the Konwea’s family was in Court to testify to the incident of the night the Car was stolen and their Father murdered. She testified that I was not among the Rapist, so the case was once again adjourned till the 19th of June to allow for further investigation.

Baba Miko was also in Court, he had been in Abakaliki for about two weeks when my Mother was brought to a Psychiatric Hospital, we had not seen for a while and I was happy seeing him but he was sad at my situation.

This time around, the Police had closed in on Mr. Chike and were only waiting for him to make a wrong move.
On our way back to the prison and by special arrangement, we drove to the Psychiatric wing of the University teaching Hospital in Abakaliki to see my mother.

I was so sad after the visit that I became depressed and I fell sick, I was hospitalized at the prison hospital for three days.
My mother was far gone! Immediately I saw her in her ward, I had expected her to react positively on sighting me but she looked past me into oblivion, it was as if I was not there. Her stare was stone cold and pale, she was very thin that I could see her entire skeletal system through her tight skin, apart from being psychologically unstable, she was equally ill, she was on drip, and her eyes were sunken, expressionless and bland. Mama was dying slowly. I broke down in tears at her sorry sight. Every one tried to console me; I was taken out of the ward and later brought back when I got control of myself. I sat on her bed and carried her gently onto my Lap, I pulled her close and held her firmly for some minutes, I recited our family eulogy into her ears while pulling on her graying hair, isang into her ears, her favourite tunes. I was permitted to detach the drip from her arm so I could carry her about in my arms; I kept talking to her as I rocked her walking around the hall called Ward 6. I kept talking to her and begging her to stay with me, I told her my plans for her, I told her I was not dead, I was alive and healthy.

It was barrister Amaka that noticed the tears running down my mother’s cheek! I could not see it as a result of the tears in my own eyes. The nurses were happy that she eventually reacted emotionally; they said it was a good sign. Baba Miko knelt down and started thanking God for the fact that my mother could cry; it meant that she was coming back. He kept saying that he knew I was her cure.

Baba Miko had come to Abakaliki with all the money he had, he said he sleeps anywhere in the Hospital premises but most times he slept with the security guards at the hospital, he said he wakes up early in the mornings and wash up any car parked in the premises then he hangs around and greet the Owners when they want to drive away, that had guaranteed his daily bread since he came to Abakaliki. I promised to send him some money to rent a temporal apartment and for upkeep. I sent it through Oga Inside.

After my recovery from the hospital, mama became my obsession. It was risky for me and Oga inside as he constantly smuggled me to the hospital at least three nights in a week to attend to my Mother.

There was this night I had told Oga Inside to get his Wife to prepare bean cake using palm oil and pap using wheat so we could take to my Mother who had not tasted food for a long time, that was why she had been on drip since she came to Abakaliki. I carried her as usual when I got to the hospital, I then told her I had prepared Akara elepo (Bean cake prepared with palm Oil) and Eko olokababa (Pap made of wheat) for her, I then took a ball of Akara to her mouth, to the astonishment of every one watching, she opened her mouth and gnawed weakly at the ball, there was shouts of joy from the nurses, the other patients in the room started shouting and screaming too and some of them had to be sedated to keep them calm again. Baba mike fell on the floor and started rolling about, he was shouting Jesu oseun! Jesun oseun o! (Thank you Jesus).

Mama finished a big ball of Akara and took eight table spoons full of Pap before vomiting everything on my body; she also urinated and excreted on me. The Doctor said I should not panic as it was very normal for her system to react that way, he said they would continually be trying to feed her with the delicacy.
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June came and passed and we did not go to Court due to strike action in the nations Judiciary, all Court cases were postponed indefinitely.
I continued to do my business; I sometimes add Sardines or Geisha to my Stock. Some rich inmates buy Garri and Geisha to prepare cold Eba with Geisha as soup. I stopped smoking Kpoli every night, I smoked once in a while and that was only when Oga Inside was not on night duty.
Through the rest of 1994 I kept visiting mama nicodemously. Her condition kept improving except for her inability to talk. She moved her eyes and followed movements, she could blink her eyes and she tried to smile however wryly.

On the first of January 1995,at night as usual with Oga Inside; I sat mama down by her bed and I plaited her hair for her, she needed to look good on near year day. I ended up plaiting the hair of six other inmates that became uncontrollable when they saw me plaiting mama’s hair, they came and sat by my side and started to loosen their hair in readiness for their turn. One of the nurses brought out a mirror and gave to mama after her hair was done, though it was forbidden to allow the Patients access to mirrors. For the first time mama laughed out, the sound of her laughter was strange but it was laughter all the same. Baba Miko performed his jubilation drama again.

Baba Miko! He is actually not a blood relation of ours in any way. I was drawn to him because he had always been close to me and my mother, he was the only listening ear we had and he was always trying to assist us in any way he could. I have never known him to be married, but I know his kinsmen. For him to have abandoned his brick laying work back home and come to Abakaliki with my mother to live like a beggar and wait on her to recover is what beats my imagination. I knew there was something I did not know between the two. But time would tell, I need him where he is now since I could not be there twenty four hours, and I was grateful to him.

1995 and 96 passed without a court appearance due to incessant strike actions in the country. Some developments also took place around me within the two years.

Barrister Amaka was promoted and transferred to Abuja Supreme Court. But before her departure, she had introduced a certain Barrister Efe to me as her colleague and my new counsel. I loved the man instantly because of his warri accent. He was very warm and jovial.

Barrister Amaka did something that I did not understand until much later; she told me she had altered my date of birth as recorded in my file, she also showed me a sworn affidavit of age declaration in my name, I was borne on the 6th of September 1972, but the new age read 1974, she had reduced my age by two. She said I should not forget my new age hence forth. I thanked her even though I did not know the reason. She promised to be following up my case from Abuja and that I should have confidence in Barrister Efe. I believed her.
Her Father retired from the Government and set up him private chamber in Awka the capital of Anambra state, his state of origin.

My main man Oga Inside also went on voluntary retirement after having spent twenty five years in Prison service, he handed me over to Oga Frank, another Warder before he left. He paid me all he owed me and he was still coming to see me once in a while. Oga Inside invested his gratuity in Rice farming. He opened a Rice mill at Ezamgbo and he bought a twenty hectare of land for Rice farming alone. He told me that Local Rice is well sought after by fast food joints for preparing Ofada rice, he further explained that the exportation of Local Rice was also on the increase because of the nutritional value. He also said I was welcome to come and work with him after I must have been released. Mr. Luke Umahi! That is his real name and he hailed from Ohaozara local government of the then Enugu state but is today Ebonyi state. It is only few of us that got to know his real name. He is a man I cannot forget, I am for ever indebted to that man.

seunviju:
I vote CANDY for the
writer of the month

seun long time. Pls take out time and read " thorns in my boot" and vote for me as best new commer. Thanks.