Anyone was liable to insinuate that he was psychologically suffering
from myopia. If not, why would he abandon his workshop for an undefined odyssey
simply because he yearned for a bigger venture? No wonder he had been putting
on a wistful feeling ever since he founded the workshop perhaps out of
weariness, having forgotten that a journey of a thousand miles must begin with
a step. Nevertheless, only the 34-year-old Dapo knew exactly if such step taken
by him was consequential and the needful.
Dapo, a graduate of Electrical/Electronic Engineering who thought it
wise to set up an engineering workshop after his long years of search for a white-collar
job proved abortive was really an industrious and intelligent young man who
appeared to be very dedicated to his professional handwork. Fascinatingly, he
was receiving an encouraging patronage unabatedly because he was unarguably
equal to the task. The aforementioned abrupt change of mind transpired barely
eleven months after he established the said workshop with the help of his
lovable parents owing to the encounter he had with his old time friend, Tunji
in one of the famous joints situated in the city of Akure in Ondo State,
Nigeria where he resided.
“Could this be Tunji?” He thought as he caught sight of him in the
distance the moment he stepped into the joint.
It was about 6:13pm on Thursday 17th of September 2015.
Tunji, seated at one of the corners in the joint in the company of his
contemporary friend Segun of the same age bracket, looked up and also sighted
Dapo. “Who am I seeing?” He thought aloud, though wasn’t heard by Dapo who wasn’t
yet near.
“What’s it?” Segun said.
“The guy who just walked in
appears exactly like one of my close pals called Dapo those days in the
university.” Tunji cleared the air.
“May be he’s the one.” Segun
reasoned.
Within a few seconds, Dapo walked
closer to where they were seated. The moment he got there, he became astonished
having confirmed that it was Tunji. Little did he know that he would come
across him again in his lifetime. “Tunji!” He managed to utter.
“Oh my God,” Tunji exclaimed
dumbfoundedly, stood up hastily. “So it’s you, Dapo!”
They hugged each other
passionately.
Segun smiled heavily as he
observed the reunion.
It was indeed a nostalgic moment.
Dapo was instantly offered a seat
at the round table. Prior to his arrival, Tunji and Segun had already emptied
some bottles of lager beer coupled with plates of pepper soup. He was enjoined
to join the chorus. “What are you doing in Akure?” He asked Tunji.
“I came to see my friend.” Tunji
replied, pointing at Segun. “Please, forgive my manners.” He asked Dapo having
acknowledged that he was yet to make the needed introductions.
“No wahala.” Dapo accepted.
“Please meet Segun, my beloved pal.” Tunji
rode on, gesticulating. “He also hails from this state.”
Dapo being an indigene of Ondo
State nodded in appreciation.
“Segun, please meet Dapo,” Tunji continued in a similar style. “He was
one of the best brains during our days in UniLag.” He enthused frantically.
Dapo and Tunji were both engineering graduates of the University of
Lagos (UniLag), Akoka in Lagos State, Nigeria.
“He is also a son of the soil.” Tunji landed.
Tunji was a guest in the state; he hailed from a neighbouring province, Ogun
State to be precise.
Segun quickly straight out his right hand for a handshake; Dapo
complied. It was a warmth and pleasant greeting, “Nice to meet you.” Segun
dished out amid the handshake.
“The pleasure is all mine.” Dapo responded.
Tunji smiled. “Segun and I are both residents of Italy,” He intimated. “We
import goods to Nigeria from time to time.”
Dapo nodded.
“So, do you based here?” He asked Dapo.
“Yea,” said Dapo. “Ever since we finished our NYSC about seven years
ago, I have been here.”
“And, what have you been into?” Tunji stylishly enquired.
“My brother, leave matter for Matthias.” hinted Dapo who wore blue jean
trousers, black polo and brown leather slippers.
“Meaning…?” Tunji who put on black three-quarter jeans, grey T-shirt and
white trainers verified.
“Na long story, my brother.”
Segun who clad in ash jean trousers, white shirt, black plain shoes and
a white face cap shook his head in sympathy as if he already knew the yet to be
disclosed tale.
The incidental get-together lasted for about forty minutes before they
departed for their various residences. Prior to their exit, Tunji and Dapo
scheduled to meet the following two days at Segun’s place.
During the said meeting, Tunji and Segun who were drug barons succeeded
in winning the mind of the frustrated-looking Dapo. Obviously, the gangsters
needed not many words to convince the desperate Dapo that their kind of
business was the most ‘lucrative’. Therein, he willing agreed to follow suit.
The Italian based bachelors who could boast of anything money could
afford specialized in exporting such illicit drugs as cocaine and marijuana to
various European nations, and at intervals they would import some goods into
Nigeria. They had been into the ostensibly successful game for over four years
without encountering any hitch.
Dapo, having gotten the needed modus and operandi of the densely risky
venture, made up his mind to sale off his workshop to enable him raise the
required capital. He consequently lied to his parents that he was leaving the
country for a European nation in search of ‘greener’ pasture. Indeed, he was
psychologically myopic as being speculated by those who learnt the silly
decision he had taken.
On the day of Dapo’s first move in the company of his accomplices Tunji
and Segun, specifically on Sunday 4th of October 2015, three of them
were caught at the border with about 92.5 kilograms of cannabis by the men of
the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Afterwards, they found themselves in jail in respect to a verdict, after
they willingly pleaded guilty.
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