ShortStory I Justice At Last

JUSTICE AT LAST

       Who could tell the actual reason the grief-stricken family had chosen to ‘abandon’ his remains? Several months had eventually come and gone, yet no one could tell for sure where his grave would be dug. The deceased’s body that pathetically lay in the morgue could now best be described as debris since the corpse had been relegated to the background by the embalmer owing to lack of payment by the supposed bereaved family.

        Mr. Seun Adegoke left the sinful world four months back. His abrupt mysterious exit was attributed to various evil acts allegedly committed by him. He was struck by thunderstorm in the early hours on a Sunday when he alongside his family was preparing to go to their place of worship.

        The 56-year-old Mr. Seun was till his sudden death happily married to Titi, and the marriage was blessed with four children. The couple could formerly boast of five children – 3 males and 2 females – not until two years back when their first child Kelvin, 24, was brutally killed by an auto crash; Kelvin was in his final year in a university when the ugly incident transpired in a broad daylight while returning from the campus for a semester break.

        Before the said chap departed, series of unforeseen deaths had occurred among the members of the Adegoke family at large. Mr. Seun’s immediate younger brother died at 51 in his farmyard barely three months to Kelvin’s exit. Prior to that, one of his (Seun’s) younger sisters who was married to a business mogul equally lost her first male child via electrocution; among others too numerous to mention. The killings were occurring serially that anyone in the family could be the next; hence, people within and beyond began to wonder what could be the cause of such untold and dreaded incidence.

       “Seun, my brother.” called Mr. Biodun Adegoke as he was seated in a single leather cushion.

        Mr. Biodun was Seun’s elder and only surviving brother; his other two male siblings had passed away in cold blood. The duo were seated in the latter’s home lounge in the late evening on a Saturday. It was exactly the night that preceded the day Seun was murdered by thunderstorm right in his matrimonial room. The former who lived a few meters away had thought it wise, albeit deceitfully, to visit his younger one towards discussing some pertinent issues bordering on their family’s ongoing crisis.

        Seun sat directly adjacent to him in another single upholstery chair. “Egwo mi.” Seun answered tenderly, fixed his gaze on Biodun’s.

         ‘Egwo mi’ meaning literally my elder brother.

        “What is actually happening to our family?” said the 64-year-old Biodun.

         Seun was calm, couldn’t utter a word.

        “Someone dying every minute of the day.” Mr. Biodun rode on. “This is getting very worrisome by the day.”

        “In fact,” said Seun. “I am tired myself.”

        “If you are tired,” responded Biodun. “I am fade up.”

        “Hmmm…” sighed Seun as he sat confusedly in his seat.

         It would interest, perhaps shock you to acknowledge that prior to this moment, Mr. Biodun had already brainwashed most members of the family, stating that Seun was the brain behind all the misfortunes taking place in their family. The false campaign occasioned by hatred was occurring unknowingly to the accused, and no member of the family was convinced enough to openly level the allegation against him. Seun got to know about it just a few days before he passed on but little did he realize that Biodun was the sole sponsor of the campaign.

         Some members of the family were at a point apparently convinced that Seun was a ritualist because the latter was a well-to-do trader and remained the most successful among them, though they pondered why he would use his own son (Kelvin) – who was obviously promising – for a ritual. The lingered scepticism was outrightly buried on the very day the man in question died; based on their custom, it was only persons who indulged in atrocities that could be killed by thunderstorm.

         “What do we do about these atrocities taking place right under our noses?” Mr. Biodun proceeded as he was seated in his seat. “Or, do we wait until it becomes our turn?” He added hesitantly, frowning.

         “God forbid!” Seun exclaimed, became more perturbed.

        There was abrupt silence.

       “I think you are right.” concurred Seun. “We really need to do something about this.” he said, paused. “And very fast.”

       “Thank God you are now reasoning with me.” Biodun appreciated.

       “But,” quoth Seun. “How do we go about it?”

       “Don’t worry,” replied Mr. Biodun. “I think I have a solution.”

       “You do…?”

       “Yes.”

       “So…?”

       “I will get back to you first thing tomorrow morning.” responded Biodun.

         It was that following morning he promised to return to Seun’s house that the latter was struck by the thunderstorm. He actually made it to his house at the early hours of the day as pledged, only to meet his corpse on the tiled floor surrounded by his wife (Titi) and children who were hit off-balance.

        On that fateful day being Sunday, Mr. Seun’s remains were deposited in a nearby morgue. Owing to the mysterious nature that surrounded his eternal departure, everyone far and near – including his immediate family – seemed to be convinced that he was really the brain behind the various misfortunes that befell the Adegoke family. In view of this, upon the directive of Mr. Biodun who was now the only surviving elderly man in the family, the corpse was seemingly forgotten in the morgue.

        Worse still, no money was further deposited to sustain the required embalmment, thus the dead body wasn’t given the due attention it deserved. The wife of the deceased, Titi who would have done so was persuaded by her in-laws to stay away from the corpse until the necessary traditional rites have been conducted. Four months had passed, yet no one could say what the corpse’s fate entailed.

        Two weeks down the line, something terrible but revealing transpired; Mr. Biodun Adegoke was struck by thunderstorm right in his wretched sitting room. Before he gave up the ghost, he confessed to his wife and six children coupled with other members of the extended family that rushed to the scene, that he was solely responsible for all the evil occurrences in the family. According to him, he was the one who projected the thunderstorm that killed Seun so that everyone would believe he (Seun) was the brain behind the misfortunes as he (Biodun) had falsely alleged.

        Thereafter, Mr. Biodun’s remains were thrown to the evil forest whilst Mr. Seun’s were eventually given a befitting burial by the family.

 

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri
_____________________________________
Twitter: @mediambassador
http://facebook.com/TheMediaAmbassador

                

      

Opinion I Ekeukwu Owerre, Imo Government And Imolites

EKEUKWU OWERRE, IMO GOVERNMENT AND IMOLITES

         

The last time I checked, the ever famous and revered daily market Ekeukwu Owerre otherwise known as ‘Ekeonunwa’ situated along the ancient Douglas road – reckoned to be the heartbeat of Imo State the Eastern Heartland – had eventually been relocated to more serene areas.

        

The above action was necessitated by the efforts of the state’s government led by Governor Rochas Okorocha toward ensuring that the previous locality of the market – Douglas road – was restructured for the good of all. It would be recalled that since the emergence of the Rescue Mission Administration, there had been a strong determination by the government to relocate the market.

        

And sometime last year being 2016, following deliberations with the concerned stakeholders, a directive was outrightly given by the government to the traders, asking them to relocate to the new sites, which included Egbeada and Avu, in Owerri West L.G.A and Naze in Owerri North L.G.A.

         

The directive was flaunted by the traders owing to many protests staged by the indigenes of the affected area being Douglas road. At the time, their women were seen in thorough black regalia carrying caskets all over the city of Owerri including the axis that leads to the Government House. Their grievance was that if finally relocated to a different locality, they would stand to lose what they described as their ‘birthright’. The occurrence of what could best be described as the reemergence of the ‘Aba women riot’ caused tremendous uproar within and outside the capital territory.

        

Due to the rigorous protests, the government thought it wise to withdraw its directive, thereby considered going back to the drawing board. Just two weeks ago, precisely on Thursday 24^th August 2017, the government further mandated the traders at Ekeukwu Owerre to relocate to the new sites, thus were given a 48-hour ultimatum – meant to expire on Saturday August 26 – to adhere to the instruction.

         

It’s noteworthy that the directive was swept under the carpet by the recipients, or the concerned individuals. Hence, as a result of the stubbornness, the government resorted to employing ‘non-human face’ towards achieving its lofty proposal by firstly ensuring that all the shanties built along the Douglas road were duly demolished without further ado. The action of the government transcended to other uncalled structures located at the aforementioned arena. The point is that, at the moment, the Ekeukwu Owerre has been successfully relocated, although amidst mixed feelings.

       

Why the government decided to take the bull by the horn may not be unconnected with the countless criminalities that were instituted along the Douglas road in recent times. It’s not anymore news that recently criminal activities such as armed robbery, cultism, and what have you, were obviously on the rampage along and within the Douglas axis, thereby making commuters and Imolites in general live in fear especially whenever they found themselves at the affected arena.

         

It’s worth noting that I’m not here to apportion blames or whatever. This piece is candidly informed by the need for us to acknowledge some facts surrounding governance as well as the compelling need to embrace the way forward at such a time like this, acknowledging that many are presently aggrieved over the government’s initiative. It’s pertinent to note that for government to actualize any intending laudable initiative, it must not depend solely on pleading with the concerned individuals to comply with its directive that is in line with its anticipated societal development.             

Sometime, action needs to be taken when the people poses inconsequential stubbornness, especially when the proposed initiative means well for every occupant of the concerned territory. This was exactly what prompted the scene witnessed along the Douglas road two weeks ago.   

        

Though properties were lost in the process, we need to take into cognizance that for a meaningful change to take place, sacrifices must be made. It suffices to say that people must be willing to sacrifice one thing or the other if they truly anticipate something good in their lives. I was in Lagos State penultimate week for a national Convention organized by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Alumni body of my alma-mater – the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) – in collaboration with the Lagos Chapter of the organization; the event took place precisely on Victoria Island (VI).

        

During my short stay in the said city, I observed that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had brought several changes within the shores of the state. From the look, being someone who was bred in Lagos, and still frequents the state, I needn’t be told that a lot of structures were destroyed in the process. For instance, if you are in doubt, take a trip to Oshodi territory, a popular and highly populated market arena in the city of Lagos, you would comprehend the picture I am trying to paint here. 

         

A very good friend and brother of mine, Mr. Desmond Obi lost a befitting shop – where his beloved wife traded on phones and accessories – at the Douglas road while the action was taken by the government. But rather than complaining bitterly, he confidently told me that he was strongly in support of the government’s move towards changing the pitiable physiognomy of the said arena. According to the seeming patriotic Imolite, Douglas is the heartbeat of Owerri, thus anything that negatively affects it would definitely affect the entire Imo State coupled with its vicinity. Mr. Obi therefore opined that the government motive meant well for all Imolites.

          

Though a few individuals – particularly a ten-year-old boy - reportedly lost their precious lives in the process, I wouldn’t like to start joining issues on this platform since this critique is mainly occasioned by the need for every Imolite to embrace the way-forward. Hence, I sincerely share the pains of the bereaved families. We need to note that no rational and sane government would ever dream of shedding any blood let alone an innocent one, and the Rescue Mission wouldn’t be an exception.

         

Against this backdrop, I urge the government to desist from the act of denying that whatever life that was lost during the faceoff was not connected with the stray bullets fired by the security personnel that were assigned to repel the aggrieved party; rather, it ought to concentrate on how best to please the families of whosoever that lost his life during the period in review. This is time to make amends, and not the reverse.  

          

We must understand that, for peace to reign, we need not continue visiting the injuries incurred along the line, thus I plead with my fellow Imolites who are currently aggrieved to sheath their swords. Why has it abruptly turned to a ‘war’ between two distinct communities as if there’s something they are not telling us? How did we get to this point? Please, let’s not let this misunderstanding escalate to something else. 

          

I enjoin the government to engage on rigorous meetings with the various relevant stakeholders with a sole view to making amends where necessary. Yes, the government has met with the stakeholders after the incident, it must note that no amount of deliberations would be tagged an overdose. Every concerned party must be brought to a round-table discussion without much ado.

           

All in all, everyone must at this point jettison his/her ego towards doing the needful as I implore politicians in the opposition not to use the scenario to achieve their cheap political aims. Imo does not belong to anyone; rather, it remains our collective patrimony. Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri
________________________________
http://facebook.com/TheMediaAmbassador

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador

 

 

  

       

                       

ShortStory I Costly Blunder (II)

COSTLY BLUNDER (II)

       Funke who seemed not unlike soured yellow pap packed in an old dish, was speechless as she stood right before the dude, Kunle who just heard the unspeakable.

      “Did I hear you right?” Kunle inquired, still sitting in the three-in-one upholstery chair.

        Funke became mute as she stared unfriendly at him.

        Little did the television, which was being viewed by the lad, knew that it was now all alone; suffice it to assert that no one recognized its presence at the moment as it kept displaying the football match.

      “Funke,” he called calmly. “Did you just say you are pregnant for me?”

       “Of course nah.” she answered frankly, hastily folded her arms. “Didn’t you know when you did it?” she added in a jiffy, fixed her gaze on him.

       “Something I did just once..?”

       “Oh,” exclaimed Funke. “Just once?” she echoed.

       “Of course,” quoth Kunle, furiously stood up. “Wasn’t it once?”

       “I don’t care about how many times you did it.” she ranted. “All I know is that I am pregnant.” She supplemented, paused. “And the baby belongs to you.”

       “You are not serious.” he said. “Are you?”

       “Oh,” responded Funke. “You think I am joking?” she said, stood still. “Do I look like one who is cracking a joke?”

        The last clause came as a shocker, thus he became more bemused as he kept foreseeing the dire consequences having seemingly absorbed the reality. “Oh my God…!” he shouted, frantically resumed his seat.

        There was a brief silence.

       “So,” he broke the muteness. “What do we do now?” he uttered, looking up to her.

       “Now you have come back to your senses, right?” She rhetorically murmured.

        How on earth would she talk to him in that manner if not that he had already sold the unreserved respect she had for his person by allowing his libido to yearn for her seeming-succulent endowments? Notwithstanding, he had no other option than to ignore her rudeness.

       “You have not still answered my question.” He reminded her.

       “What kind of silly question is that?”

       “Silly question?”

       “Of course,” she said. “Doesn’t it sound silly?” she added, paused. “When you were doing it, did you ask how we were going to do it?”

       “You must abort that baby.” He pronounced with alacrity.

       “What..!” she roared. “Me, abortion?’ she uttered, placing her right hand on her chest.

       “That’s the only option.” He thought aloud.

       “I can see, you are joking.” quoth Funke. “How dare you suggest abortion for me?”

       “So, what’s your plan?”

       “I don’t know,” she replied, stood still. “But all I know is that I am not committing any abortion.”

       “So you want to keep the baby, right?’

       “I wouldn’t blame you.” she continued, ignoring the question. “Because you don’t have a baby yet, so you wouldn’t know what it means to kill one.” She said, faced the other side.

       “Funke…!” Kunle exclaimed at the top of his voice. “How dare you say such a thing?” he supplemented, stood up again.

       She was quiet, still standing.

      “Do you realize I am your sister’s husband…?”

      “Sister’s husband my foot.” She interrupted, hurriedly turned her back on him and walked away.

       “Funke, Funke!” he called as she walked out on him.

     * * * * *    

       “Your sister is pregnant.” Kunle notified Kemi, facing the ceiling as they lay in their matrimonial bed in the early hours of Saturday.

       This was coming after several failed persuasions targeted at making Funke terminate the baby she was carrying in her womb.

       Kemi who was equally facing the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) ceiling, hastily looked at Kunle on hearing the news that could best be described as a shocker. “What did you say?’ she verified hesitantly.

       “I said, your sister is pregnant.” He reiterated, still facing up.

       “Which of my sisters?” she enquired. “Bisi?” she supplemented, referring to her elder sister who got married recently, though marveled why her hubby should gather the news before her.

        “No,” he responded. “I mean, Funke.”

        “Funke what..?” she shouted, shocked, and slightly raised her head from the bed.

       “Yes.” he said, nodding. “She is pregnant.”

        Kemi couldn’t believe her ears. More confusedly, she could not fathom why her husband should be the one informing her on such development. “For who?” she managed to utter.

         He was silent.

        “I said,” quoth Kemi. “For who?”

        “I think I am responsible.” He eventually confessed, still lay in the bed.

        “You think you are what…? She roared, rose up.

        “I am sorry.” quoth Kunle. “I am really sorry.” he added, paused. “It was all devil’s handiwork.”

        “Enough,” Kemi urged fiercely, gesticulating. “Enough of this.” She warned, paused.

         There was maximum silence.

        “So, after all I did for you,” she broke the muteness. “You had the gut to cheat on me?” she said, paused. “And among all people, you chose Funke?”

          “It’s not what you think.”

          “Spare me that, please..”

          After all the hullabaloos, Kemi asked for a divorce, which was eventually granted by a court, thereby leaving Kunle and her younger sister to continue from where exactly they stopped. Prior to their divorce, when the news of the abominable act got to her parents, they felt like strangulating the parties involved, particularly Funke; Kunle’s aged parents equally felt same.

         Months later, Kemi got married to another lad and she took in immediately after their wedding. Years on, the couple was blessed with children and was happily married.

       On their part, Kunle and Funke who were forced to marry each other never had it so good. Funke had stillbirth in the pregnancy that prompted her elder sister’s departure; and after that, she never took in again. Kunle lost his job with the telecom firm and thereafter couldn’t secure any other meaningful job; needless to assert that his financial status was drastically reduced to zero.

 

Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Clinic - Owerri
___________________________________
Twitter: @mediambassador            
http://facebook.com/TheMediaAmbassador