For Blood And Country

March 7, 2014 - BABATUNDE

The three days I was given was up and I was on my way to Abuja once again. I had finally made up my mind after three days of intense deliberations. I told Adeshola when I got home that night and she pleaded with me to take the job. When I told her I had to think it through, that the offer was too good to be true without a hidden clause, she got angry. She said there was nothing to think through, that when God blesses you, you don't question the blessing and say it was too good to be true. I knew she wanted the best for me and she was not one of those women that were power-craving and irrational but she didn't know politicians like I do. What the attorney general said though, kept ringing in my head - "you want leaders to quit being corrupt? You make them!" It was not as simple as it sounded. No one man can change these politicians and I knew that, but I felt it was my duty to try. I was not the only one clamouring for change and if I joined others then we could make a difference. That was what I thought and that was why I decided to take the job.

I was on my way to finalise the nature of my appointment. Adeshola couldn't hide her contentment when I told her I had decided to accept the attorney general's offer. That night she prepared my favourite dish of Amala and Efo. Even my little girl, Adedoyin sensed how happy her mother was and was jumping around the living room. She was too young to understand what was really happening but I hoped someday she would understand and by then, I wouldn’t have gone the wrong path and she would have to be ashamed of her father because he became corrupt.

My friend, Francis Oladunmo was the only other person I told about the job offer. Francis was a few years older than me and we became close friends back in our first year of law school. He was now a pastor in one of those new churches he always invited me to but I must admit I'm not a very religious person. Francis was the legal adviser of Shield Insurance and together in his office in Palmgrove way that Thursday afternoon we weighed the pros and cons of accepting the job. We considered it from all points of view, even the religious implication and decided that as long as I did not lose focus, it was for the best and he urged me to ask God if it was his will. That night I went into my study and knelt to pray. It was awkward because I had not knelt to pray in a while but I uttered some words and I hoped God heard me.

As I boarded the plane to Abuja, I had a conviction it was God's will. After all, he has goods plans for everyone and this was mine.