The invitation arrived at 8 a.m., hand-delivered by a nervous production assistant who kept glancing at Elian as if expecting him to burst into flames. The logo on the envelope was unmistakable: Nigeria Speaks, the country's most-watched current affairs program, known for grilling politicians and celebrities with equal ferocity.
Inside, a simple request: "We would like you to appear on a special edition of the program, facing three of your most prominent critics in a live, unscripted debate. The nation is watching. Will you accept?"
Elian read it twice, then handed it to Chiamaka.
"They're setting you up," she said immediately. "Three against one. Live television. No editing, no retakes. They're hoping you'll c***k under pressure."
"Probably."
"And you're going to do it anyway."
He s
