Episode 17
1368 Words
It was past 6am when we got to Lokoja.
We stopped at a fast food restaurant. I don’t know if those Lebanese refugees ever slept, because we were flooded by them as we got out. Two little boys and their sister tugged at our clothes, while their mother looked from a distance.
I went to the rest room to clean myself, while the guys went to other food. I planned to tell him we would leave as soon as we were done with breakfast. I picked up my phone to call Abayomi.
Me: hello
Abayomi: where are you, we are coming to your house for breakfast. Bread and egg o..
Me: I am in Lokoja
Abayomi: I know you are a witch, but can you fly that far?
Me: serious jor..Jafar drove me here o..his goons are here also, enroute Abuja.
Abayomi: what is happening there, why didn’t you tell me?
Me: see I was drunk, I will tell you when I get back..i am hungry and suffering from a hang-over.
Abayomi: when are you coming back?
Me: soon, will tell him to bring me back after breakfast
Abayomi: no p..Toun is sleeping beside me… I will call you later..
When I got back to the guys, they had ordered the meals, the three of them were eating fried rice and an ugly looking fried chiken. Jafar was eating beans and plantain..
Jafar: I got rice for you, alright?
Me: nope, I rather eat what you are eating..
I took out the spoon in my proposed rice and started eating with him. He left the food for me after a while and concentrated on the canned Schweppes he was drinking. Sparrow and the short guy pounced on my rice, before I could say jack, it was finished.
My phone rang, it was Timi.
Me: hello
Timi: didn’t know when you left the party..
Me: I didn’t come with you, so why should I tell you?
Timi: why are you talking like this?
Me: see I am busy now, talk to you later
Timi: wait..where are you?
Me: Lokoja
Timi: what….
I hung up and felt so good about it.
It was time for me to tell Jafar to take me back. In another day and another world, it would have been get-away but I really had to go back..
Me: Jafar please can I talk to you privately?
Jafar: sure.
We walked outside to the front of the Hilux. My phone rang again.
Me: Toun howfar
Toun: I am so fine, we are on our way to Lagos now..
Me: you and who?
Toun: me and Abayomi ofcuz. On the way to the airport. Arik afternoon flight to Abuja..
I excused myself from Jafar and walked to the other side of his Benz.
Me: but I will be on my way back soon.
Toun: better stay there, I have been looking for a good reason to spend my Dad’s money, Abuja it is!
Me: did Abayomi agree to this?, did he tell you I am with Jafar and his friends.
Toun: yes, you aretalking to much, see you before 4pm.
She hung up.
Jafar: so what is it that you had to tell me in private?
me: can Abayomi and Toun join us in Abuja?
I have seen him smile, but this particular smile was deep. I felt good I contributed to it.
Jafar: the more the merrier..
Toun is the worst friend ever!
]Jafar: we will be staying in Lugbe, it is close to Gwagwalada and also to Berger.
He said this as we passed a junction that was called Giri. We entered Abuja at some minutes to 9am.
Me: I don’t know Abuja, I have never been here
Jafar: I seldom come around, except my dad beckons.
Me: tell me about your Dad
Jafar: No.
I saw why Abuja was the next best thing besides Lagos. the road was wide, wider than the girth of cars passing through. it wasn’t as crowded as Lagos, but had an exotic feeling to it. Yaradua’s posters flooded the town, I felt it was a waste of money carrying out a presidential election because he was liked by both his peeps and the opposition. Though a PDP member he embodied all that PDP wasn’t.
Me: who would you vote for in the elections?
Jafar: I won’t be voting
me : why?
Jafar: for the white man, voting serves as liberation, it’s a symbol of freedom to choose who they want. But for the black man, Elections is a form of enslavement. Too many poor people vote, they don’t vote with their head, they vote with their stomach. Too many illiterates vote, they don’t vote for the best person, they vote for their tribe.
Me: What tribe are you and what do you think should replace elections?
Jafar: I am Jafar Ndanusa, I am Nupe. The white people made sure they saw themselves as a people before democracy was introduced. In Nigeria, the different tribes are still in courtship, democracy came at the right time, but the citizens aint ripe or mature enough for it.
Me: I repeat my question, what should replace elections or democracy?
Jafar: A selfless authoritarian head of state, like Sankara of Burkina-faso. After making sure the Hausas, Igbos, yorubas and middle-belt see themselves as a people, then he can relinquish his power for a democratically elected president.
Me: that’s deep for a cultist.
It came out of my mouth before I realized I had said it. His brows shot upwards, signaling that he heard what I said, but he kept quiet.
Me: I am sorry.
He didn’t answer me, he just kept driving until we got to Federal Housing,Lugbe.
I wasn’t looking for the awkward moment when I would have to tell him that I needed a room to myself, but I didn’t need to. When we lodged at Progandy Hotel, He and Uche stayed in the same room, while Sparrow and the short boy known as Aji stayed in a room. I was given my own room.
Jafar: when Toun and Abayomi comes, they would have a room waiting for them.
I was sure Toun would stay with me in my room.
Me: thanks
Jafar: go to sleep now, you look drained..
Me: thanks for this get-away
Jafar: you are welcome ma’am.
]After taking my bath, I settled down in bed, planning to sleep until I Toun and Abayomi arrived. I want to discover Abuja with them. My phone rang as I was closing my eyes. It is funny how your ring-tone sounds louder when you want to sleep. It was Timi.
Me: Hey
Timi: I am infront of your house
Me: told you I was in Lokoja
Timi: how can you be in Lokoja when I saw you in the party, danced with you…held you..?
Me: Timi stop..
Timi: where are you?
Me: Abuja
Timi: what are you doing in Abuja?
Me: why asking me all these questions?
Timi: because I care
Me: I am in Abuja and I am good, Toun and Abayomi will join me soon.
Timi: what is happening there?
Me: came with a friend
Timi: guy or girl?
Me: Guy
Timi was silent for a while, after some seconds, he regained his composure.
Timi: when will you be back?
Me: too many questions Timileyin.
Timi: I need to see you so I can tell you everything
Me: I am really not interested anymore.
Timi: what changed?
Me: I grew up
Timi: I love you Tana Dike.
It had been a while I heard those words from him. I still felt some butterflies
Me: very funny..
Timi: what is funny?
Me: nothing..
I hung up.
I was closing my eyes again when my phone rang again, I cursed under quietly before I realized it was Toun.
Me: babes howfar?
Toun: we got an Aero flight for 11am, cheaper sef..
Me: that’s nice.
Toun: text me your location
Me: will do that Asap
Toun: I have gist for you as soon as I arrive.
Me: brief me na, abi you want me to be thinking about different scenarios?
Toun: Kofo is pregnant
Me: for who?
Toun: well that’s the gist…….see you soon.
- Writer
