Chapter 43 B

 Chapter 43 B

(Bibi was able to arrange a meeting with the OSAAC EXCOs. After which she puts a call through to Kola...)

BIBI : hello, Mr. Kola...
RECEIVER : yes Miss
BIBI : I got in touch with the Excos and they agreed after so much persuasion. You should really pay me for this.
RECEIVER : my employer can be very generous.
BIBI : we'll see about that... Coming to the place where you want us to have the party, the management refused to let it go.
RECEIVER : really?
BIBI : yes.
RECEIVER : but why?
BIBI : have you seen the roof top of that hotel before?
RECEIVER : nope.
BIBI : then you should..... Look, they've got a recreation center there for their guests. There's the swimming pool, the bar, the barbecue place, a lounge is there, that's apart from the open space where most of their special guests land with their helicopter when they don't want to come with their cars...look, you should go there. The place is really big, too big for such an event...
RECEIVER : hmm.....Miss....Scott, right?
BIBI : yes?
RECEIVER : don't you think it will be an honour for the party to be organized in such a place? I mean, won't the praises go to you?....it could even bring you more clients don't you think?
BIBI : (thinking about it)....hmm...
RECEIVER : so let's make sure we use that place.
BIBI : but I can't promise you anything...
RECEIVER : don't worry, I'll also see what I can do from my end.
BIBI : that's better.



(Meanwhile, Kola calls his employer after talking to Bibi....)

KOLA : hello sir..
CALLER : How's the reunion coming up?
KOLA : its coming up fine...though we have a problem....
CALLER : tell me...
KOLA : the place you chose for the event...the roof top...
CALLER : what about it?
KOLA : the management refused to let it out. They have a recreation there.
CALLER : management? Then call Dave and settle that. I don't have to tell you...
KOLA : okay...
CALLER : and B, have you confirmed his attendance?
KOLA : she can't be sure yet, confirmations are still coming in.
CALLER : make sure he comes...make the IV attractive...I don't have to tell you that...
KOLA : don't worry about that, but the thing is, I hope he comes. He's not been there since the last four.
CALLER : Why do you think I asked you to use that hotel. I want something very attractive... There should be something you can do...
KOLA : I'll think of something sir.
CALLER : good! One other thing, get me a helicopter. I'll be having a meeting before coming for the party. I may not be able to make it by road.
KOLA : okay sir...(Hangs up and makes a call...).... hello, Mr. Dave
RECEIVER : Mr. Kola good afternoon.
KOLA : afternoon...a particular lady, Miss Bibi Scott, came to you for the usage of the rooftop, is it?
RECEIVER : yes and I totally declined. I told....
KOLA : (cuts in)...it’s the Boss that needs it.
RECEIVER : (surprised)...the Boss?
KOLA : yes.
RECEIVER : but she didn't say anything like...
KOLA : (cuts in)...yes I know. She's getting instructions from me not him. Even she doesn't know I work for the Boss.
RECEIVER : I'm so sorry, I didn't know. But what are we supposed to say to our customers when...
KOLA : (cuts in)...just tell the customers beforehand, that the place will not be in use for that day.
RECEIVER : okay sir. I'll release it immediately.
KOLA : better. I'll keep in touch...(Hangs up...)…hmm, I just love getting things done easily….




(Tade and his wife are at home discussing about their daughter....)

TADE : your daughter is coming home.
NIKE : really! When did you talk to her?
TADE : yesterday.
NIKE : and how is my little one?
TADE : fine too.
NIKE : eh ehn....I can't wait to see them o...hmm....thank God for Uncle Lekan.
TADE : yes.
NIKE : and to think that I didn't want her to leave in the first place...now she's through with her studies despite everything....
TADE : hmm
NIKE : could we have said all this is turning out well?
TADE : may be...
NIKE : I'm sure it will...(Looks at her husband)....
TADE : let's see how things turn out...
NIKE : a good man by her side...just when I was scared she may not get a husband...
TADE : oh come on...there are so many men out there who don't mind single mothers.
NIKE : yes...just like him....



(Andy's campaign has being going on fine. The billboards taken and fixed, the posters etc. His party members are happy that they are gaining more grounds than their opponents.

He is with his chairman after a brief meeting....)

IME : how far about your sponsor?
ANDY : the man is just too wonderful. His TV station kicked off just last week and you won't believe he keeps showing me every hour, you can't believe it.
IME : that's the same thing I heard about the one in Abuja. Such people need your loyalty when you become governor.
ANDY : hmm....you can say that again. He has sent me another 500 million after the one billion he sent me the other time.
IME : that's good...but we haven't even met.
ANDY : I've not met him too.
IME : Elias said he's a very busy man. Though I've spoken to him on the phone once....
ANDY : oh...I did once too. He's one of those people I helped when I was in office...though I can't remember but he told me. He said I helped his company with some of their license then.
IME : that's good. Now it’s paying off.
ANDY : I even booked an appointment with him, but he had to be in China.
IME : yes I heard he's a very busy man.
ANDY : anyway, the most important thing is that he's doing all this for me without any stress or asking for anything in return.
IME : yes.....okay, I have to leave now. We state-chairmen have our meeting in two hours.
ANDY : alright then....



(After Janu was released from prison, he stayed at home for some weeks trying to locate his friends but could not.

He was at home still brooding after hearing about Egoh's death, when saw Andy's campaign on TV....)

JANU : chai! This foolish man is still coming out after all this years. So he's not backing off....this is a good time to strike o....(Remembers something)....But I've given that video to this people....what do I do now? I can't just let go...I should try and look for Sarku and Timo, they must have seen this too and they have copies of that recording...we should be able to work something out...

(He was still trying to strategize when his father came back home with some documents, but Janu made no comments on what he saw on TV...)

AMODE : here are the traveling documents he promised us....(Stretching out an envelope to Janu)
JANU : (collecting the envelope to see what's there)...haha...who is Jacob Osim?
AMODE : you of course. Do you think you will be traveling with your old name?
JANU : (hisses and collects it)....this is not going down well with me.
AMODE : (surprised) haha why?
JANU : Papa, how can I go there now without any money?
AMODE : what do you mean by that? This people are giving us an opportunity to start anew....look, a new name, a visa to the US, a...
JANU : (cuts in)...papa please! I can't go there and start struggling all over again, when I have someone owing me here.
AMODE : what! Don't tell me you still want to go after Andy after all this people have done for us...
JANU : of course I will. He owes me twenty million naira, and I will definitely collect it.
AMODE : moves closer to him....Janu, my bargain with this people was that you and I will leave this country after they release you. But now you are...
JANU : (cuts in)...Papa leave me. I have my life to leave.....
AMODE : so you still want to go after Andy?
JANU : of course, twenty million naira is too much an amount to let go.
AMODE : and if he catches you again?
JANU : look Papa, once beaten twice shy, I won't fall his prey the second time.
AMODE : and if he gets you killed?
JANU : I'm smarter than that...
AMODE : (seeing Janu may not change his mind)....son, my son please let's leave this war and this place, there's a new world ahead of us.
JANU : Papa, you can go without me. After all, thanks to Andy, you were not there to grow up with me. I grew up on my own, so I can take care of myself. You leave if you want, but I'm not going anywhere.
AMODE : you won't leave...
JANU : I won't Dad.
AMODE : son…(moves closer to him)…please, this is an opportunity for us to spend time together as father and son…
JANU : (laughing out loud)…Papa, at what age?
AMODE : it’ not too late son…
JANU : no Papa its late. Moreover, I can’t allow you to start preaching to me like they did to you people when you were in jail.
AMODE : Januri, you're the only son I have and I have a good feeling this journey you want to embark on won't end well. Please I don't want to lose you.
JANU : Papa, you won't lose me don't worry....(Stands up and walks away)…



(The following week Amode calls Kola up....)

AMODE : hello…
RECEIVER : hello sir?
AMODE : yes.... please can I have the tickets now?
RECEIVER : when do you intend leaving sir?
AMODE : I thought that will depend on when the tickets are ready.
RECEIVER : don't worry sir. Just give me a date and I'll get the ticket for you. But I'll give it to you at the airport.
AMODE : (surprised)...airport? But why?
RECEIVER : that's the instruction I was given sir.
AMODE : (not liking the sound of things)....o...okay I'll let you know...(Hangs up).....what do I do now? I was thinking I would still be able to convince Januri...but with the way things are going....maybe I should just go and leave him behind. I can't do any other thing for him.....or should I just wait here?


To be continued....