Mothers' cry (1994 - 1998) - Episode 3

 

Edward dialed his wife number on his Office receiver, she didn’t pick it at first dial. She was talking with her Boss, she called back when her Boss left her Office.

“You never pick receiver at first dial” he was angry for no reason. Ifeoma apologized for not picking his call, she tried to explain to him that she was discussing with her Boss when it rang. He didn’t allow her to finish explaining before he told her he won’t come home in the night because he wants to cover an event.

Ifeoma was grateful because she was informed ahead not like previous times when he stayed away from home for days.

“I will see you tomorrow” he dropped the receiver and sighed.

Edward informed her to fulfil all righteousness, she can’t lift her finger to challenge him if he failed to inform her. He didn’t know why she is docile and never discovers his lies. He smiled and said loudly in his heart “the beauty of marrying a village girl”. He was the one that sponsored her tertiary education, he got her on a platter of gold through his connection in the military government. This is the same government he has grew to hate because of human right abuse and deceit, he resigned from Federal Government owned television station to criticize the government.

His conscience pricked him, he felt bad but he can’t help it. He hates lies but his feelings and love for Funmi betrayed him. Funmilayo was his girlfriend during his undergraduate days, they were famous lover-birds on Campus. It was obvious to Students of University of Lagos that they were in love. Funmi with her natural afro hair style, her dimpled cheeks, her slim stature and a perfect brain to complement her beauty. They were deeply in love, when he returned from Kaduna State after his mandatory National Youths Service, his mother told him to bring his female friend home. He knew what her mother meant but African mothers hold marriage as a holy institution and won’t desecrate it by saying girlfriend, it is sacrilegious.    

”You can never marry Onye femanu” his mother thundered.

He was angry with his mother, she hates Yoruba with all her heart, “they are betrayal that was the reason Biafra was defeated, Awolowo failed to honour his agreement with Ojukwu, we lost our best brains, where is Chris Okigbo? A brilliant poet and light from our land, Gowon and Awolowo failed to reintegrate us back to Nigeria”.

His uncle that he was staying with in Lagos told him to obey his mother. “It will be better for you never to marry a woman against your mother’s wish, it will backfire”. Ifeoma’s mother is his mother childhood friend, he would have sent her away but her good character is her safe haven.

He didn’t know how Funmi got to know about his wedding, she attended his traditional engagement in Nsukka and stayed back to attend church service. He didn’t tell her his mother’s opinion about her tribe, he was scared she might disrupt the event, he decided to tell her when he returns to Lagos. He was afraid when he saw her, he lied to her that his mother was very sick in the village, one of his friends must have told her. He can’t leave his seat, immediately after the traditional engagement, he looked for her but she has disappeared. She reappeared again the next day for the church service, when he looked back and saw her, he was absent minded. When the officiating Priest asked if there anyone that has reason not to join Edward Eberechukwu and Ifeoma Abigail as husband and wife, he was scared to marrow, the whole world will know their secret, the ab*rtion she had when they were serving in Kaduna State that almost claimed her life as affected her fallopian tube, it will take miracle for her to conceive again. Kingsley, his friend that did it failed to do it very well, although he has done it for others without complications. She bled for days before her roommate rushed her to General Hospital when she was unconscious, the Doctor told them when they can’t abstain from s*x, they should have used condom. “It will take miracle for her to conceive again” the Doctor said it in his Hausa assent. She cried for days but he consoled her that they will get marry and that the miracle will work for them.

She gave him a note at the reception through his best man, he opened it when Ifeoma was busy dancing to highlife music. “God will judge you, I will never forgive you”. When he returned from honeymoon, he looked for her, he went to her office in Lagos Radio, Agidingbin Ikeja, and he was told she has travelled out of the country. He thought she was avoiding him, he went to her father’s house, his father confirmed it. She has travelled to the United Kingdom. “For how long as she be thinking about it? She was born in the UK, all she needs is to book her ticket.

Edward conscience was pricking him, he felt her shadow was trying to strangulate him while sleeping, her ghost trying to stab him while walking. He missed her, nostalgia about love they shared, longing for another experience. He didn’t know how she looks now, maybe she would have toned her skin to look white. He wants to kiss her dimple.

Mother luck smiled on Edward one day, he was returning from covering protest by National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, demanding from the Military Government  to allow conclusion of result announcement of the winner of June 12th presidential election which was believed to be won by Social Democratic party, SDP candidate, MKO Abiola. He was leading is main challenger, Bahir Torfa of National Republican Convention, NRC in a landslide victory before then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babaginda annulled the election.

Protesters were dispersed and brutalized by angry military officers, some were killed by stray bullets from sporadic shootings, and few that were lucky sustained degree of injuries and were rushed to hospital. He went to the hospital to confirm casualty rate, he hates this military government. He was standing at the hospital reception thinking about right headline to give the story “MILITARY OFFICERS KILL TWENTY PROSTETERS, MANY INJURED”. He felt the headline is not catching enough, he wanted a headline that will make military government go gaga. He wanted to pierce their bone and marrow with his pen. He wanted to inflict pain on them like they have brutalized innocent citizens. He settled for this headline “PROTEST: MILITARY OFFICERS GO BESERK, KILL TWENTY NADECO MEMBERS, INJURED MANY”.

He was about entering his car when he saw Funmi, asking a Nurse for the office of the Chief Medical Director, the Nurse walked past her without uttering a word. All medical personnel in the hospital have been warned by the government not to speak with the Press especially those with anti-government posture. She was frustrated, hoping to see anyone that will plead anonymity.

She was working harder to meet her deadline, her Editor in the UK is expecting her report. Radio Kudirat has become a thorn in the flesh of the military government, it is a medium used by NADECO movement to attack Abacha’s government. It has been reporting to the world Abacha’s atrocities, she has to go undercover to prevent arrest or assassination by state killer squad.

She knew that she has been on the wanted lists of government, her father warned her to return to the UK but her hatred for injustice being perpetuated by government won’t allow her to leave Nigeria.

“Do you think everybody will be lucky and be fortified like Abraham Adesanya?” her father asked her.

She didn’t know what to tell the old man because she knew it is only a fortified person can survive Adesanya’s bullet ridden car.

“But we can’t let this madness by Abacha and his boys continue without anyone to tell the world” she retorted.

“You better run away like Soyinka, Tinubu and Enahoro, they are known around the globe, yet they have gone to exile because of Abacha but you are here not willing to run away” her father continued.

“Dad, it is getting late, I need to go now to beat Lagos traffic” she carried her bag and left.

She was not surprised by the Nurse reaction, Abacha and his boys are threat to the nation, she muttered an inaudible word “everybody is afraid of death”.

She heard a voice calling her name, it sounded very familiar. She prayed it won’t be the person, she hates him like leprosy, her fear was confirmed. It was Edward.

He moved closer to where she was standing, both were dumbfounded, he deserved to be executed but it wasn’t his fault. He needed to please his mother, it was beyond him. Funmi wanted to enter her car, he held her back. His midget fell from his hand.

“Funmi, please I am very sorry” he was remorseful.

“You are heartless” she snapped, tears rolling down her cheeks.

He broke her heart beyond remedy, she remembered love they shared together in the past, promises made to each other and future they planned together but he abandoned her. She had hatred for him but seeing him on his kneels has soften her heart. They walked together to stand under a shade, he told her how he knew she travelled to the UK.

“I knew you have left FRCN”.

“FRCN is now government mouth piece, I have to leave to a private media house to fight this ruthless government” he giggled.

“Let put Naija matter aside, let talk about ourselves” he continued.

She told him how she lost her marriage in the UK because her husband discovered that her fallopian tube is bad, he wanted a child of his own. He rejected her idea of adoption and artificial insemination, she left him to marry another woman.

“I have put marriage issue on hold because no man will marry a barren Woman”. She wiped tears off her face with her palm.

Edward felt bad about it, he wished he can bring back time to right his wrong. He was responsible for her bareness, he pleased for forgiveness, for an opportunity for another friendship.

They have gone beyond mere friendship to lover, they have reenacted their old love. Edward was always eager to visit her, he can’t trade few minutes of her companion for spending a day at home with his wife. He enjoyed their intellectual conversation on politics, sports and music

Funmi always long for his regular visit, she wanted him around her as a shield to cover her loss. They began from where they stopped. They shared same hatred for military government. He was a succor to her in her dangerous adventure reporting for Kudirat Radio, sometimes she was frightened when she remembered many Journalists that have been killed by Military Government. Dele Giwa’s mysterious death is very fresh in her memory, some believed he was killed by Ibrahim Babaginda but nobody has been arrested. Only few were lucky like Alex Ibru of Guardian Newspaper that escaped death by whisper. She needed Edward in her life to share in her pain of fear of death. They wanted a democratic elected government to be installed in Nigeria, they have resolved to fight military government to standstill to have their dream fulfilled.

Edward checked his office wall clock, it was fifteen minute past seven, he dialed receiver on his table, it ranged at the other end but there was no response. He was contemplating whether or not to try again. He stood up, shutdown his desktop computer system and wear his suit.

He can’t keep off his mind from the receiver, he dialed again and a voice answered from the other end.

“Why didn’t you pick up before” he asked.

“I went to have a cold shower” the voice replied.

“Funmi, I can’t keep off my mind away from the receiver when you didn’t pick up my call” he continued.

“Do you miss me” Funmi giggled.

“Missing is an understatement” he laughed.

He dropped the receiver after he was sure that she is back at home, he locked his office and dropped the key with the Security Guard on duty after exchanging banters with that he might come back to office on Saturday or Sunday if those military bastard engage in any atrocity over the weekend. He told him in an audible voice that “Nigerians deserve to know everything”.

When he got to Ojota, he saw some female Activists protesting and demanding for justice against killer of Kudirat Abiola, they wore black cloth, raising curses on her killers, there was heavy traffic that made vehicular movement was standstill. He pitied them and muttered a word to himself “we all know that Abacha’s hand was evidently involved”, before he finished his word, Police Officers dispersed them. They started shooting sporadically into the air, they fired teargas.

 They dragged few unlucky protesters they catch trying to escape on the ground, he brought out his photo camera, he took some shots, within twinkle of an eyes. They have disappeared. He can’t wait to drive down to Funmi’s house at Ojodu Berger to break the news and share some pictures with her when he prints them out for her to ferry to her boss in the UK.

He was welcomed by Funmi’s hot hug when he knocked at her door, she wore a lingerie showing her accentuated n*pples calling for s*cking. Her br*asts on display was s*ductive, her straight legs were calling for a carrier to a spacious bed. He was about sharing the news with her.

“The news can wait later because I am wet” she put her index finger on his lips.

He served him his favourite Eba with Ogbono soup for dinner, she teased him that he must be strong for the match ahead of him. She has missed him, they departed two days ago, it was like one hundred years in her mind, she wants him more to herself alone, his wife was an usurper that must be unseated.

She followed him to the bathroom to have his bathbath.

She put her head on his chest both n*ked, he was telling her about those women ordeal in the hand of aggressive police officers.

“This government has no respect for women” she snapped.

“We all know that Abacha’s hand is not clean about Kudirat’s death” he replied.

Edward mind went to his wife Ijeoma sleeping alone on the bed, cuddling her pillow, he felt for her but he loves Funmi. He enjoyed Funmi’s companion, their conversation on topical national issues in the polity, he has nagged about her mono s*xual style, he wanted an adventure and he needs a lady that will make him go haywire. He loved how Funmi screamed when they were in the act.

“Ed, let go to the Shrine tonight” Funmi said.

“I heard that Fela is very ill” Edward replied.

“I was told he will perform tonight” she continued.

Edward initiated her into “felanation” when they were undergraduate, he changed her perspective about Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s music and lifestyle. She used to see Fela as a man that encouraged drug abuse by his public smoking of cannabis, his half n*ked appearance on stage.

She changed her mind when she followed her to Kalakuta to watch Fela’s stage performance, she listened with rapt attention to lyrics of his songs, and her favourite song is beast of no nation. She was chocked by smoke from cannabis that filled the air but she was eager to go back again.

She is now a stanch disciple of the Afro Singer maestro, she sees Fela as a crusader against injustice perpetuated by African leaders. They were subjected to thorough search at the entrance of the Shrine by fierce looking guards, there have been several attacks on Fela by the military government. After they were cleared at the entrance, they were welcomed by smoke of cannabis mixed with stench odour of alcohol gushing out from the shrine.

Fela was about coming on stage with a loud ovation from audiences, he blew his saxophone for few minutes and said in his baritone voice.

“Have you all heard how Zombies attacked our Wives, our Sisters and our Mothers for demanding for justice?” He began to sing.

Everybody run, run…

Police dey come, army dey come…..