Mothers' cry (1994 - 1998) - Episode 8

 

Power supply has been interrupted by National Electrical Power Authority, NEPA, the company was the national power provider in Nigeria. It was notorious for its regular power outage which has changed its acronym to Never Expect Power Always among Citizens. Different governments have promised constant power supply, with huge financial investment in the sector, those funds have gone down the drain.

Tayo was sweating profusely from heat emission from candle light, his power generating set was faulty, he tried to put it on but it didn’t work, it was late in the night. He can’t call any mechanic to fix it, he has a deadline to meet next day . He has decided to be writing daily column to counter Abacha’s media propaganda, he has become a thorn in their flesh, Nigerian Voices has become a leading opposition publication to the Military Government, it enjoyed huge readership among Citizens.

There have been different monetary gestures from government to persuade him to stop attacking it but he has refused. Threats to his life and his family has not dampen his courage. He has taken war against Abacha’s self-succession plan in office as a personal war.

Local government election has been scheduled by NECON for next week, he has followed with keen interest shenanigans displayed by Politicians across the five registered Political Parties to sway electorates and outsmart one another for selfish reason.

He has written his headline “OLD LOOTERS, NEW SAINTS AND THEIR IDEOLOGICAL PRETENSE”.

They are old Political Stalwarts who have milked Nigerian’s coffer for their insatiable greed, some have been sent to jail, others were force to refund money to their State treasury but they still hold sway in their respective states.

As the election draws near, their naïve godsons are seeking their blessings to clinch political offices, although these godsons appears like Saints, their hands is not stained with oil from national cookies’ jar like their political mentors but they are all brandishing political ideologies they knew nothing about or they failed to follow in the past.

Those godfathers have held political office in the past, from South to North, from East to West, they stood above their contemporaries in their conclaves.

Read " Talent on the Street " by the same author ( taiwo emmanuel )

. They have political guts that overwhelmed their opponents

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/mothers-cry-1994-1998

. Saraki’s anointed Candidates will win in Kwara State, Rimi’s factor will determine winners in Kano State, Jakande stands tall above others in Lagos State, Nzeribe and Iwuanyanwu will slug it out in the South East.

They are wearing togas of conservative in the north, South West is full of brandishing of Awolowo’s ideology. South East is full of Zik’s philosophy. It is about Sarduana’s has come back to live with in the North, reincarnation of Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria, Social Democratic Party has been reawaken, National Republican Convention is part of the mantra….

Ireti came out of her room, she wore a pyjamas showing her accentuated br*asts underneath, she paced up and down the room to attract his attention but all her effort proved abortive. Tayo concentrated on his article, he was using one hand to clear sweat on his forehead. Ireti cleared her throat, he looked up to mutter a word but she was faster than him.

“Please Tayo, I want to tell you some…” she stuttered.

“What is it? You can see that I am very busy” he turned his attention back to his article.

“Some men came here this afternoon”.

Tayo dropped his pen to listen to her.

“They said I should warn my husband to stop instigating Citizens against this government or else they will kill me and our Son before they will eventually kill you” she continued.

“Is that all, it is just an empty threat, they can’t lift their finger against anyone of us” he picked up his pen to continue writing.

“That is not all, Tayo, our neighbor told me two days ago that his wife  saw four men loitering around our house and when she asked them who they are looking for, they told her to mind her business” she paused.

He was not paying her attention again, he started using his mouth to blow whistle.

“Please Tayo, be careful, I don’t want to become a Widow”

“ireti, I have heard you, go back to bed” he picked another sheet of paper.

She tried to convince him to stop his incessant attacks on the government or should look for another job.

“Woman, shut up your mouth” he roared.

Ireti fidgeted, she started sweating. She tried to open her mouth to say something. Tayo dragged her closer to himself.     

“Don’t ever interfere in my job again” he pushed her aside, she hit her leg against a chair. She groaned as blood gushed out if her leg.

Tayo blew off the candle light and went to his room. Ireti scrambled in the dark, she sobbed as she finds her way in the dark.