The Godmother

Episode 11

‘Yes, yes, I’m rich!’ he told himself. He would still have to
dress up and go to the office. He would have to drop his
letter of resignation. Before leaving, he put two bundles of
the one thousand naira notes in his bag. He would need to
buy some wears and upgrade his wardrobe. Henceforth,
level had changed and it would reflect in his lifestyle. As he
made for his car, he decided he would have to sell it off and
buy a better model.
By few minutes to eight that morning, he was in the cubicle
office he shared with four colleagues. He started writing
the letter of resignation. Utomi, one of the administrative
assistants came to meet him.
‘Oga wants to see you,’ Utomi said.
‘Which oga?’
‘Chief,’ Utomi replied simply.
He was referring to Chief Dele, the publisher of NewsPeak.
Now, that must be important. Chief Dele would only send
for you when the matter was exigent. Tope suspended the
letter he was writing and went to the first floor to meet the
man.

From the anteroom of the publisher’s office, Tope was
directed to meet Chief Alfred Dele. He was an ebullient man
who had connections
with the high and the mighty in the society. He was always
on the move, nationally and internationally.
‘Ha, Tope Davies, good to see you,’ Dele said. He extended
his hands for a handshake. Tope took it with a slight bow.
‘Sit down, please.’ Dele offered him a seat.
Tope thanked his boss and sat down.
‘I must say you’re a lucky chap,’ Dele said. ‘Just a few
minutes ago, I received a call from the Chief press
secretary to Her Excellency, the
First Lady. The C.P.S informed that the first lady had seen
your documentary on child prostitution and was very
impressed.’
Tope’s face lit up in excitement. ‘Oh, thank God for that,’ he
said.
‘Yes. Now, the First Lady is asking that you come and join
her N.G.O as Programme Officer.’
Tope could not believe his ears. ‘Really?’
‘Yes. The Press secretary has requested that I send him
your number. He will then call you. Congratulations for
your efforts and
congratulations that you’ll be joining them at the
Presidency.’ Once again, Dele extended his hand for a
handshake.
Tope took it excitedly. The news was a pleasant surprise.
‘Thank you, sir,’ he said. ‘Let me write my number for you,
sir.’
He was given a jotter and he wrote his numbers down. As
he returned to his cubicle office, Tope decided that there
was no need he rushed
to be his own boss. Working for the N.G.O would be a very
worthwhile experience. He would tarry with his plan to
start something on his
own. He had hardly entered his office and settled down
when a call came in.

He was given a jotter and he wrote his numbers down. As
he returned to his cubicle office, Tope decided that there
was no need he rushed to be his own boss. Working for the
N.G.O would be a very worthwhile experience. He would
tarry with his plan to start something on his own. He had
hardly entered his office and settled down when a call came
in.
‘Is that Mr. Tope Davies?’ the caller wanted to know.
‘Yes. Who’s on the line, please?’
‘I’m Azzez Issa, Chief Press Secretary to Her Excellency, the
first lady. Your publisher gave me your number. Her
Excellency was impressed with the articles and expose you
did on child prostitution and she would like you to work for
her N.G.O as Program Officer. Send me your account name
and number so that I’ll send some morning to you that
you’ll use fir flight. You’ll be starting the job from Monday,
as you’re expected by eight in the morning. When you get
to the villa, tell them you have appointment with Azzez
Issa, in the Office of the First Lady. In case of any difficulty,
this is my number. Call me.’

Tope grinned to himself. ‘Thank you, sir. Thank you very
much. I’ll send the account details promptly.’
‘Alright.’
He whistled to himself again. Things were certainly going at
fast pace. Within the last 18 hours, he had experienced a
lot. He wondered if it
was coincidence that the Abuja job offer was coming now,
or it was part of the fortune Iye said she would give him.

His doubts were
cleared with the next call he received. Iye was on the line.
‘Congratulations for your Abuja job,’ she said. He was
stupefied.

‘How did you know?’ he asked.
‘How will I not know?’
‘I was about to tell you.’ Now, he was certain she brought
the luck to him. ‘Thank you for everything, Iye. You’re too
much.’
‘It’s okay. I hope you won’t forget Rita.’
‘Forget? Lailai. I’m going to marry her. I’m going to do
anything you ask me to do.’
‘Alright.’
‘Thank you, Iye. Thank you very much.’
‘Okay, bye.’
How would he forget about Rita? He was ready to marry
her, even right now! He remembered he was expected to
send his account details
to the man that called from Abuja. This, he promptly did.

Then, he went to meet his editor and explained the Abuja
connection to him.
Chucks expressed surprise and delight. He congratulated
Tope and told him to ‘remember Lagos boys.’ Tope left his
office and drove to
Ikeja. At a popular shopping mall, he bought about a dozen
of shirts, four pairs of trousers, two pairs of shoes and
some boxers for himself.
He had carefully selected the quality shirts he bought.
After that, he drove to an eatery and bought two packs of
food. Thereafter, he drove back home. He checked to see if
Rita’s number he
stored was on in the phone. It was. He called her.
‘Hello, Rita. How’re you?’
‘I’m fine. Who’s on the line, please?’
‘This is the man that took you to his Ogba home some days
ago. I …’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t do that kind of business again,’ she said.