Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 29
I went to the state marriage registry with
our passport photographs and necessary
documents to start the process of legally
registering our marriage.
I paid one hundred thousand naira into
Amaka’s account then I went to NITEL phone
booth to call her Office in Abuja, she was not
on seat so I told the receiver that I would
call back by 4.00PM and when I did, she
answered the call. I then told her about my
visit to Abakaliki and the latest development
with Baba Dayo and his wife, mama. She
was just screaming out her joy on the
phone while I was laughing at my own end
to the chagrin of other intending phone
users queued behind me, when I laughed
and looked at their faces I saw anger, as if
my laughter was bad for their health. But I
ignored them, it was my turn to phone and
it was my money burning.
I told her to use the money paid into her
account to buy Baby things, she knew what
she would need as she is the woman.
Though she will be due in October, I did not
want to risk keeping the money till then so
that I do not spend it on frivolities. She was
happy and when Amaka is happy, my world
seemed to be complete. I told her to contact
her father and tell him that we would be
coming for her hand in a month’s time. That
would be July. She screamed and I laughed
louder at my end. One of the guys queued
behind me lost his patience and started
complaining that I was wasting their time.
Another guy told him to be patient that
when it gets to his turn he can afford to use
the whole day on the phone. By the time I
hung back the phone, the two men were at
each other’s throat. I left them and went my
way.
I was enjoying School; I instantly became
popular in my department. I had some
factors to my credit though. I had a bike that
I ride to School, so I was mobile and I could
give anyone a lift free of charge even
though my course mates knew I was an
Okada man in the evenings. I had some
change to throw around and this endeared
some students to me, some are parasitic
and others saprophytic. They also thought I
was a Soldier and as such some wanted my
friendship because of protection from the
School Man ‘o’ war boys, these Guys were in
charge of school internal security and were
feared by Students but the Man ‘o’ War Boys
had respect for me especially when I
declined to join them. The Man ‘o’ war
presidents were always serving military men
in school.
Another very important factor was my
academic prowess, all we were being taught
in year one I had already done as a prelim
student in I.M.T so I was naturally ahead of
the students and I was being booked by
different groups for extra lessons. And
finally because I was older than most of the
other students I got the highest number of
votes when we were told to nominate
candidates into the position of Course
representative. I had accepted the position
before I knew what I got myself into.
I was the conduit between the Lecturers
and Students, I had to be present at school
daily and early because I ensured that
lecturers are called in for their lectures in
case they forget, I sold text books for
lecturers and collect cash from students.
Some Students that missed some
assignments and quizzes come to me to
help them beg the lecturers for a reset of
the assignment or quiz. After examination
the students also come to me to help settle
lecturers. After a very tiresome day at school,
I still engaged myself in my Okada business
at night, I retire home early in the morning
only to wake up at 5.30AM and prepare for
School again.
The best nights for Okada business were at
weekend when many people flock into town
for social functions. They lodge in several
hotels and the night girls knows which hotel
had the most guests so they migrate to such
hotel to ply their trade at night so it was
important that the Okada riders know
which hotel has the most crowd or which
hotel is hosting a show at night. On nights
when any of the campuses in the City is
organizing any show in a hotel, I carry two
girls or a couple at once instead of one
person per ride to the venue. On such nights
I do not sleep, because students at I.M.T or
U.N.E.C hostels troop out continuously all
night to such show and as early as
4.00AM,they begin to disperse in their
numbers back to their hostels so I have got
to be there to make my money.
I cannot forget the night a girl hired me for
the whole night from 8.00PM till dawn. I
carried her to five different hotels to meet
five different Clients with whom she spent at
least two hours each. I simply waited at the
Bar drinking my Gulder on her bill. At the
end of the day, around 5.30AM she came out
from her last Clients room and met me down
stairs at the Bar then she went into the
Ladies and spent about ten minutes. When
she re emerged I did not recognize her
again, it was when she beckoned at me that
I recognized her, she had changed her
clothing into a casual long skirt and lose
blouse and wore a scarf on her head, she
then held a Bible in her hand, it was a
Saturday morning and she naturally looked
like someone who had gone for a night vigil
on Friday night.
I followed her outside to my Bike after she
paid for my beer and paid me our agreed
fare and I drove her to the home of an
innocent gentle man that was her fiancé,
she got down and knocked at the gate of
the house, the Owner, a handsome
gentleman opened the gate and welcomed
her, she told the man that she was yet to
settle me, he asked her the amount and she
told him, they went inside together while
she told me to wait and she winked at me
while I smiled; the man came out and gave
me the extra fare and I went home to
ponder over the night.
I did this transaction a couple of times
afterwards with the same lady until I heard
from my fellow Night riders that she had
married the man and they have both
relocated to Abuja.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Our court wedding took place quietly.
Amaka had four of her friends in attendance
and as witnesses while I had Ayo the Barber
to sign as my witness and three other
classmates as attendees, after the registry
we all went to Den’s cook for refreshment.
In July, all roads led to Awka to meet my
prospective in-law.
Baba Dayo and Mama came with friends; the
friends hired a sixteen Seats Toyota Hiace
bus to convey them while others joined
Baba Dayo in his new silver coloured Toyota
Path finder and mama’s ox blood coloured
Toyota Carina E with full options was driven
by Oga Luke Umahi. We stormed Awka and
from Awka we were directed to go to
Amaka’s home town in Unubi as her father
had gone home to receive us with his
kinsmen. What I thought would be a brief
affair turned the opposite.
My parents were more prepared than I had
thought. Baba Dayo told Amaka’s Kinsmen
that he wants to break protocols and go
home with his wife same day. Every item
that was written on the traditional marriage
list was paid for in cash! The bride price
was not negotiated as they expected from
us but was paid in cash!
The news went viral that some Yoruba
people were doing wonders at Barrister
Dike’s compound and before we knew it,
the compound was full. Some Yoruba youth
Corp members serving at Unubi community
got to know that we were Yorubas, they
organized all other Corp members from
Ekwulumini, Osumenyi and Uga Villages
close to Unubi, they all came in their
Uniforms to support me, Baba Dayo gave
them some money to entertain themselves,
they bought some gallons of palm wine and
some crates of Legend extra stout and
before we knew what was happening the
Corp members brought out drums and
started Kegites gyration at one end of the
compound while the popular Theresa
Onuoha Egedege traditional dancers were
performing at centre stage. Some youths
were sent out to Onitsha Gariki market to
buy two Cows and two Rams.
When the Truck came in with the Animals,
there was uproar in the compound. The
Animals were slaughtered and shared
amongst the kinsmen accordingly while
meat and food were also served to everyone
that came; there was liquor in abundance as
every liquor store in the village sold out their
Stock. What was supposed to be a quiet visit
was turned into a party that lasted till the
early hours of the next day. The Villagers
were saying it was very evident what their
brothers that have travelled to the west said
about ndi Yoruba and Parties, they said they
wished more Yoruba would come for their
Sisters, I laughed when I heard it, these
People did not understand.
Amaka’s father later cornered me at the
Corridor as I was going to meet Amaka in
her late mother’s room, he knew I had been
avoiding him; he held me by the shoulder
and pulled me closer to himself; Stop
avoiding me Boy! He said; you have done
well and I am proud of you! Let your past be
in the past so that you can move on in life,
right?
I said, yes sir!
Well done Boy! He said again; I am proud of
you! You and your people have impressed
me; you have brought honour to me in this
community! Your marriage will go down in
the history of this Village as the best! You
pulled all the neighboring Villages to my
Compound! They will take the news back to
their Communities. I like that! Thank you my
Boy! Thank you! He patted my back and he
went to his room, I guess back to his books
I later told Amaka about my encounter with
her father and she expressed her gratitude
to me and my family, she said she thank God
for everything that we have been through
together, she said her traditional wedding
will go down in history as a big and unusual
feat that took place in the Village. The
glamour added by the Corp member’s
performance was awesome and will remain
in peoples memory for long, the village had
never experienced a traditional marriage
that ran from Saturday to Sunday morning
and left the entire Village known drunkards
in stupor.
We left for Enugu on Sunday with our Wife
and one of her nieces that would be staying
with us; we told her family that she will
return to continue her school until Amaka
puts to Bed. My Parents drove with us to my
house while Oga Luke and others drove
straight to Abakaliki
When Baba Dayo saw my apartment, he
opined that I moved into a three bedroom
apartment, I told him I live alone for now as
Amaka still works in Abuja; he called Amaka
to join in our discussion and Amaka also
said it would be a waste of money since I
live alone, then Baba Dayo surprised us all;
So why can’t you leave Abuja and come to
join your husband in Enugu here? He asked.
Amaka and I laughed
You mean her Job abi? He asked
Yes nah Baba! You know she works in
Abuja; I said.
Is she not working for someone? He asked
Yes Sir! She works with Gani Chambers and
you know that! And me I am still in School! I
said.
Okay! He said; as my daughter in-law, I am
commanding you to start preparing for your
resignation immediately you return to
Abuja! I want you to come home to your
husband and start your own chambers! I
want you to open an Amaka Dike Ojo
Chambers in Enugu; you have worked here
before so it is not a strange place for you to
start on your own, in fact all your previous
Clients will be transferred to your own
Company!
Ha! Was all I kept saying while Amaka was
just looking at Baba as if he was chanting
some strange incantation.
Baba continued; I will foot the bill! It is
money that it will cost me, not my blood, and
by the grace of God today, I am capable; he
said beating his chest. I cannot describe my
reaction on paper, I can only say that while
Amaka was crying on her knees with Arms
stretched high up, Mama and Dayo my little
sister were dancing around Baba Dayo and
thanking him. Hmm, Amaka Dike Ojo
Chambers! Good God!
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