Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8
Our money was finally paid in the Month of May,
I was paid nine Months allowance used in Zaria
depot plus five months arrears as a serving
Soldier. All the money amounted to twenty
thousand naira! In 1991 twenty thousand naira
was like twenty million naira today and I really
felt like a millionaire back then. In all of my life, I
had never thought of owning such amount of
money.
I furnished my house sparsely. I bought a giant
sized six by six inches mattress, I bought green
rug Carpet for the two rooms and placed my
mattress on the Rug. I did not make a bed, I
bought a medium range electronic set and a
twenty one inches coloured Television. My Dad
never owned a television or any electronic
gadget till he died; even the transistor radio he
carried about was given to him by a debtor who
could not pay for the palm wine my dad supplied
him during new yam festival. So I felt so
accomplished when I opened my door and beheld
my transformed two room apartment, with every
property owned by me. My Mother needs to see
this.
I went to Ogete main Market and bought some
clothes and Shoes. I bought some Ankara fabric
and jewelries for Mama; I bought her hand bags
and Shoes too. When I slept at night on my Giant
sized mattress, I went to heaven and woke after
nine o’clock in the morning when everyone had
gone to work. Of course when I got to work at
after ten o’clock I was relieved of my Beret, my
belt and shoes and marched straight to the
Guard room! The only question my RSM asked
me was: You dey sick? To which I answered No
Sir! March him to the guard room! He ordered
the Korofo marshal, the quarter master drilled
me to the guard room with his swagger stick
cursing and insulting me as if I had issues with
him before now. Common move! Oya! Frog jump!
Frog jump! He commanded while jabbing me with
his stick. silly boy! Idiot! When small money enter
una hand, na so una go de do any how! He poked
me harder with his stick even though I was
obeying his commands and frog jumping to the
guard room.
The RSM did not tell him to punish me, he was
simply told to march me to the guard room but
immediately the RSM was out of sight, he
resorted to punishing me.
Yeye boy! He continued: you don go drink, Bleep
ashawo forget yourself! No worry, no be this
barracks you dey? That your money go soon
finish! Oya pull that your wrist watch give me! So
you don go buy ‘shine shine’ watch ko? Idiot boy!
Barger! Oya commot that chain wey dey your
neck! You be woman? silly boy!
In all of the rants I did not utter a word, I knew
better, I was released later that night and I went
home to freshen up before reporting for night
guard duty at the house of my CO.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
We played the semi final match against the 244
Recce Battalion of Awkwunanaw and we
defeated them on a penalty shoot out , I scored
the last and winning penalty shot and I was
raised shoulder high at the end of the match.
Sergeant Korofo carried me on his shoulder and
ran round the barracks while our supporters and
team mate ran after him singing and jubilating.
We later settled down and the CB mess for
drinks and entertainment.
Chike came around when we were rounding up at
the mess and called me out for a chat.
Congratulations Ojo! He said
Thank you Oga Chike! I replied
The Car don ready o! Na you I dey wait now! He
announced;
You mean am? I asked: which kind of car? How
much:
Na Peugeot 504GR and na eight thousand naira:
he said.
Haba Chike! He too cost nah! I no get eight
thousand naira I beg. I replied.
So na how much you want to pay? He asked
I can’t pay more than Five thousand naira, and I
need to see the Motor first, I said.
Oya follow me! He said as he turned and walked
briskly towards the tarred road where cars are
parked, I followed behind in excitement.
He pointed at a navy blue coloured 504 saloon
car and dangled the keys before me, we entered
the Car and he started the engine and revved it.
The engine sound was superb and the interior
very neat and smooth. He said the Car does not
have a factory fitted air condition but it can be
installed if I care, who cares? I asked him. I love
the Car instantly and I agreed to buy it if he is
willing. He accepted my offer and the next day I
paid him in full and I became the proud owner of
a Peugeot 504 GR saloon Car! And that was how
I bought trouble with my money!
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