DIARY OF AN OKADA RIDER.

"HOLY URIEL."

23rd of Oct' 2013..
 Nothing was as delicious as hot Eba served with Okra soup Jaji decided,belching. He'd breezed into Mama Jimoh's restaurant for a quick meal bearing in mind that the peak hour was close -about the time  children closed from their various schools, when patronage was usually high. He ordered for an extra wrap of Eba.
 " No extra meat?" The albino waiter asked still edging by.
"Ha! You wan give me free? Abeg go bring hot Eba come jor. Bring am 'without', before dis food taya me."
"Sorry sir." The albino quickly left and returned with the order. Jaji devoured every bit of soft morsel  and chewed to tiny pieces the meat bone. He gestured at the waiter to bring his bills which he quickly paid and stepped out. It was a cool day having rained earlier. Jaji enjoyed the sweet breeze that teased his skin as he rode on in search of passengers. One soon flagged at him to stop,a young man that appeared a bit fidgety. He was perspiring profusely too. "Which side you dey go?" Jaji asked. He appeared to be growing more fidgety by the moment.
" Oga,anywhere wey far from here."
"How you mean?"
"I mean take me go any place now now! Abeg...Okay take me go stadium road. Quick oga!" He already jumped on the Okada and placed the big ghana-must-go bag he was carrying across Jaji's thighs. "Help me carry this load ,thank you."
 Jaji's eyebrows creased. For a moment there he was confused. "I no understand you o...who dey pursue you?" He wouldn't start the Okada just yet.
"I go nack you tory later,just move abeg." Jaji heaved a sigh. Now he didn't know what to make of the frantic looking man and the raw urgency so audible in his voice. He turned the key in the ignition and fired away. As he rode through the streets of Coral towards Stadium road,his mind was centred on the passenger behind him. Anyway he cared less if the whole world was chasing him so far he paid his fare as he dropped him.
"Oga stop! Stop!" the passenger tapped him abruptly on the back,cutting in on his thoughts.  Jaji held the brakes. He wasn't even near the stadium yet so...? "Turn round enta dat street on your left after the bend."
"Issorite.." Jaji did as he was instructed. The passenger directed him until they arrived at an uncompleted building situated on a lonely lane off the road.  Jaji looked around,there were a few buildings close by but all of them seemed uncompleted too. His eyes came to rest on the man's face. "Mr man I no understand wetin dey happen o. You tell me stadium -" Jaji began angrily. Whatever this man had up his sleeves,he had no part in it!
"I know wetin I tell you but you see I need to see my father in the Lord first wey go tell me wetin I go do next."
"Father in the what??! Abeg giv me money mek I waka!" Jaji thundered.
 Just then two men emerged from the building. One was very tall while the other an exact opposite. Jaji's heart missed a beat..oh no..not again!  They moved towards us.
"Bless you," began the tall man,"Angel Uriel be with you." He smiled briefly at Jaji and then turned to the passenger,"Why have you come here brother Joe? Haven't I told you that if you want to see me you should either see me in church or at home? And not here where I need to be alone to do some spiritual work. Primate Akpan and I have been praying here and do not need any form of disturbance."
"Sorry daddy,sorry," rushed in the passenger,his chest heaving rapidly. "It's just that..just that..i was so confused. I needed to see you urgently."
"I hope there's no problem? Please come inside and tell us what the matter is." the primate sounded worried. They were led into one of the rooms inside the building. It was a sparsely furnished room that had slightly faded rug on the floor, an altar  in the far corner filled with brightly coloured candles and two wooden chairs. Jaji wrinkled his nose to the the smell of incense.
  They were offered seats and then Jaji caught the drift at once. Joe was a steward to a white man. That very afternoon he had stumbled across some sort of chemical substance belonging to his master that was used for the production of dollar notes. He almost didn't want to 'take' it until he remembered that his daddy in the Lord had prophesied that the week would be a money making one for him.
"Eli! Eli!" cried the prophet joyously,jumping on his feet at that point. His cohort did same. "Baba's words never fail! The prophecy has come to pass! Holy Gabriel and Holy Uriel  thank you for speedy manifestation." They both demanded to see the chemical substance. Joe showed them and Jaji looked on as they stared in awe at the colourless substance which would transform all their lives soonest.
 Jaji caught on the entire drift after that. He was asked to produce the sum of ten thousand naira for the purchase of another chemical substance which would be needed to complete the procedure. Jaji nodded his head,agreeing to partake in the money making venture. " I want to prosper too!". Jaji exclaimed with gusto.
"Hmmmm! Eli! Eli! Hmmmm...Angel Uriel...hmmm, good good good!" The prophet's  eyes were closed now..he began to make staggering movements towards Jaji, and then towards Joe who was busy chanting, "yes daddy.. yes daddy..yes daddy.."  The man who was refered to as the primate suddenly chipped in," You'll have to take an oath Mr..." he trailed off.
"Peter."  Jaji supplied,"My name is Peter."
"Hmmm..yes..yes..Peter..i see you becoming very great and prosperous," the prophet continued the staggering movements," yes peter...Peter.. baba is speaking to you now, he says : Peter my son,you'll be great! You will prosper! Angel Uriel...oh..Eli.." suddenly he paused and opened his eyes. "Primate Akpan is right. We will all take an oath here should anyone of us break the covenant we have reached here today." Jaji nodded my head in agreement again.
 A colourless liquid that tasted like sprite was given to him to drink. They all drank from it too. "After drinking the sacred drink,the drink of life and death,if any one decides to break away from the agreement he shall die!"
 They all agreed to meet there the next day,same time. They baded Jaji goodbye but he wouldn't leave immediately. He lingered by the doorway,scratching his head thoughtfully.
"Any problem?" The prophet quizzed.
"Well..a bit.. can I bring more than ten thousand naira when coming tomorrow? "
"Sure" they all chorused in unison. A huge smile stretched the already wide mouth of the prophet. "Of course!" he exclaimed," More Money more dollar production!"
Jaji 's eyes sparkled as he said excitedly," I have about fifty thousand naira with my elder brother but he lives at Ore. I would need about three thousand naira for my transport fare."
"Fifty thousand naira you said??" The prophet's eyes rounded with shock. He turned to the others." He's a son to us now. Let us give him this money now so in turn he can bring fifty thousand naira to us tomorrow."
In no time they donated one thousand naira each for his fare and before he finally departed for Ore,the prophet reminded him that no one had to know about the agreement. Jaji took his leave and immediately went  straight to an Electronic shop and purchased a pressing iron. He thought it was high time he bought one. It was a good day. Angel Uriel had indeed blessed him with three thousand naira.

Written by Osarhieme Okungbowa

*Did you guys enjoy today's diary? Hope you did. Henceforth Jaji's clothes will be well ironed.. all thanks to the scam who was scammed. Hehehehehe