Follow Us on Google
SHORT STORY
By Ogbe Adaofuoyi
The sun was beginning to set that particular day. As the erstwhile, blazing hot and harsh sun that illuminated the day earlier, it was snailisly but steadily setting, evening was glaringly creeping into the milieu of a aged day. As the emerging night was becoming distinct, Ahmadu Ubahi took a short, brisk stroll within the vicinity of his compound. As he walked around, he observed the corrugated iron zinc roofs of his place of abode. This made him to sigh. The roof top of his place of abode, required replacements, he told himself. The entire house where he lived, as a matter of fact, required renovation he told himself again.
At length, he finished his brisk, and habitual stroll around his compound, most evenings, and went on to rest his frame in a reclining rickety chair positioned prominently in a choice place of his place of abode. As he sat in the said reclining chair, he began to meditate on a nocturnal meeting to which he had been invited that particular night.
He had just escorted a visitor from his compound. The said visitor, was actually a neighbor that lived about a stone-throw away from his compound, or rather, place of abode. The visitor to Ahmadu Ubahi house, had invited the latter to a meeting, a nocturnal meeting. Now, Ahmadu Ubahi does not like night meetings of any sort anywhere, and for any reason or purpose whatsoever. He was of the mindset that, as long as it was meetings, gatherings or joint adult discussions; such, should be held during day times, he told himself. Any meetings or gatherings which were scheduled for night – time, he told himself, arguably, had a little alignment with acts, deeds and activities that were ‘shady’ and ‘un–lawful.’
Initially, after the said invitation was issued to him, to attend the said nocturnal meeting; he told himself not to go to the venue of the nocturnal meeting. At length however, he decided to attend. As it turned out to be, the reason for the scheduled night meeting was political in nature. A particular prominent, well–to–do, son–of–the–soil, from that community and domain, was intent on vying for a particular, political office. It was actually the season of political activities in the nation, that particular, general, election year. Thus, political campaigns, manifestoes presentations by campaigning politicians, vote wooing, and shrewd acts of philanthropy by astute politicians, were ubiquitous in all the nook and cranny of the country, and community, where Ahmadu Ubahi dwelled.
The prominent son–of–the–soil who called for the meeting, when he arrived at the venue, was simple, blunt and straight – forward, in stating the reason for inviting his kinsmen and kinswomen for such a tete–a–tete at such a dark hour in the night. He declared that he wanted all the people gathered, to cast their votes for him on the day of election which was by now, very imminent. Not stopping at his bold, and brash request; the campaigning politician went on to make another proposal to his kinsmen and kinswomen that were present. The said son-of-the-soil of that community that was appealing for the votes of the people, declared that he was ready to pay each individual present, good, substantial amounts of money, if they were to agree to vote for him on Election Day. The campaigning politician however pointed out ‘an issue’. He told all and sundry present at the nocturnal meeting, that before money would be paid to any, potential voter on election day; such a voter must first swear by a dreaded local, feminine deity, that on election day, people that collect-or accept monetary bribe-from him, the campaigning politician, would, surely cast their votes, in provided ballot boxes for him, the individual, who was now soliciting for their votes. Also, on election day, the campaigning politician stated that after voting, individuals that accept to receive monetary inducements from him, must produce, irrefutable proof that they, indeed, voted for the political party under the auspices of which he was now campaigning, or they would affirm to the fact that they voted for him, truly, with an oath.
After the said brief, but very bold proposal; the campaigning politician had “strolled” into a near-by exotic car, which was surrounded by many other similar cars. Then, in a convoy of aides, friends, helmsmen, and over-zealous supporters, his driver, had ‘chauffeured’ the car, carrying the “VIP” out of the venue. As the other cars zoomed after the particular one conveying the campaigning politician; a slightly disturbing gale of dust covered the immediate, environs.
Thereafter, foods and drinks were served to the entire people gathered. Incidentally, the nature of the victuals that that was served to the entire guests at the said nocturnal meeting, was, strangely reflective of its giver, the by-now, departed politician who was subtly clamoring for the votes of the people, on the election day, that was by-now, imminent. As the gathered people at the said nocturnal meeting, ate and feasted, and enjoyed themselves; Ahmadu Ubahi requested for a polythene leather to be given to him, in which he ‘packaged’ his own meals and meat. He did this, because he didn’t want to eat elaborately at the said venue. Other than attending nocturnal meetings, and gatherings; another thing which Ahmadu Ubahi didn’t like too much, was eating elaboratively, or heavily at night. Ahmadu Ubahi, was of the mind-set that, just as normal human-beings required rest at night, so also do their alimentary, body organs.
Meanwhile, amidst the eating, and indulgent drinking, and hushed verbal parleys that characterized the said, nocturnal meeting, it was when reiterated loud crows of cocks and roosters in the neighborhood began to permeate the environment and vicinity, that the individuals at the night meeting, ended their nocturnal gathering, and then afterwards, all began to hurry home to their individual places of abode.
***
Later in the afternoon of that particular day, Ahmadu Ubahi, again reflected over the issue concerning the night meeting which he had attended earlier. He wondered whether on the Election Day that was now just “around the corner”, he should vote for the host of the now–ended meeting, or for another candidate. The said campaigning politician was offering substantial amounts of money to people that agreed to accept his monetary bribe, in exchange for their votes on the day of the all-important election.
However, Ahmadu Ubahi realized that accepting money from the said campaigning politician, will surely enable him to financially afford a few house-hold responsibilities, and duties. The meditating man reasoned that, with the said amount of money which the campaigning politician was offering to each individual that will vote for him on election day; he could push away poverty, a little bit away from his household, and also give his local farming profession, a substantial boost. The rainy season, already had dawned. Thus, the planting season of crop-seeds and yam seedlings, was around the corner. Ahmadu Ubahi reasoned that if he were to join his league of kinsmen, and kinswomen to collect monetary inducements from the campaigning politician, to vote for him on election day; he –Ahmadu Ubahi – could use his own money to buy a sizeable amount of yam seedlings, or cassava stalks, or “mudus” of raw, dry, groundnuts from the local market. Then afterwards, he would go on ahead to till his farm-land, and plant his seedlings, and crop seeds, in anticipation of a bountiful harvest, during the season of harvest. Ahmadu Ubahi also reasoned that he could use part of the promised amount of money-from the politician- to repair portions of the roof-top of his place of abode, which, currently leaks. He had, prior now, desired to buy new zinc roofing sheets so as to repair his house’s roof-top. Lack of money, however, had barred him from implementing this house-hold action of his.
As he reflected on this said, vote-selling issue in his mind, a silent, invisible voice within him, whispered to him that joining his league of kinsmen, and kinswomen to collect money from the politician, promising to dole out money to potential voters, in exchange for their votes on election day, wasn’t the right thing to do in this said situation. Ahmadu Ubahi came to term with the grim fact that, accepting monetary inducements-of any sort, from the campaigning politician, and then refusing to vote for him -at the polls-on election day, was “subtly, courting death”. The female deity, by which people were entreated to swear by, before collecting money, from the campaigning politician, was a dreaded deity in that vicinity, that can kill within a brief period of interval, if invoked to arbitrate in any issue, in which any one, from that vicinity, was found to be guilty of a culpable offense.
As Ahmadu Ubahi further reflected on the late-night meeting which he and some of his kinsmen, as well as kinswomen, had attended the previous night; the meditating man told himself that this life was consistently amusing, perplexing and replete with situational ironies. The particular person that had called for the by-now ended night meeting, and was soliciting for the votes of eligible voters-from members of his electorate on the by-now imminent election day, was but a young man in his early twenties, just few years back, in the village and vicinity, where he hails from. Then, people, within the vicinity, know him as a poor, village farmer’s son. Ahmadu Ubahi, reflected at this point, on what could be the source of the (sudden) wealth, of the politician that was now campaigning for “attention and honor” with glaring determination, and ardent fervor, from the people of his constituency.
Just like Ahmadu Ubahi, very few people in that community, knew the source of the campaigning politician’s wealth and riches. People in that community only knew him as the son of a struggling farmer in that community, who at a point in time, left the said village and community, to venture into urban areas, in the nation, so as to search for good fortunes. Then, suddenly, many years afterwards, the said “son of the soil” from the community, that had left the said village as a crude, and coarse poor, village farmer’s son, had returned to his kinsmen and kinswomen, as a rich, and reformed, and “classy” urban man-with lots of money to “throw around”. Everything about the said young, “son of the soil” had changed-to the amazement of everyone in the community, that previously knew him. The “transformed young man”, even changed his name. He was now popularly known by an A.K.A. name, or rather acronym. Everywhere, within the vicinity, the suddenly prosperous young fellow, was now known as; “Mister Money”. Such a strange, as well as mysterious evolution from a noticeable status as a poor fellow, to that of a sudden wealthy and rich man, crowde with surplus money, Ahmadu Ubahi reasoned within himself, usually, had links with “concealed criminality”, somehow, somewhere.
Perplexed as they were by the sudden evolution, from being poor to being rich, of their “community son”, nobody in the community, however, queried the suddenly-made-rich-fellow on how he made his money. That he had much money to spend, and “throw around” attracted and endeared many people to him, the way a big piece of magnet-iron, easily attracted little pieces, and bits of iron. From all indications, it seems that now that he was rich and well-to-do; the campaigning politician was trying to “cap his strange wealth acquisition accomplishments, with clinching a lofty political office, which he was now vying for, and campaigning for-with genuine determination.
****
By late evening that same day, Ahmadu Ubahi was still reflecting on the proposal of the said politician who had earlier called for a nocturnal meeting, the previous day pertaining, the said vote – selling issue (on Election Day) in his mind, when he got another visitor. The visitor to his compound and place of abode, was a relative, who was a well-known teacher in that village. Theophilus, or as he was popularly known in the village and its vicinity, Teacher Theo, was a regular visitor to the compound and household of Ahmadu Ubahi. As the former strolled into the compound of the latter; and at length entered into the parlor of his kinsman, he was profuse with pleasantries and greetings as he eased his frame into a particular cushion chair which dotted a section in the room. Because night-time was snailishly, but glaringly evolving, and because, inside the confines of the said place of abode, was a little hot; Ahmadu Ubahi suggested that they both sit outside.
At length, as both men took their seats outside, and eased their frames into their seats; both Ahmadu Ubahi, and Teacher Theo began to discuss. They talked about many things. They talked about the weather, the evolving rainy season, and about recent marriage ceremonies in the village. Then eventually, they began to discuss about the spate of on – going political campaigns in that constituency, and community, and the truth that some campaigning politicians were offering eligible voters in the village and its environs, good money if such eligible kinsmen and women, armed with their voters cards, were willing to vote for them, their political party, and their political party’s candidate on election day.
“What some of these politicians are doing is wrong.” Teacher Theo blurted out at length, “This practice of offering members of their constituency money, in exchange for their votes on Election Day, is un – constitutional, irrational and un – democratic….”
“You know, I actually attended a meeting not so long ago in this village.” Ahmadu Ubahi clarified. “At the said meeting, the son from this village of ours that is now campaigning for votes, proposed to pay all that attended the meeting, good money, if we swear by the village deity to vote for him on the day of election. We were also treated to “late night chops” of sumptuous foods and drinks,” the speaker further stated.
“Well, listen to my advice,” teacher Theo said to his listening kinsman, “don’t collect any money from any campaigning politician, with the promise of voting for him or her, on any election day. Vote in accordance with your conscience on election day, and for the candidate of your choice,” teacher Theo stated.
Ahmadu Ubahi sighed at these words of Teacher Theo. Meanwhile Teacher Theo continued, “It’s just of recent that this particular unhealthy trend have began to taint the normal process of voting politicians into various political offices. This said trend, labeled as vote buying and vote selling, is a societal, democratic mis–normar.”
“I see …,” Ahmadu Ubahi responded.
“It’s true that in nowadays time, vote buying and vote selling on election days have become a tolerable practice in most contemporary African political electoral processes, our own nation, inclusive,” Teacher Theo said, “it doesn’t mean we should accept the evolving trend, however.”
“Even when there’s a lot of money to be made from the entire process?”. Ahmadu Ubahi protested verbally. “Do you know that the campaigning politician that we are talking about, is offering much money to every voter that will swear, on-oath, by the community deity, to vote for him on the election day, that is around the corner? Nobody hates money in this world mind you, Teacher Theo.” Ahmadu Ubahi Pointed out.
“Resist the temptation of collecting such easy money from such politicians, when they offer it to you, or others,” teacher Theo indoctrinated on. “The act of vote buying and vote selling threatens our individual nation’s readiness to embrace democratic procedures that are noble, credible, and fair,” the speaker urther remarked.
“But some of us that are eligible voters that have Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), in this area and region, are poor, the indoctrinated man protested. “As a goat being offered slices of yam when it is hungry, a poor man, or woman, will find it hard to resist much money, when it is being offered to him-or her, for just but a little task. The money that these campaigning politicians are offering people, in exchange for their votes, on election day, is substantial, and is enough to enable people-like us- to afford a few things.”
Teacher Theo snorted harshly, and loudly with apparent anger, at this point, before he blurted on, “Money for one moment, and then suffering begins afterwards. If, and when you collect monetary inducements from all these shrewd politicians, and you vote for them on the day of election, they will afterwards forget about the people that voted them into office when they do win elections, eventually. If you want to reprimand them as to why they are neglecting the people that voted them into office, after elections have been concluded; they will state that, they, the politicians, have paid the voters for their votes. Simple!”
“I hear you …,” was all what Ahmadu Ubahi said eventually in response to his visitor’s tirade of harsh words, targeted at aspiring political office holders, in the vicinity who weren’t straight forward in their acts and deeds, in wanting to become elected political office holders.
Meanwhile, Teacher Theo thundered while still indoctrinatimg his kinsman, “If we want to develop a Nigerian society that is orderly, responsible, and disciplined, where citizens demonstrate core values of honesty, hard work and patriotism, where democratic principles and ideals are up-held, and where peace and social harmony reigns; then, we must shun this evolving un-pleasant trend of vote buying, and vote selling in Nigeria’s political terrain.” There was discernible in the voice of Teacher Theo as he spoke vehement antagonism, towards the trend and spate of the un-wholesome political practice, that was now existent in the country.
Not so long afterwards, the two men separated, and bade each other nocturnal pleasantries, with Teacher Theo leaving for his own house, while Ahmadu Ubahi remained in his place of abode to reflect, further-more, on what he and his visitor had discussed.
By now, the night was not young any longer.
***
The day for the scheduled election eventually dawned, and Ahmadu Ubahi had gone out to cast his vote. The day for the said election was incidentally, on a Saturday. On the said day, “armed” with his permanent voter’s card (PVC), Ahmadu Ubahi had gone to the polling booth, nearest his place of abode, so as to perform his citizen’s civic obligation. After initial “hassles” and elongated waiting on the queue of voters in the venue where he had gone to vote; Ahmadu Ubahi eventually cast his vote.
Having been indoctrinated by Teacher Theo, earlier, he had shunned collecting money from any party agent, in order to induce, or influence his vote. He voted for another candidate, other than the politician that had wooed voters in that vicinity with money. It was a hard decision, for him to make, but he had embarked on the decision anyway. As he voted, Ahmadu Ubahi didn’t know how one single vote of his will make any difference, in the present, political scenario. He had however, allowed his conscience, rather than the temptation to “grab” easy money, to influence his final decision, on the day of election.
***
Barely two days after the day of the elections, election results were announced after the process of due collation and counting. The election results, or rather announcement of the election result for the constituency where Ahmadu Ubahi hails from, did not shock anyone, meanwhile, as the said outcome of the announced election results, was, so to say, anticipated. The electoral body in Ahmadu Ubahi’s state of origin, declared as winner of the concluded election, the shrewd politician that had wooed voters with much money. As he listened, ardently, to the eventual announcements of the election result, on radio, an agitated Ahmadu Ubahi told himself that the election results announcement, showed with a chagrin, that the procedure of electing some politicians, into certain political offices, in the nation, was still not ‘smooth.’
Patrick A. Ogbe is an ardent lover of the creative arts and humanities, who hails from Benue State, Nigeria. He has been writing elaborately, and is credited with an array of publications in many academic, as well as intellectual circles. He holds two degrees in Theatre Arts from a federal university in Nigeria. He works in Abuja, Nigeria.
Email: patrickadaofuoyi@yahoo
