Call To Duty #34

As they cross the Bridge back to their town, Lara and Keji could not but take time to look up the newly constructed bridge.
"Hmmm..."
"What is it my friend?"
"Lara, look at this bridge, who can ever imagine that we as commoners are capable of such a land breaking project?"
"Ah! No one, no one at all not even the Professor or the King!"
"This is why I see that corper as a God sent Angel of prosperity"
"You can say that again my friend. He has changed everything, I mean everything!"
"Yes o!"
"Look at this!" Lara said showing her friend how much money she has made
"All these money, all because of the bridge. No more extortion by the Ferry men, they can go and die for all I care!"
"Haba , Lara! Don't be that wicked!"
"Who is wicked, I or the Ferry men that have been reaping us of virtually all the small profit we make. Especially that old fool, that call himself Baba Ibeji. You won't believe it, the man made advanced at me simply because I was pleading for a discount on the charges he imposed on me. It took the special intervention of Iya Abu who offered to pay the Balance for me. Those men are evil, with this bridge, they will suffer!" Lara Boasted.
"Thank God for Iya Abu, at least, you didn't fall a victim."
"What of those that have, Keji,what of those that have, hmmm...it's not easy. Wallahi, it's not easy o
"I know, but, what can we really do about it, ehn? Look, I'll strongly suggest that we leave that for God to handle, He knows how to deal with them, after all, He created them and only He alone knows how to bring them to book"
"What are you saying, are trying to imply that rapists like those men should be spared when caught in the act?!" Lara is literally boiling by now.
"No o! No way! If they are caught, they should be dealt with according to the laws of the Land. But, we both know that these Ferry men's case are a little different. They don't have to force you to do it, what they do is that they trade a helping hand for sex and if you have no choice, one might just fall victim. Like I said earlier, God has His ways of dealing with such people. I mean, look at this bridge project, you can see in their reactions how uncomfortable they have become from the inception of its construction. Only last week did I hear that Risi that sells jewelries made a mockery of them in the Market. Due to low patronage, Ladi, one of Baba Ibeji's boys offered a 50% discount for a return journey across the river!"
"Ehn! It's a lie"
"Lie ke? It's nothing but the truth!"
"If that's true...then...hmm... I think you are right. God have started dealing with them and they have seen nothing, they have just started. They will beg us to ride for free sef!"
"Laaaraa!!!"
"Wo, leave me jare, those guys are nothing but animals!"
"Well sha, take it easy abeg, we should be showing gratitude to God that have saved us fro them instead of mocking them."
"Let us make jest of them, they haven't been nice at all, let us make jest of them jare!"
"Lara!"
"Hmmm!"
"Lara!"
"Hmmm ah! leave me jare, I dey vex, I dey vex!" Lara shouted as she walked briskly across the Bridge.

____________________________________

"Hmmm...Rachael"
"Yes, dear!"
"You know, God is wonderful"
"Oh, yes, He is!"
"You know, there was a time during our trying period that I lost any hope of getting you back, I mean I was so frustrated!" Kole said as he kissed Rachael on her neck. He had his hands wrapped around her waist from the back.
"Me too, I felt that way too...I felt it was all over and the thought of ever having another relationship looks so bleak."
"Really?"
"Yea! I mean, it was so depressing. I trusted you, I believed in you...I mean...I loved you...or so I thought before Folashade came trashing me silly with her opinion."
"Shade"
"Yea! She met me in the staff room and she was like relationships aren't really all about love and  infidelity. According to the discussion we had that day, I realized that love is not what we actually feel when we say we are in love."
"Ehen?"
"Oh yes!"
"If it's not love, what is it?"
"Lust"
"Lust?!"
"Yea."
"No o...no way!" Kole said as he let go his grip of Rachael's waist
"Kole, let me ask you this question. May God forbid it happening. But, if just a few days after our wedding, we got attacked by armed robbers at home in the middle of the Night and I got raped by their leader who went ahead to pour his seeds in me..."
"Hey, hey! Stop that nonsense! What kind of rubbish is that?!" Kole reacted angrily.
"I'm sorry, but that's why I said..."
"Stop it! I said stop it final!!!"
"Okay!" Rachael said in obedience and walked away. Kole felt sorry after a while and went on to apologise to her. She smiled.
"Baby, you shall be the only man in my life by God's grace,no other man shall lay with me...none ever! But, I understand your reaction and feel proud of it. But, I need to make you get it straight, love relationships are made and held together much more by sense of responsibility than lust that we call love. When you see marriage as a sacred institution ordained by God, you won't leave, no matter the pressure and temptation." She said holding Kole's head for a kiss. She kissed on his lips. Kole sighed and nodded in agreement. They both hugged each other compassionately. Rachael giggled as she slapped Kole gently on the hand with which he had grabbed her butt.

__________________________________

"Ah! Corper! It shall be well with you!"
"Ashe!" Everyone chorused. The King continued praying for the Corper for several more minutes.
"Thank You, Kabiyesi. May God continue to shower more blessing on you and the entire royal family. I can still remember that faithful day, it was you, out of your wisdom that gave the Corper a chance to do so much. Left to us, back then, we would have dealt ruthlessly with him a long time ago. But, today, we are happy and know better." Iyalode announced.
"That's true...very correct! I was particularly angry that day. It's a good thing I didn't have my way that day." Balogun commented laughing.
"Thank you my people. It was God's doing. Ordinarily I should have been the angriest that day, but, some way some how, I was overwhelmed with an unusual calm which kept the temper away. One lesson we must all take away from this though is that no matter what, we shouldn't let anger becloud our sense of reasoning...never!" The King said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Ehen, Corper, what brought you here this hour, I don't think we have an appointment, do we?"
"Not at all sir, I had to deliver a very good news to you sir?"
"Mmmm...good news, that's good, let's hear it!" The King urged. The Corper stood up, cleared his throat with a smile on his face.
"Kabiyesi, I am delighted to announce the acquaintance of a new and very important team member."
"Really, who is this new team member?" Iyalode interrupted.
"Iyalode! Allow this boy to talk" Balogun rebuked her. She eyed him mockingly.
"Ehen, Corper, please continue?" Balogun urged.
"Em, yes sir, the new member is none but the Local Government Chairman!" The corper announced loudly. But, to his surprise, for a moment, everyone was silent as though they were still waiting for him to make the announcement. As he was beginning to think that it was a bad idea, the whole palace suddenly exploded with a very loud noise of jubilation. Everyone was happy and were moving around felicitating with one another. The Corper let a big sigh. He was glad it wasn't a mistake after all.

Call To Duty # 33

"Morning sir"
"Ah, Corper, good morning...please, take a seat!" The Chairman gestured him into a chair at his desk.
"Thank you sir"
"You're welcome. I hope you've enjoyed your stay with us so far?"
"Oh yes sir, I have...it's been quite exciting!"
"I see...and how has been your...what do you call that again?"
"CDS...Community Development Service sir"
"Aha! CDS, it's being a while I completed mine. So..."
"I understand sir" Adisa acknowledged with a smile.
"I can see that yours is much more elaborate than any other in the country...it's like you are gunning for the grand price with it ain't you?" The Chairman teased. Both men laughed.
"Actually sir, I wasn't interested in CDS, asin I had no plans embarking on any project. I got into trouble with the King and had used that as an excuse out of the mess"
"Trouble? I don't understand"
"Well...sir...it's a long story sir, really, but in short, I said something about the King's current rankings and how I think he could have gotten it right without resorting to begging of submitting to the Governor's pressure. He somehow got to hear about it and summoned me to his palace...and...that's how it all started sir!" Adisa narrated not quite sure if it was right to do so. The Chairman nodded slowly.
"Wooow! I can imagine how threatening and terrifying the whole thing might be for a little like you standing in front of rather angry elders in another man's land" The Chairman commented. The Corper laughed softly in approval.
"Well, corper, relax, I can see that you are tensed up, don't be, I'm not a foe but a friend. I actually called you to swear my allegiance with you on your developmental efforts, if you need anything that you feel I should be able to handle for you, please, feel free to contact me ASAP! Okay?"
"Oh! Thank you sir...wow! I really appreciate it sir, thank you much!"
"Oh, common, I'm the one that's supposed to be grateful not you. I mean, I joined politics...partially for financial gratification which I agree shouldn't be part of the motivation from the word 'go'...but, you know, man must 'wack na'!" The Chairman explained. The Corper agreed by nodding and smiling softly.
"That's the idea all over sir"
"Yea, but it shouldn't be...it shouldn't be.However, for me, the main reason is to help setup a little system of governance that'll result into a tiny window of extra opportunity for my people...you know? That was what I was doing and so far, I haven't been able to make a head coz...hmmm...the power that be in the state is so greedy that such mission is hopeless...you become an accomplice for their heinous agenda as soon as you join them. You are also afraid of leaving coz, you are afraid of the fact that it is suicidal in nature. Even when you are planning to leave, you can't tell a soul, not even your wife...it was that horrible until you came in my dear." The Chairman continued.
"Me, How? I haven't spent a year here sir!" Adisa inquired as he was surprised of what the Chairman had said. The Chairman laughed.
"You won't understand my dear, even if I explain"
"Please, try me, please, explain sir!" Adisa requested curiosly.
"Okay. Just before the News spread about your numerous town hall meetings with which you had prepared the town for the revolutionary development plans that you have, the Dynasty have been having very nasty times with the Federal government. The Leader was falling out of favor with local authorities all over, but, they dared say it. Some were fed up and have started speaking out but the bulk of them all, especially the Rural Fathers had no choice but to stay put. It was among the politicians that we have a handful showing their anger and enmity. But the moment the News filtered in that a Corps member is driving serious developmental programs home in his place of Primary assignment and he had a rock solid plan to not only bypass the State government but to find the much needed resources within the the town to achieve his goals, people like got inspired by the move and have ever since garnered enough courage to start thinking and acting on our own. We used to think of the Leader and the State government the Almighty powerful, but, with your inspirational re-orientation seminars you have been dishing out to the people of Ijinle, we have been freed from the mental slavery we've bonded to all our lives. As we speak, I'm planning to denounce the Dynasty of the so called Leader and join forces with my people and you to make the Local Government a region to beat in the State and Nigeria as a whole...all thanks to you, my friend!" The Chairman concluded. The Corper was speechless, he would allow the tears of joy he's been concealing while listening to the Chairman roll down his cheeks if he responds. The Chairman saw this.
"Don't worry, you don't have to say anything. Even if you stop contributing today, we can carry on by ourselves and the credits would still be yours! For your information, the Leader, would be receiving a shock of a life time this month end...he won't be getting a dime from me as the Chairman of this Local Government this month!!!"