Call To Duty #37

The King was happier than words can ever express. As he stood in front of the standing mirror in his room, tears of joy rolled down his cheeks slowly. His third 'Olori' walked in wondering what was keeping him back in the room.
"Kabiyesi!" She exclaimed as she walked closer to him.
"Is everything alright?" she inquired. The King looked at her, he puts his hands round her neck.
"My dear, don't you worry, there's nothing wrong...they're tears of joy" The King said. The wife smiled.
"I'm...I'm just a little overwhelmed with the giant strides we have been able to make within a few months. I'm so grateful!" The King said in the midst of sobs.
"Kabiyesi...haba!" Olori was irritated.
"Are you sure that there's nothing wrong?" She asked again. From the way she sounded, the King got the message. He quickly wiped his face of tears and made ready to go out.
"I'm fine, my dear...I'm fine!" He assured his wife as he went out to join the waiting crowd outside. As he stepped out, the people have started hailing and singing victorious glorious songs. It's the launching ceremony of the town's micro-finance bank. The King rode on his royal horse to the venue as people escorted him to the place with a lot of singing, dancing and fanfare.
As the King arrived at the venue of the bank right at the centre of the Town, everyone rose to their feet to pay their homage to the King. At the high table sat the members of the Royal council, the Professor and the Corper. Also seated are a handful number of prominent personalities of the town both from abroad and at home in the country. They all stood up to pay their homage to the King who was very happy and glad about what is going on.
There was yet another big fanfare to welcome the Local Government Chairman as he made his way to the high table. He was beaming with smiles as waved in acknowledgement of the warm welcome he's being treated to. This time, both the Balogun and the Youth leader were seated at the high table, a master of ceremony was hired to anchor the program.
Everyone took turns to deliver short but thoughtful speeches as to how the Town is evolving from a very simple shanti town to a must visit community. The Professor went as far as tagging it the 'Dubai of the Nigeria' to the adoration and admiration of the people in attendance. The Corper didn't say much, he only thanked the King for giving him a chance to express himself freely like he was his son, he also thanked the members of the Royal council for their support and the Professor for making his job extremely easy. He thanked everyone telling them that it was made possible because they supported him one way or the other.
The Program went as planned. The climax of the whole ceremony was when the King stood up to deliver the votes of thanks. He took his time in praising and Thanking God Almighty for His infinite mercies on him, his family and the Town as a whole. He was particularly grateful for the giant developmental strides he had made especially considering the ease with which the feats were achieved. He, then, turned to Corper Adisa, after appreciating his efforts, he prayed for him for a long while before announcing to the Public that Corper Adisa along with two other Corpers would still be around to finish what they have started. The Whole exploded with very loud noise of joy.

Call To Duty #36

It's been 3 months after the Meeting between the Chairman and the King. as promised, the Chairman had successfully done all the paper work as regards to the Micro- finance bank of Ijinle town. He had also paid official visits to the neighboring towns and hamlets under his Jurisdiction imploring them to adopt the Ijinle town's model of development with an assurance that he'll personally see to it that all government paper works are easily obtained on his side. He, however, warned that he might not be able to do much as per the financial aspect. The more reason he's advocating for the adoption of the Ijinle option.
Ever since, the king of Ijinle town has been receiving delegations upon delegations and the Corper has taken the role of a developing consultant. This has forced him to the library again. the Passing Out Parade is drawing nearer and Shade had returned a married woman. The Chairman had invited the Corper to his office.
"Corper Adisa!"
"Yes sir"
"The One man battalion"
"Not at all sir" Adisa responded. They both laughed.
"Well, Adisa, I cannot thank you enough for your selfless service to the community and the Local Government as whole. Yes, you might not have any community development project to your name per se, but, truth be told, there can't be a bigger project than the one you delivered to us." The Chairman started.
"We are truly grateful. Adisa"
"Sir"
"Can ask you for a favor?"
"Of course you can, if it's within my capability I would be glad to oblige you"
"Are you sure?"
"If it's within my capability, I will" the Corper assured the Chairman.
"It is within your capability, it's, however, a matter of I want to or not"
"Okay sir, let's hear it" Adisa responded looking rather curious. The Chairman paused for a while, then, heaved a big sigh.
"Adisa, can you please stay back after your Passing out parade next month?" The Chairman asked. Adisa heaved a sigh of relief and smiled.
"Well sir...I..."
"There, I need you to help develop the other neighboring settlements to Ijinle town. I want you to repeat the feat you have achieved in Ijinle in those other places so that the whole Local government may be very prosperous and... of course, my re-election as the Chairman would be guaranteed" The Chairman interrupted.
"I have to open up and tell exactly what I want so that we may have a hitch free journey to great success together. Mind you, all expenses and payments for services shall be delivered as at when due, God's grace...I am not asking you to do it for free, I shall be paying you handsomely. What do you say?" The Chairman inquired.
"Hmmm! Okay sir, I'll think about it and..."
"No o, Corper, this matter is a very simple one na. Please, accept my proposal so that we may swing into action immediately. To make it more interesting, I'm willing to start paying you starting from next month and as soon as you're done with your POP, I already have an apartment made ready for you and your friends that took part in the Ijinle projects too."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Okay sir"
"Okay what, are you in?" The Chairman wanted to be sure. Adisa smiled and nodded in confirmation. The Chairman was glad, shook hands with him and hugged him.

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Akanni, Jamiu and Komolafe have just returned from the capital and are seated in Akanni's vulcanizing shop to share their profits as usual. Keji had sent Sheyi, to deliver Akanni's lunch to him.
"Good afternoon sirs" Sheyi greeted
"Ah, Sheyi, how are you, how is school?" Jamiu greeted
"School is fine sir, thank you sir. Dad, mum asked me to bring your lunch"
"Ehn, okay, put it there on the table."
"Yes sir" Sheyi responded as he moves to put the warmer containing the food on the table."
"Sheyi is now a big boy fa. Come, let me give you something" Komolafe said as he reached for his pocket.
"Komolafe, no" Akanni said
"Oh common! Have it...I say take it!" Komolafe shouted at the hesitant Sheyi was making quick glances at his father for approval. His father later nodded and gestured that he may take it.
"Haba! Akanni, nawa for you o! Does that mean that..."
"No. I do give him money but not like this... not like this. One has to be extremely  careful with the way we indulge our kids when it comes to money matters. They must realize that money is not easy to come by. we must at times create artificial scarcity to teach them the lessons of prudence in spending." Akanni explained.
"Ehn, we know that now. But, while we teach the lessons of prudence, we must not forget to teach, also, the lessons of prosperity and surplus too. It won't be a crime to indulge them at times too, right...abi? Jamiu, say something now!" Komolafe demanded. Jamiu remained silent a little while longer, then, he sighed and picked a wad of Naira notes right in front of him and started observing it like it was a strange thing.
"Komolafe, Akanni, both of you are right. Both lessons are vital and must be taught to our children for real. But, like Komolafe rightly pointed out, we must learn to make a balanced set of lessons so that they would neither be stingy nor extravagant in spending... the middle course must be maintained at all times. Akanni, there's nothing wrong in giving out surprise money gifts to our kids. God has blessed us, we need to let our families know this from time to time, okay?" Jamiu commented. Akanni sighed and nodded.
"It's okay, I understand...I know how you feel, we were there together, you know?" Jamiu continued. Akanni's eyes were full of tears. Jamiu patted his friend at the back gently.
"Let's do justice to this money so that the food will not run cold on us, shall we?"
"Yea! Come to think of it, Komolafe, how far with the bank accounts we are planning to open?" Komlafe asked.
"Ah...we're almost done with that...according to the banker, all the documents including the ATM cards would be ready by next week we get back to the city."  Akanni explained.
"Okay. Shall we share the money now?" Jamiu asked. The men, then bent down to do justice to the money.

Call To Duty #35

Corper Adisa had organized a meeting between the King and the Chairman. Olori Odo was expected to anchor the program but Balogun won't have any of that, he took the mantle from the Olori Odo. The whole thing went as planned. It was the time for the Chairman to address the gathering of the Royal Council. He stood up and bowed with humility.
"Kaaabiyessiii o!" He saluted the King prostrating before the rather happy and glad King who shook his 'irukere' in acknowledgement.
"I greet you the great king of our land, I greet you the council of chiefs that serve as the pillars that have upheld the sanctity and the well being of Ijinle land. May God Almighty continue to bless you all and your families" He prayed and all chorused 'Asheeee'.
"It is my pleasure and a great honor to be among you today. I'm particularly grateful to the Corps member through whom God had mediated between us and have actually inspired us on how to go forward from where we found ourselves. I'm sorry for not being there right from the beginning. I was too blind to see the light...not until you had commenced the construction of this much needed road that would link the town directly to the nearby Federal road did I realize how foolish I have been. I don't want to waste your precious time with the details of how I got to the point of making a 'U' turn to join you in the ultimate goal of developing Ijinle town to greater heights." He said. Everyone clapped in applause.
"Kabiyesi, I am back and for good. Whatever it is that you might require of me to do, I shall do, so long it is in the interest of the progress of the town." There was yet another round of applause.
"To start with, I heard from the Corper that the town desire a bank of their own and were looking for a way to get it done as quickly as possible without delay. Kabiyesi, I beg you in the Name of God to leave the matter to me. We shall have a duly registered community bank that shall bear the Name of the town God's willing before the end of the year!" The Chairman promised. The whole palace was shaken by the thunderous cheers and celebration of the statement. This was the peak of the meeting. It took a while for the Balogun to restore decorum. The King was so happy that he began to shed tears of happiness. The Chiefs rallied round him to comfort him and thanked God for Him. The Corper just sat back and watched as everything unfolded. He doesn't know what to think. 'Alhamdulillah!' was what came to his mind and he chanted it repeatedly within his mind.

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It was 5:30 in the morning. Seyi had gone to knock on his parents' door to wake them up. It was a working day and it was getting late already. His mum used to wake up by 3:00 every morning, but, today was different. Keji had celebrated with her husband over the new truck he had bought in collaboration with his friends.
"Yes, who's there?"
"Mummy it's me, Seyi"
"Seyi, what is it?"
"Mummy, it's 5:30 already and you haven't finished the packaging of your red oil you want me to deliver to Iya Kudi on my way to school fa!"
"Ah! That's true, I'm coming" Keji said as she struggled to get out of bed.
"I'm coming for where?!" Akanni demanded as he pulled her back into bed.
"Yeh! Akanni, you won wound me ni?!" She exclaimed.
"No, I'm not, oya let's finish what we started..."
"Finish what, Akanni...after 3 hot rounds?"
"You dey count am? Me, I don loose count fa...oya let's do one more...spread your legs na!" Akanni begged his wife.
"Akanni...nooooo! Time has gone and...Lara would be cross with me if...ah-ah, Akanni, kai...oh oooo...hm!" She struggled with her husband who is far stronger and more resolved about another round of sex. By the time she could say another word, Akanni had entered...

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Adisa had just finished receiving a call as Kole sat by his side on a bench in the School compound. He looked a little down cast and kole noticed it.
"Who was that on the phone"
"It was Shade"
"Shade?"
"Yes"
"You should be happy man, why the long face?" Kole asked, but Adisa was silent.
"Hey, dude, it's okay, what happened?"
"Shade is getting married"
"What?! What happened, how, when...did you guys quarrelled?" Kole was shocked.
"Nope. She had told me about a guy she met in her native town with whom she had a relationship. The guy just showed up after several years of no contact...well...she's staying back a few more weeks to get the knot tied...the wedding party shall be after the POP".
"Oh no...I'm sorry man!"
"It's okay...em...life goes on,you know?"
"Yea...Yes!"
"Yea...okay!" Adisa said as he shook back the tears that were going to find their way down his cheeks.
"I think I should give you some room...it's okay man shake it off! Hm?!"
"Yea...I'll shake it off!" Adisa said nodding in agreement. Kole patted him at the back gently before taking his leave.