Oga Martins - Season 1 - Episode 14

Episode 5 years ago

Oga Martins - Season 1 - Episode 14

Deji was laughing at the so called plan
Martins had while Martins stood, arms
akimbo, a quizzical frown on his face.

“What’s funny about what I said?”
Deji tried to respond but only laughed out
harder, annoying Martins who hissed and
turned his gaze away from him in
exasperation to the different happenings
on the street.

It was a busy night, which was not unusual
since PHCN had taken light again, forcing
people to come out of the darkness and
heat that assaulted them to the coolness of
the evening breeze. There was a paraga
joint where a couple of men sat, drinking
and arguing loudly, two kids ran after each
other, playing along the dirt road while
their mothers chatted away, not mindful of
their children, three girls walked one after
the other into the compound directly
opposite theirs, carrying buckets of water
while various people patronized the open
shops but the person with the greatest
patronage didn’t have what one could call a
shop. It was a stall with two benches and
not too far from the benches, a fire blazed.

On it was the hot groundnut oil used to
prepare the fried yam, fish and plantain that
had people queuing. Martins wondered if
she wasn’t putting something else in her
dundun, akara and dodo since he was also
an addict. He had actually come out with
Deji to get some before the discussion
about his plans had come up. He moved
towards the woman but was held back by
Deji who had succeeded in controlling
himself

“Guy free me joor!” Martins stated, upset
“Relax now, why you dey vex?”
“Why I no go vex? I dey tell you something
important, you dey laugh like say I be
clown”

“Okay no vex but there’s a reason I was
laughing.”

The continuous sound of a horn hooting
had Martins turning to look at the road. The
little children had just run past the car and
the driver had alighted, swearing angrily
and insulting the mothers for not watching
their children and risking their lives.

The women were immediately defensive,
returning curses for curses.

“E don do now!” Deji shouted, addressing
the two parties. “Oga enter your car and go.
Why you dey do like woman?!”

“Leave this people,” Martins stated. “Why
were you laughing?”

Deji turned his attention back to Martins as
the disagreement between the women and
the man died down. “Your plan is funny?”
“No it’s not! It’s a brilliant plan!”

Deji scoffed. “Martins, you want to continue
to stay in this house on the basis that
landlord didn’t serve you a six months
notice even though your rent will expire in
a month and.…”

“That buys me time to plan myself,” Martins
cut in

“…you think worse case, he will take you to
court and you might end up not paying rent
after the whole case.”

“Which is what makes it a brilliant plan!”
“Look around you,” Deji commanded.
Martins was a bit taken aback at the
instruction. “I’m serious, look around you.”
He did! “Does this place look like a civilized
area?” He asked, pausing a moment before
answering his own question. “It’s not! It’s
in civilized areas landlords give tenants
notice. Here, they don’t! Rather than serve
you a paper through their lawyer, they will
serve you a beating through their thugs. If
you think the case will end up in court, you
are wrong! You will end up in the hospital
and probably spend more money than you
would have if you had just packed out!”
Martins stared at his friend, subdued. “`So
what do you suggest I do?”

“Move out when your rent expires! You’ve
always wanted to move out anyway!”
“And go where?” Martins shouted in
frustration. “I don’t have any money! I just
started working remember?!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll find a way,” Deji stated
after a moment which made Martins give
him a skeptical look. “We still have a month
to figure out something, come on! Make we
go buy wetin we wan chop”

Deji urged him and they walked towards
the dundun woman to join the queue. For
the rest of the night, Martins forgot about
his housing problem but alone with his
thoughts at night on the bed while Deji
snored beside him, he couldn’t help but
worry. Housing was a major issue in this
part of the world and he couldn’t imagine
joining the throng of people who lived on
the streets. He had often heard stories of
people living under the bridge and had
never given it a second thought since it
didn’t affect him. Now, faced with the
possibility of joining such people, he
wondered how they coped in harsh
weather. The government really had to do
something about the housing deficit and
make it affordable for low income earners
like him. Mortgage was a way of making
that possible and for the first time, he
wondered why the mortgage system
wasn’t working. If it was working in other
parts of the world, why couldn’t it work
here? There was no light, no house,
inadequate social amenities; nothing
worked he thought in righteous
indignation, blaming the government for
his present condition. Why couldn’t they
just make life easy for the common man?!
He sighed at the question, still angry as he
changed position. Suddenly his nose is
assaulted by the acrid smell of smoke as
heard noises outside. He quickly gets to his
feet, refusing to believe what he heard as
he slaps Deji awake from his slumber
“Get up! Get up!”

“What is it?” Deji asked drowsily. “Wetin dey
burn?” he asked as he sits up, frowing
Martins didn’t have to respond. The noise
from the open door provided the answer
“Everyone go out, the house is burning!”