Must Read: The Devil Who Loved Me

7 years ago

Must Read: The Devil Who Loved Me

It was 9:30pm when I woke up from my sleep I
immediately remembered that I had to be at
babis for the fundraiser. The election was to
hold in 6weeks time, though we had campaign
posters all over the campuses (mini and main);
National was having the upper hand. He had
more financial power than Abayomi.

Abayomi came from what I would describe as
an average family; his dad was a retired banker
while his mum was a civil servant. My dad ran 8
big stores in Alaba international market. He
dealt with the importation of Samsung and
sharp electronics.

My dad didn’t go to secondary school talk less
of a university. He came to Lagos immediately
after the Biafran war, worked as a sales boy for
Mr koledowo of blessed memory at idumota.

Idumota was one of the biggest markets in the
70’s. Things went smoothly for a while until Mr
koledowo’s wife died. He never really recovered
from the shock. He himself died November
17th, 1979, leaving his store to my dad. Shortly
after his demise, his family came to close the
store leaving my dad with nothing. My dad had
made some friends with some Ghanaians who
were regular customers. Mr Antwi allowed my
dad stay with his family provided that my dad
worked for them for free. As providence would
have it, in 1983 the Ghanaians were evicted
from Nigeria. Though the government of Nigeria
said it was due to economic hardships, my dad
always maintained that it was a form of
retaliation. In 1969, Nigerians had been evicted
from Ghana. Once again, my dad inherited
another man’s store. Fast forward to 2007, my
47 year old dad, Chief Dike was a millionaire;

my mum was an house wife.

I had supported the elections financially even
more than Abayomi, but it wasn’t enough. A lot
of freshers adorned tee-shirts with National’s
beaming smile on them. Even some girls in my
compound had theirs, disloyalty!

I wouldn’t have been able to get to babis on
time if I had boarded a taxi, I decided to meet
John, my neighbor who had a car and could
easily drop me off.
Me: john!
No reply…

I knocked his door but he didn’t open, I was
forced to peep through the window because I
could hear music from his one room apartment.
Lying in bed was John, with his Unclad albeit a
G-string girlfriend sprawled like an eagle beside
him. Cans of sprite and a bottle of Johnny
walker were nearby.

I walked to Itamerin bus-stop to get a bike to
babis.

Babis was crowded when I got in, it was filled
with most of the club guys and girls unwinding
from the week long lectures. I skimmed the
crowed until I saw Abayomi seated with some
people just by the bar. I was squeezing myself
for a way through the crowd when a hand pulls
me back. Turning back I saw the slim body and
apologetic smile of Acho.

Acho: I thought you said you were staying
indoors tonight
Me: its really none of your business Acho
Acho: I see you have already forgotten about
me
Me: you are kindha smart, now let go of my
hand some people are waiting for me.
Acho let go immediately, ‘yahooze’ by olu-
maintain was booming in the back-ground as a
couple of students flooded the park that stood
as the dance floor.

Acho: I will miss you
Me: I bet you will honey.
She continued walking to the area were
Abayomi sat. he didn’t see her as he continued
arguing fervently with somebody, she didn’t
recognize the person nor the other people
sitting around the table. It wasn’t long before
Abayomi saw her and screamed.
Abayomi: you can be very annoying!, we have
been here since 9pm, look at the time you are
coming
Me: Ab, is that how to talk to a lady, your mum
did a rotten job raising you
Abayomi: you papa left yansh!
Me: ishiewu
Abayomi: come and hug me jor
Me: body odour o….
I quickly scrutinized the people sitting around
the table. Dada was at the right hand side of
Abayomi, Kofo sat at his left with her fake lashes
almost covering her eyes, Uche was holding a
bottle of Gulder while Qudus sat at the corner.

Seeing Uche there left me with an uneasy
feeling, he was one of the boys that was feared
in mini-campus where most of the science
students of the university received their
lectures. Those were the people I recognized,
the others were unknown, and maybe they
were from the main-campus.
Me: sorry I am late guys
Most people responded by saying don’t worry…
its aii…no p…except Uche..he just smiled that
wicked…no evil smile.

Uche was about 6’4, very big and hardly spoke.
With the clampdown on cult activities by the
state government, a lot of students were on the
low-key, many denied the different
confraternities they once flaunted, I couldn’t fix
Uche in a group. I knew he was a computer-
science student though.
Abayomi: wetin you go drink madam?
Me: Gordon spark and asun
Abayomi: I said drink not drink and eat, I
resemble Acho
Me: oh sharraaaaaaap
After few pleasantries and drinks, we got down
to business.
Abayomi: Tana, we have two sponsors that
really want to invest in our campaign
Me: oh really…that’s nice..who are they?..
Abayomi: let me allow them speak for
themselves…Michaela let her hear you..
I Looked at Michael and remembered him also.
He was one of those geeks that had no money
in 100L and 200L, but with internet runs, him
and his type were all over the place. He still had
bad dress sense though, like most geology
students did.

Michael: Tana, you are as beautiful as ever…
I almost puked..
Me: oh, thank you dear
Michael: I am glad we would be supporting your
campaign..
Me: the pleasure is all mine Mikolo
Michael: you too fine walahi!
Pretending to blush…buys can be dull mehnnn..
Me: Michael I am blushing, what do you have
for us?
Michael: going straight to the point, I like that
in a lady..you are…
Uche: Michael abi Mikolo you dey waste my time
oh, wetin dey worry you sef, you neva see
woman before?
I was both happy and uneasy..Michael seemed
to swallow saliva.

Michael: we want to support the movement
with 500,000naira
Me: wow..thats nice..
In my mind I was thinking he was dumb, what
if we lost?..na gulf money be dat oh…come to
think of it, I really needed a gulf-car.
Abayomi: it’s really nice and I assure you
people, we will win.
Me: Michael, what do you want in return?
They always wanted something in return, some
wanted seats in the senate, others wanted
academic favours.
Michael: I want to be given the license to build
the only Cyber-café in the SUG complex.
Abayomi shot a quick look at me; he wanted to
see if I had a problem with it before I even
spoke.
Me: That is huge Michael…
Abayomi: for 500,000 naira that is huge.
Michael: we would give the government 10% of
the monthly profit..
Me: that is risky Michael, 10% for how long, Till
our tenure is over?
Micheal: it will continue with your predecessors
Me: so they will collect 10% without having
missed a heartbeat?

Michael: aren’t you doing this for the good for
all?
Me: 600,000naira Michael
A couple of students crowded Michael to
whisper into in his ears, I guess they were his
advisers. He smiled after a while..
Michael: my people and I agree only in the
condition that kofo is removed as campaign
manager.
I looked at Michael and couldn’t stop myself
from smiling.
Kofo: no way! Why do you want to do that…are
you interested in my position?
Abayomi was calm, I knew he didn’t want to
disappoint his side-chic at the same time we all
knew she wasn’t a good campaign manager..
Abayomi: why do you want her off?
Michael: she doesn’t represent what we want to
be associated with.
So yahoo boys get reputation too? I thought to
myself
Abayomi: And that is?
I laughed and was immediately burnt by Kofo’s
blazing eyes
Michael: let’s just say she is too cheerful and we
are serious people. And she has no experience
for the position.
Kofo: and who are you to decide that?
Abayomi: kofo, if you don’t have 600,000naira
to give us now, I suggest you calm down, we
would look for another position for you.
The respect I had for Abayomi quadrupled
immediately, kofo sank low..
Me: and do you have a candidate in mind to
replace her?

Michael: yes, we want somebody that is
experienced, that is loved by all…from main to
mini-campus, from ago-iwoye to ijebu-igbo..that
has won all the elections he served as campaign
manager for..
Me: and who is that?
Michael: we want Timi
I almost collapsed, out of everybody why
Timi?..After everything, almost changing school
because of him..

I wanted to talk but Abayomi spoke faster..
Abayomi: we agree, I will personally speak to
him
Abayomi looked at me and smiled, this was his
own way of revenge for the kofo debacle, plus
he always liked Timi.
Michael: it’s a deal ladies and gentlemen.