Àjé kó ni mí o

 

…… Wòòlíì so pé  Àjé ni Ì wa——Àwon omo lo so béè

……Èmi kì í se Àjé —–Ìyá f’èsì

………Ìyá  je májèlé , o si kú

OLÓRÍBURÚKÚ NI ÀWON  WÒÒLÍÌ  ÈKÉ WÒNYÍ

Ohun tí àwon Wòòlíì  èké ndá s’ílè  láárín ebí , ará, òré ati ojúlùmò ló  pòjù  . A ni apanimáyodà ni àwon  Wòòlíì èké wònyí o jàre.  Mo tètè maa nbínú o. Ní bí mo se nkòwé yi inú mbi mi, inú mi nhó  bi ose , mo ni inú mi nru bi eni ti o nje fùkù  eran  , sèbí nwon ni eni ba nje fùkù  tiise ara orísirísi inu eran tètè maa nbinú .Mo ni sé inú mi ńru bi omi Òkun.

                        MÁJÈLÉ

       Se e ri awon Wòòlíì wònyí   a bá ni w’óràn bi a kò rí dá ni ńwon. Mo ni sé awon  Wòòlíì  èké wonyi  eni a ńyegi fun ni won  o jàre.    Àni sé nse lo ye ki a so olo mo won l’órùn ki a si jù won s’inú  ògbun àìnísàlè. Mo ni ki a jù won si inú  omi gbígbóná  ti o nho yaa yaa  ki won maa kigbe ”Oroo oooo”.

      Àdúrà mi ni pe ki Olódùmarè ro òjò  eyìn iná  le won l’óri ki won jóná  ráú ráú. Ki won wo iná apáàdì ni ojó  ìkéhìn. Àni se ki won j’aporó ki won to kú . Èyin ènìyàn mi e  gbe ohùn  yin s’ókè ki e ba mi se ààmín lákoláko  ki nmáá gbo ni abúlé  BoN ti mo wa yii.

       MÀMÁ  JE MÁJÈLÉ

       Ó mà se o, e wo màmá ti o nà gbalaja sile yi .Èjè rèé  l’órí ibùsùn tìmù tìmù   . Èjè ree n’ílè , sùgbón o ti dúdú, eyi fihàn pe o ti le to bi wákàtí méta ti òkú yi ti wà n’ílè.  Èjè a ti pò pò mo itó .O n’yotó funfun l’énu. L’óru m’óju yio  ti jà pìtìpìtì bi ejò ágékù ki o to subú s’ílè’ . Yio ti pòkàkà ikú  .Ninú l’ohun ìfun re a ti ge wélé wélé. Béèni èdò ati kíndìnrín re a ti bàjé . Béèni awon kan so pe awon ri l’álé aná . Págà ilè nje ènìyàn.Ki l’óde? Ki ló selè?.

     Ó selè lóótó, kò si iró n’íbè. Mo f’owó sòyà  pà,pà,pà l’éèméta pé ó selè sùgbón kì  í se l’ójú mi o. E  jé ki a bo àwon omo ati ebí rè l’ásírí. Bí a se nkàwé yi , ki okàn  Wòòlíì ati àwon omo màmá yìí  máa ró kì kì kì. Háà èsè nlá  rèé o.

          OHUN Tó SELÈ ̩

   Gégébi ìwádì wa ,  ni odun bi mérin   séhìn ni ìlú ……(A kò ni dárúko rè)Màmá yiì…. ( a kò niì dárúko rè) lo ki awon omo re ni ìlú kan….. (a kò ni dárúko rè). Sugbón rírí ti won rí màmá , nse ni won bèrè si  l’ogun Àjé lee l’órí . Nwón npatewó , wón nhó yèèè, nwón nkígbe ‘ Àjé ni e, iwo ìyá  wa’.

   Kíni èrèdí rè? Nwón ní àbúrò wón tí o ti nse àìsàn l’ójó pípé ni  Wòòlíì   tabi Pasíto Ijo  won so fun won pe ìyá àwon l’o wà nídí òrò yìí.

       LÓDÒ WÒÒLÍÌ  ÈKÉ , ADALÉRÚ

    Léhìn ti Alàgbà Wòòlíì  X ( a fi oruko bò l’ásírí) ké l’óhùn rara pe ‘Jah Eli , Jah Makousa, Jah Jah Jahire, Jah Jakuta,Jah Jafure ,ni eemeta , ni o wa riran oba ògòlò ti o wipe ”Olúwa  wipe  Àjé ni Ìyá yin, àìsàn ti o nba àbúrò yin fíra  wá lati òdò Ìyá yin, nitori náà e lo ro ohun ti e óò se”.

Kíni àwon obìnrin yi gbó  èyí sí ? Wàhálà de! Ìbínú de! . Igbe ” Àséè Àjé  ni Ìyá  wa!” ni àwon obìnrin méjèjì yi fi b’onu. Nígbàtí o di ìròlé nwon ránsé pe ègbón won àgbà lati t’úfò yi funn. Èyí ni o mu ki won bèrè si ba Ìyá won jà n’igbàti o wa si òdò won.

Kíni won gbó béè sí? . Nse ni won ki Ìyá won m’ólè ti won nàá bi ejò àìje. Ará àdúgbò pé lé won l’órí  ibè si kún fófófó bi ojà méta. Kódà bi  abéré bó s’ílè  l’ójó náà l’óhún a ko le rii .Nwon kò tilè jé kí Ìyá sun ilé  won l’ójó náà l’óhún. Láìfa òrò gùn lo títí  òkan ninu ará àdúgbò ni o gba Ìyá won s’ílé  l’álé ojo náà. L’ójó keji Ìyá  padà si ìlú rè .

MÁJÈLÉ

PÁGÀ ÌYÁ JE MÁJÈLÉ

Ìròhìn fi yé  wa wípé , Lójó kéta ti wón s’ílèkùn yàrá ìyá won l’ábúlé ni won ba ri  ìyá ti o ti nà gbalaja s’ílè, ìró ìdí rè ti tú, tòbí lo kù si ìdí rè. Owó  rè òtún lo si apá àríwá , esè rè kan si lo si  ìha gúúsù.  Ìyá ti kú, Ìyá ti gan pa bi eni ti iná èlétíríkì sóókì .Won si bá  ìwé pelebe ti o ko s’ílè  pé  awon omo oun ni o  mu oun  ni àjé.

Sèbí Ìyá na lo si ilé  iwé   ofé  ti Olóògbé  Olóyè Obáfémi  Awólówò da silè ni odun 1955, ni  ori tábìlì rè ni a ti ri ìwé ti fi owó rè  ko bayi  ”Mo gbé egbòogi olóró majèle gamalin ati oògùn òta pìàpìà apeku  je nitori  àwon omo mi pè mi ni Àjé. Sèbí ti n’ba je Àjé n’go ti pa won   je ni kékeré . È̩yin omo ti mo tó d’àgbà, ti mo fi orí gba  àárù fun. L’ójó jíje l’ójó àììje .Se n’ígbà tí e d’àgbà tán ni mo wáá di Àjé. E so fun Pásítò tàbí   Wòòlíì  yin pe ó sé o. Ó dìgbà”.

ARA OMO YÁ 

Tóò ,lehin òpòlópò  àríyànjiyàn  pe ki won gbe aburo won ti ara re ko ya kuro ni abé ààbo  òdo  Wòòlíì lo si ile ìwòsàn. Ni Osíbítùù ni àyèwò èjè ti fi hàn pe arákùnrin  náà  ni àrùn ibà  typhoid.Wón ti tóju rè , ara rè si ti yá.

Sèbí aso kò bá Omóye mó , Omóye sáà ti rìnhòhò w’ojà. Ìyá ti papòdà a sì ti sinn l’ódún náà  l’óhùn. Gbogbo wa l’a sa nlo, àni sé gbogbo wa la je ikú n’ígbèsè nítorípé awáíyé má lo kò sí.Ìpàdé  sì tún di ojó àlùkìámò bi Mùsùlùmí òdodo se nso , ò di ojó àjínde ni Krìsténì nwí.

Mo sèbí eni ti o  so omo rè ni Málomó ndáa inú ara rè ndùn ni, ìgbàwo  ni Málomó   ko niilo?,ìgbàwo ni Mákú ko ni kú o jàre?

Njé ta ló pa màmá?. Sé àwon omo ni tàbí Wòòlíì tàbí májèlé ti o gbé je?

Isèlè yi selè l’óótó  ni ìlú…..Sùgbón a fi orúko bo gbogbo àwon ti òrò yi kàn l’ásírí

Ha!, I knew Ejigbadero the land grabber

 

    ……..Peace returned after  Ejigbadero was killed

……… Emi ni nwi?

…… My land was forcefully taken in 1976

……..I have spent 70years in Lagos

The old man sat comfortably ,leaned his chin on  his walking stick ,smiled wryly , looked up and shook his head . ”Young Man let me tell you the story of my life ”, he said   and this reporter quickly  brought out  his materials and  the   action started  .

MY CHILDHOOD

The septuagenarian  chuckled , shook his head and again adjusted himself while others listened attentively to the interview  , ”My name is Bankole Oke, I am 78years  old  now and in two years’ time I would be 80.
”I was born in Oyin -Akoko, in  Ondo State. My father was the head of the town and  he was the one called ASEMBE. There was a war in Akoko ,and when they came for my father  I led them to a brook and was later asked to go back home. I left my parents at home  and  coupled with my illness that  really  affected me  that was why I was  taken away from Oyin Akoko at the age of  five and  went to  live  with Dr.Somolu the owner of Alakuko , an area in Lagos /Ogun State, but I lived with his mother in Agege .  I was  with them throughout where I went to school .
”My father allowed me to go Dr.Somolu  because I had a sickness that  took toll  of me and  he wanted me to go to where I could be catered  for ”

Pa Oke is grateful to the Somolus,  he said ”If not  Dr. Somolu I would not have gone to school.In Lagos   I was taken to General Hospital , Lagos where I was taken care of and treated” .

Asked whether  there were Hospitals in Lagos  in the early 40s, but the man looked at this reporter with surprise  written on his face and  replied ”there had been General Hospitals in Lagos  since 50s”. He continued his story ” I was there living   with Dr. Somolu till I was   18years”
”Baba , there is a confusion here o, you need to clarify it again , how possible you left and was with the Dr. Somolu and still …?” the old man cuts in ,as he still retained his  good  retentive memory which  was still sharp, he proved that he has not gone   senile, and with confidence and calculation , he said he  returned to his parents after he had been saved from his sickness by Dr. Somolu and  ”I left my Dr.Somolu’s  place in 1959 , and went back to Oyin  where I went  to St John’s Primary school Oyin, then Baptist Modern School Oyin then I came back to Lagos again . I mean  when I regained my health   I went back to Oyin to have my education and sponsored by Dr.Somolu .  The Doctor’s mother  was living in Abeokuta.

A DRAUGHT MAN
The old man spoke about the skill he acquired, he   said ”I struggled and I later became a Draughtman. I  was among those who drew the  plan for them in Abuja ,  I mean that   hotel called Sofitel  Hotel , and President of Senate’s houses ,I joined them to draw the plans.I was under Architect Group service then”

MY LAND WAS TAKEN BY LAND GRABBERS

At 78 he must have seen , heard and felt  and of course experienced the good the bad and the ugly  in life , the old man did not deny this as he said ”two things affected me in life that I can not easily forget easily  , I never knew I could survive the sickness  I had when I was small , but today I thank God for I never believe I could be up to this age.

‘The old man continued , almost in tears , he  complained bitterly on how he bought a piece of land in 1976 land  planning to erect a building on it but the land speculators truncated his ambition and the land was  taken away from him. He said ”I lived in Mushin where I would have built a house in Ogun street Mushin but it was taken away from me and  this killed my spirit and discouraged me  ,that was in 1976. The  land was taken forcefully  by the so called Awori people.The Land speculators have been doing this for   long and are known as fraudsters.

”I came to Sango looking for where I would settle  and  I started building this house in 1993 , I thank God that this is where I eventually settled today.

I HAVE SPENT 70YEARS IN LAGOS

Pa Oke has almost become a Lagosian as he said he spent all his years in Lagos ”I have spent  70 years in Lagos apart from the five years I spent at home.I thank God  that I eventually have a house , at last I have a place in Sango,
When I came here looking for where I would settle and I came here , I started in 1993 and now here.My advise is  buyers  should be careful and do research on land before they buy , I live in Orelope here and my children live  in Mushin” .

 I KNEW EJIGBADERO,
Asked whether he knew the  popular and fearless land Speculator , Ejigbadero the iron man in Lagos then , the old man  with confidence responded  ” Oh yes , I knew Ejigbadero ,a friend took me to Ejigbadero”.  He  called  the name  with fear and trepidation again,   ”Ejigbadero?  Ejigbadero was living at …. (trying to remember ) I even knew his house but I have forgotten  ……..(trying to remember where he was living). I knew his house …… at Mafoluku .Ejigbadero was a strong man in Lagos , I knew him one -on -one, Ejigbadero was  a bulky man ,  he was tall. I remember his case when he was arrested  for a crime and he said in  Court ‘Emi ni  nwi ”(what is he saying?) after he had been found guilty and sentenced to death for killing  Raji Oba . Peace returned  to Isolo after he was killed”, the old man said , shaking his head.

EJIGBADERO’S STORY

The late Jimoh Isola (aka Ejigbadero) was a nail merchant  and a Socialite who  had a chain of companies in Matori Industrial Estate and was also a land grabber in Lagos.

On the  22August 1975, Jimoh Isola (aka Ejigbadero) went with thugs to the Alimosho area of Lagos and killed one Raji Oba, a man he had issues with over land but  he was not lucky and did not get away with it!. He was sighted by Raji  Oba’s wife, Sabitiu Raji Oba.He was  later found guilty in Court but went to the Supreme Court where the  judgement  was upheld  by Justice Isiaka Ishola Oluwa and  Ejigbadero’s death was sealed on  October 26, 1978. He paid the supreme price in 1979.

EMI  NI NWI?  (what is he saying?)

When Ejigbadero was pronounced guilty and the judgment  upheld at the Supreme Court, his sympathizers screamed and burst into tears while Ejigbadero being an illiterate did not understand what the Justice’s pronouncement meant and why they broke down , he then  asked his lawyer  in Yoruba Vernacular ”Emi ni  nwi ”(what is he saying?). When his lawyer interpreted it to him that he should be hanged he now broke down in tears. Since then the words Emi ni  nwi became popular in remembering him.

who shot this boy:the Police or NDLEA?

NDLEA and Police must be probed

Tragedy struck this morning as a young boy of 15 and a  final year student of Amuye Grammar School was  allegedly killed by the police and  men of NDLEA while returning from where they went to raid.

An eyewitness  gave a graphic account of the tragedy  ”Early this morning ,in Owo  a team of Nigeria Police  and National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers  while on their way from the farm (along  Obasoto, Owo ), were sighted shooting sporadically  at Uka Junction and this boy, Oyeleye Oluwaseun  a final year student of Amuye Grammar School was shot  dead. The  15-year- old boy was  on his way  to the class  for coaching in preparation for the coming West Africa  School Certificate Examination (WASCE) ”.

Another   eye witness described how it happened  , ”the combined team of Police officers and NDLEA officers were coming from their raid along Obasoto  farm where they went to raid the Indian hemp merchants. When they got to Uka junction  the officers stopped their vehicles and waited for their colleagues . The residents who were not pleased with their attitude trooped out to watch officers’  activities and shouted at them to leave their vicinity. However , the Police and NDLEA officers started shooting and then left .It was during their shooting that they killed this young man but they fled having  discovered what they did .Now they left  leaving behind   sorrow , tears and blood.

”The parents of the deceased ,Olaolorunpo and Funmi Oyeleye went  to the police station to report but were turned back by the police.

Our correspondent  confirmed the incident and said the body had been deposited in the morgue at the Federal Medical Centre.

Lifeless body of Olaleye

A sympathizer who spoke with us , said the  IG, head of NDLEA must probe the killing. ”How will they just  shoot an innocent boy like that? This height of callousness. May God not forgive the man who pulled the trigger ”, she cursed.

What will you do if…

‘I am finished’

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It is exactly one year today when this woman, Mrs.Bimbo Olalekan’s two children were stolen by a fake tenant in Owo .
IMAGINE THIS SCENARIO
A couple came to rent a room from you , you collected one year house rent but did not issue them a receipt.You did not even ask for their names or telephone numbers too.
They lived in your house joyfully for six days , but on the sixth day the suspected tenant stole your two kids from your wife.
You went to all places like Babalawo, Alfaa, Prophets among others while some promised they will still resurface.One year after nothing is heard.
Some said she is careless while some said she trusted wrongly and is gullible ? Will you divorce your wife or not?.
We want answer from you please.
It is exactly one year today when two kids, Blessing and Ayomide whose ages are 2years and eight months; and eight months old baby of Mrs. Bimbo Olalekan were stolen from her house where she was living. .Up till the moment of writing this story the two kids are yet to be found.
Now one will be 3years and eight months old and the second will be One year and eights months old wherever they are!
Bimbo in an exclusive interview after the incident narrated how it all happened, she stated ”on January 30,2018 a man came looking for a room to rent in our house at 27, Okedogbon Street, Owo;Ondo state. He met my mother who at the initial stage turned down his request saying she needed a man who is married and responsible. The man then left but came back later with a Ghana Must Go bag with a woman he claimed to be his wife.

”The couple was asked to pay 2,000 naira per month but they begged for 1,500 naira and after much pleadings my mother accepted and they paid for one year and that is 18,000 naira. The money was given to my uncle who had no time to issue them a receipt for he was preparing for his baby’s naming ceremony. The new tenants later packed in”.

” Oh! I regret using my only child”


         This is  the story of a 78-year – old woman who used her only child for money making ritual in the 70s. She is now   a Born Again Christian.

 

            She lives in one room. The room stinks to high heavens for she eats, dresses, baths and uses potty in the same room. She made me realize it that she lives in a family house.  In a nutshell the dilapidated building where  is a mud house and had been abandoned due to the danger it poses for it has cracks allover and no reasonable tenant will live there even for free. Apart from this everybody is afraid to live there where this old woman lives.

   “Close the door,  look at the picture placed at the back of the door”, the old woman instructed me with her voice shaking ,  no thanks to  old age that has dealt a fatal blow on her.

   ” That is my son”, she pointed , “my only child. I was influenced by bad friends. I was stupid and I am regretting my action now.

    “I hope you will learn a lesson and tell your friends too to learn from it .All what I am revealing to you is nothing but the truth .The best way in life is to be happy no matter how  poor you are . Just believe that is how God created us and  we were not born equal and we are bound  to  face challenges in life .But hold on to God for all  is vanity”.

           “Mama , are you now a preacher ?”, I asked .”Yes, I am. I have given my life to Jesus  Christ . I can still read with my recommended eye glasses and I have read the  Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelation several times. I have the Holy Koran here with me here too .All I am begging for is forgiveness from God “, she said.

       My story

     ” Only very few people will know me. For it’s been a long time.I have relocated back home after spending many years outside my hometown .It was during the Udoji Salary increment /award when the Federal government increased salaries and gave out loans in 1974 or thereabouts that my case started unfolding. Many civil servants bought electronics like Sound system,  Black and white television, furniture, motorcycles , Volkswagen Beetle , Toyota , Vespa among others .

    ”I was a petty trader, a fish monger .I had friends that used to come all the way from Lagos to attend parties together in my town .That was when  clothes like  Wonyosi , Damask , Guinea Brocade reigned , Bonfo or Mafo gota  styles in vogue. For men it was Baggy. Then we had high heels, Bob Marley shoes,but I  had no money to buy , and then five yards was 15Naira , a big money at that time!.

       “My friends bought theirs but I had no money to buy , luckily one of them bought for me. We always had visitors from Lagos and it was almost every weekend we had parties . I always complained to them of not having money to buy their special clothes .One of them bought Damask, and Guinea brocade for me.They spent money and the highest denomination then was one Naira .Some would come from Lagos with the best and choice cars Mercedez Benz , some with Citroen, Volvo all from Lagos state to my hometown ( a riverrine area I should not mention for they will quickly know it is me )

          “One day , Josephine called me and advised me to stop hawking fish and since I was still young and could have money in future to take care of other children I would  still have .

      “Let I forget, I was not living with my husband , for he was a Federal Civil servant thus he was being transferred from one state to another .With our one child I was trying to get pregnant for him so he comes home regularly and we always meet.

  BoN

         “One of my friends called me one day and advised me to use my only child for money  and that I would still have another child since I was still young .At first I quarreled with her and reported her to one of our friends who laughed at me and said it was the in- thing and nothing spoiled .

      “Do you remember the story of Baba Ibeji that used one of his  twins for money making ritual  in those days?. Well you could be young then “, she said While still talking she asked me to excuse her in order  to ease herself .I went out for one hour and came back later .

      When I came back she asked  the point she was and I told her, she continued her mind-boggling story as I developed goose pimples.

     “It was true that using  man being for money – making was the in -thing and in vogue then. In fact some weekly magazines carried some of the stories then. I remember another one in (she mentioned the place) , when a girl was hawking puff puff and was called upstairs by a man into his living room and was never seen again. She was later traced to the man’s place and when his house was searched the girl was found carrying a  of calabash on her head. Thank God for her younger sister was  kept waiting endlessly  downstairs expecting her sister to come down, she   later raised an alarm. if not she couldn’t have been found. Immediately the girl’s  name was called money began to drop .It was real , too real .Money ? Is the root of  evil .

         “My son, David graduated from one of the federal Universities  he read Civil Engineering .He he was a brilliant chap , he made a second class upper division and went for his NYSC  which he completed .

        “I tricked him to the herbalist’s house , I told him we were going to do juju  for him to get a job in an oil company where he passed the  test and needed to go for an interview. He trusted me and never doubted me . We got there and after some incantations on him, he slept off and his internal organs and some parts were removed .In the dead of the night I with the herbalist went to dump his remains in the river .I was surprised that nobody saw us .On the following day I was the first to report at the police station that I was looking for David . At the police station I cried , and cried and cried .His father also cried and consoled me that I would have another child”.

       As the woman said last sentence , she shook her head and said ” I have repented .I know I am a sinner .If one confesses his sin God will forgive him , this I believe” . She continued.

        “Few years later I became rich; I had small boats for fishing. I joined the popular thick Madam Club, and also many Social Clubs .For many years they called me to be the Chair person of occasions .I donated money and my name rang bell, In fact without me an occasion will not be interesting as I used to donate generously .

       ”My husband did not suspect me and always asked after my welfare, I persuaded  him to leave the civil service and joined me in the business .

     ”One day , I was in the room lamenting , talking to myself  crying and unconsciously  said “David , please forgive me for I didn’t know . I was pushed into doing it “, my husband overheard me and asked what was the meaning, but I lied to him .

       ”My business boomed . I bought canoe boats , trailer lorries , I was rich.Many came to me for  assistance and I offered them.I had gold , I traveled very well .

     ”A woman who knew when I was hawking fish before I became rich asked me to show her the way but I told her it was through hard work, loan from the bank and contacts . She went to the bank , took loan and bought a canoe boat and did other businesses but along the line she failed .The bank she owed auctioned her property .She didn’t know the source of my wealth .

      ”I went to doctors who placed me on fertility drugs ,I went to Europe , USA, and Indian hospitals looking for the fruit of the womb but nothing came .

   “When I clocked 60 , my wealth was dwindling . But one day a woman came for financial assistance and said two of her children did not go to school as she had not paid their school fees .But I spoke rudely to  her and   sent away  and that  I had no time since I was in a meeting  but she didn’t go  she waited till 5 pm in the evening , yet I didn’t answer her .Later  I sent my Personal Assistant  to tell her to come back the following day. When she was going I overheard her as she hissed and said “we all know your secret , you who used your son for money -making ritual can not spend the money “. When I heard I was shocked .How did she know ? Who told her ? .

         “The second day she repeated her call and I gave her a lot of money she never expected . I  called her in and asked her to repeat what she said the previous day, she was shocked that I heard. I begged her to tell me where she heard .Yet, she refused to tell me .I threatened her but she didn’t talk .

       “As usual ,one weekend I went to a party with some of my friends , when I was pressed I went to visit the  ”Ladies”. From the toilet I was hearing two women washing their hands after they  too had used the  ”Ladies” having conversations describing me with what I wore .One of them said ‘that woman , who spent a lot at the party used her only  child  for money making ritual. She thought we didn’t know and everybody is now aware including her husband , but she didn’t know’

       “When I went back to my seat at the party I pretended as if nothing happened , after spending few minutes I left.

       “When I got home, I didn’t tell my husband .But the last straw that broke the camel’s back was what I heard  with my two ears .

      “One day I told my husband I was traveling , but I didn’t travel .I came back at midnight and since I had the keys with me I came in and met him with a woman. I lost my temper and vented  my anger on her , called her names  and threw her out that night but she shocked me with her words , saying ‘Mama, who asked you to use your only child for money ?. I have three kids for your husband and whether you like it or not I am his wife’. I called my husband and asked him many questions , but he shouted at me and  told me since we were wealthy we needed to have these kids who will inherit my property and bury me when I am gone. I became mad .So I have been working for him and his other family ? “

       “Later I asked him of the rumour about my wealth. My husband said ” You see my wife , the moment your money was booming I suspected you. One day I caught you begging your son to forgive you but decided to keep quiet and married another woman secretly  who can give me children. So we are using the money to take care of them that is why I didn’t talk again , of what use?’

      ”Some years ago a Bank liquidated and was closed down, I had millions of Naira and foreign currencies accounts there. Another Bank where I kept my money and domiciliary account  was shut down. We all knew what happened to some very popular banks in this country . All my businesses began to fall. I sold my houses in Lagos and in Port Harcourt and thought I would reinvest but I was swindled by fraudsters .

        “I have been going to church everyday begging God to forgive me .I  donated money to churches and to Mosques as charity .

         ”But one day I called my husband and begged him to tell me who told him my secret, he said it was my friend who introduced me to the herbalist that did juju for me .He said ‘your friend , Josephine called me and said you were rude to her , and that she was the one who showed the way to wealth for you .She even said you all have a clique ‘.

       “Now I have clocked 78 years of age .I have gone back to my place of birth. People should not pity me but help me beg God for forgiveness .

      ”Nobody uses Mercedez Benz, Volvo  we  all  craved for then again. Nobody uses Black and White television again, where is Wonyosi , Damask again?”.

          Asked whether the craze for money is good  , she said ” As long as we are in this world we shall continue to look for money by all means .But I implore you don’t use human blood. My money is gone, my only child is gone, nobody to look up to .

     “My husband died 10yearsago, and had abandoned me for long calling me a witch. All my friends who did same had died and none went to their graves with their wealth .I am still living to suffer for my sin.”

As she made the last sentence  ” I know I have sinned but  I have confessed my sins and I will be forgiven “, she took her Bible and continued reading louder this time .

When I was leaving I gave the old woman two hundred Naira. I looked at the faded picture of her son pasted on the back of the door , shook  my head , and said in my mind         ” who knows what this boy could have become ? “.