TO KILL ONE BIRD WITH TWO STONES

BY

M.A KURFI
20/5/2008

ii
 DEDICATION
For God (S.W.T) my creator, Islam my religion and Muhammad
(S.A.W) the prophet of Islam.

iii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My thanks must go to Professor David Iornem of the University
of St. Clements a genial and well-disponed personality who
gave me encouragement and continued to do so throughout the task
prepaid of this piece of work.
I also thank the members of my family particularly my wife
Hajiya Fatima who usually sat opposite me whenever I was writing on
the dinil table to offer useful suggestion which eventually got in
corporated in the manuscript. Both my daughter Maryam an English
Language teacher and her brother Surajo who is doing his MBA
contributed enormously to the success of this work.
The role of Usman Umar whom I fondly call Usman Computer,
must be mentioned of his dedication to duty, his patience and
commitment to my cause are beyond compare. He is frustrating used
to my irritation manner of writing, especially my habit of cancelling
amending and changing the already type written pages too often to
his changing but he would only smile and would take the amended
pages for re-typed to me and again without showing anger.
There are others too many to mention here but I only say a big
THANK you and God bless.

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 INTRODUCTION
This is the tragic story in drama of Wazobia, an imaginary family farm
an entity in itself but jointly owned and collectively cultivated. The
head of the family or the dynasty as it is called, is Chief Wazobia, an
octogenarian, with three sons namely, Jide, Okonkwo and Ahmad
with their seniority in that order.
The drama in the dynasty starts to unfold when Chief Wazobia
who is considered a pearl of wisdom, having seen that he is
becoming old, decides to select his possible successor among the
three children. But he does not want to respect the tradition of
seniority only so he invented his own method of finding out the best
qualified among them. Chief Wazobia therefore sets to give them a
simple test of casting of vote among themselves. The intricate device
according to Chief Wazobia is not dependent on the number of votes
obtained by an individual but it is to bring out among them the most
important quality of leadership based on the principle of self-less-
ness and self-sacrifice. At the end of the exercise, Jide got one vote
Okonkwo got two while Ahmad got none. Chief Wazobia then
explains that Jide and Okonkwo voted for themselves which is
considered selfish while Ahmad makes the sacrifice to vote for
Okonkwo. In consequence therefore, Ahmad who is the most junior is
declared the winner on that basis.
In a short but impressive ceremony, Chief Wazobia formally
hands over the instrument of leadership to Ahmad with the title of
Chief Ahmad Wazobia. The father dies almost immediately there
after.

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 However, the two elder brothers, Jide and Okonkwo who lost
the contest do not agree with the wisdom of their father hence an
atmosphere of animosity develops on the farm as a result of jealousy,
rivalry, intrigues and mistrust, culminating into conspiracy and plots to
oust Ahmad by all means.
The first salvo is fired by Jide but his plan comes unstuck as he
is caught in the act, tried and jailed. While he is serving his sentence
for conspiracy et al, Okonkwo went into action with his superior plan
and eventually fired the second salvo which got Ahmad assassinated.
With this brazen act of brutality, the farm of Wazobia now
becomes factional and so Ahmads faction refuses to accept the
brutal killing of their man whom they consider a paragon of virtue as a
leader. They therefore organized a counter move and reverse the
situation, thereby installing one of their own man as a leader to
maintain the status quo.
The drama takes its title from an old adage but inverted thus;
To Kill One Bird with Two Stones which aptly describes the two
attempts to kill Ahmad, in which one succeeded in the end.

M.A KURFI
13/06/2008

vi
 DRAMATIS PERSONAE

CHIEF WAZOBIA, The Father of three sons and head of family.

JIDE, 1st son and the Eldest.
OKONKWO, 2nd son
AHMAD, 3rd son.
SMITH, a neighbour and family friend
BANKOLE (friend to Wazobia)
AZUBUIKE (Okonkwos friend)
LINUS (another Okonkwos friend)
HEAD OF FARM HANDS
DEPUTY HEAD, FARM HANDS
IBRAHIM (Ahmads farm neigbour)
BALOGUN (Baba Lawu)
DR. DUDU (family doctor)
TOLA (Friend to Jide)

TITLE: TO KILL ONE BIRD WITH TWO STONES

ACT I
SCENE I (family lounge with Chief Wazobia presiding)
Chief Wazobia: Yes, my children I have a feeling that it is about time
to establish an enduring procedure for choosing my
successor among you, to whom I will eventually
handover the mantle of leadership of this great family
of ours whose history had stretched back over one
hundred and sixty years when our forefathers settled
on Wazobia Farm. My fear is that old age is catching
up with me an octogenarian whose care is already
in the hands of the geriatrician and it may not be long
before. I join my ancestors beyond.

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Jide: Chief, why, you look strong and have been eating
very well except for a few days recently when you
had fever and the usual attack of arthritis and you
seemed to have recovered from both. I do not want
to start thinking of your possible demise albeit I know
death is inevitable and it is at the throat of every
breathing creature. It comes without notice to both
young and old. It does not distriminate and whether
one is ready or not. We also love to continue to see
you as our father, Chief.

Okonkwo: Baba, be rest assured that even after your demise

Wazobia dynasty will continue to grow from strength
to strength by the grace of God, the Almighty. Added
to this is that the family will remain in peace and not
in pieces as to make you turn in your grave if you
were to hear about it. We will also all strive to follow
your example in the best tradition of the family as you
laboured to lay the foundation.

Ahmad: I beseech you Baba, do not let your thoughts be

locked-up in the prison of the Leveller which we all
know is unavoidable and it comes without notice as
Jide said. Your thoughts will willy-nilly affect our
thoughts in this respect and it will disturb our minds
and will break our hearts.

Chief Wazobia: Im aware of the fact but my dear children, is it not

being realistic to think about death at this age of
mine? In any case, I want us to be ready for any
eventuality, not until the Grim Reaper takes us by
surprise. Who among you will be the most qualified
to succeed me? That is the poser for you.

Jide: Chief, does this need any debate or enquiry? It is

obvious that the most senior and thats I will be your
successor in accordance with our customs and
tradition. However, I do not know what else the Chief
has in his mind.

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Okonkwo: No, Jide, it is not only seniority that will be taken into
consideration. Other criteria which are more relevant
will come into play. In that respect I, as the most
hardworking in the family, should be the one to
succeed Baba. I work like jackass in this house. The
fact which everybody knows.

Ahmad: As far as I am concerned, let the leadership go to the

most deserving among us. I have no quarrel with the
assertion of Jide, who said that the most senior
should take the mantle of leadership of the family.
Baba, you know the practice unless some other
considerations are taken into account which may be
used to disqualify the seniority claim. In this respect a
good case must be made against the person with
convincing facts beyond any reasonable doubt.

Chief Wazobia: I have listened very well to each of your reasoning

but you must be aware of the fact that the leadership
of this famous family is very vital not only to us the
members of the family but also to our neighbours far
and near. We must make sure we take the right
decision not necessarily based on seniority or self-
claim. We will certainly evolve a fools proof process
which will bring to the fore the best qualities hitherto
latent in him whoever emerges the winner. I will now
leave you to go and sleep over it and in two days
time, you will comeback here to partake in the
process for a winner to emerge.

Ahmad (standing): Good day, Baba, wishing you the best in your
endeavours

Jide (sitting): Chief, good afternoon.

Okonkwo: Baba, we will all think over it, two days is enough
time to reach a decision for a concensus. Good
afternoon sir.

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 SCENE II (Outside lounge)
(holding discussion)

Jide: Im unable to see the wood from the trees in respect

of the Chiefs intention. The time honoured practice
must be adhered to or else we will be asking the
Heaven to be angry with us and in consequence
must be prepared to pay for our sins.

Okonkwo: Jide, you are putting the cart before the horse, it will
not be wise to prejudice Babas intention. May be
there will be some good in it. Any way I stand to give
it a chance. Lets wait until we meet, like he said, in
two days time. Everyone of us is a stakeholder in this
project and so we will either swim ashore together or
sink to the bottom.

Ahmad: Ah! there you are, what will be will be. We must all
purge ourselves of all possible preconceptions and
look up to Baba to touch his magic wand for a one-off
solution to the problem. Meanwhile lets go to our
respective families for consultation and advice. We
must aim at making the plan a success.
(exeunt)

SCENE III
(Jide was left behind and stood alone in soliloquy)

Jide: If I can get somebody who can go to the Chief to

convince him that there is no need for any process.
The crown is mine by the Grace of God if he dies but
it looks as if the Chief has made-up his mind to follow
an unconventional method which is no doubt fraught
with danger and strewn with serious obstacles and
can cause schism in the family. How can I change
his mind?

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 ENTERS BANKOLE (A friend to the Chief)

Bankole: Hello, good afternoon Jide. Are you just coming out
from the Chief?

Jide: Ah! Bankole, this must be like Manna from heaven.

Im in a very desperate situation which requires
technical approach otherwise it is too hot to handle.

Bankole: What game are you up to? Im just passing by when I

thought to say hello to the old man. You know I have
not been paying my homage to the great man. This is
the right time to see him, is he in? but you look some
what disturbed and nervous. Whats the matter.

Jide: The Chief has just called the three of us and told us
to prepare to undergo a process of selecting who will
take over the mantle of leadership of the family
should he die. The other two, Okonkwo and Ahmad
had just left here. However, I told the Chief that the
divine order of seniority has to be followed naturally
but he was obstinate. Im desperately looking for
someone who will convince him to drop any idea and
face the reality. Would you give me a leg-up,
Bankole?

Bankole: Mhm! This is a very tough proposition. Its not going

to be easy to convince the Chief whose haughty
mien is a byword. But you are the most senior of the
three children, no doubt about that. What, With your
experience and educational qualification, what else is
required?

Jide: You know the Chief has his queer way of doing
things and you can not desuade him once he is set
on his course. Unless you can find a way round as
an in direct approach.
Bankole: I have very good rapport with the Chief. But you

5
 cannot set to catch a vulture without the use of
excreta-bait in your trap. I mean you must grease the
palm.

Jide: You mean we should make some monetary offer! My

good God! Do I have to bribe to get what Im entitled
to naturally?

Bankole: No! No! come on Jide, you mustnt talk like that. This
is only the traditional way of doing it. The Chief can
do without it but as an incentive you are bound to do
something to please him and convince him that you
are not a dry-fish but resourceful and caring too.
To cut the story short you will bring about two
hundred thousand wazobia with two goats, three
pieces of brocade, a red fez, a pair of shoes and
some scent. Im sure this will do the trick. We will
then go together. Let it be to-morrow at about 10
oclock in the morning. Ill fix the appointment with the
Chief. Good afternoon, till we meet again.

Jide: I have no words to thank you. May God bless you

abundantly amen. Good day, sir.
(exeunt)

ACT III
SCENE I
(At Okonkwos section of the compound)
ENTERS Okonkwo with his friends Azubuike and
Linus)

Okonkwo: I wish to intimate you with one of the most important

mission before me.

Azubuike: Is it mission impossible (laugh)?

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Linus: What the hell is eating you? Is it about love or is it
about money? You look terribly worried and you
seem to have sunk into the depth of some foreign
thoughts which have apparently got on your top.

Okonkwo: I must spill the beans, may be you will be of some

help, I do not know. You know Baba is very old and
recently he had suffered deterioration in his health.
He therefore wishes to find a successor among the
three of us, his children.

Linus: That shouldnt be a thing to bother you. Is Jide not

the most senior among you?

Okonkwo: Thats obvious but Baba, it appears is thinking for an

alternative to seniority factor and when he
addressed us on the issue, he seemed mind-set to
test the new approach but Baba, being the person he
is, did not drop any hint as to what method would be
used in the selection. And you know as far as hard
working is concerned no one would beat me there. In
the circumstance, I want you to advise me what to do
before the D day in order to capture the coveted
position of presiding over the estate of Wazobia.

Azubuike: Okonkwo, this is an internal matter, I do not think we

are qualified to interfere with your familys affairs as
much as we want to see you emerge the leader of
Wazobia dynasty.

Okonkwo: All right I agree. What are you or anybody in this

respect going to do to assist?

Azubuike: Well, Okonkwo, you can make a smart move by

going to Baba alone ahead of the appointed date to
prostrate before him and beg him to pick you as the
successor to whom to handover the mantle of
leadership of the dynasty, on account of your
hardworking record. I mean, this is clear as water.

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Okonkwo: I thought you would accompany me to speak to Baba
in this respect.

Azubuike: No! No! we will not do that but this is a mission to be

undertaken by you alone because it is a sort of
secret approach you are going to make as Im sure
the Chief will require some privacy to address the
issue freely between you and him only.

Okonkwo: Thank you very much for the advice, I would act
accordingly and would report back later.

Azubuike: I wish you Gods speed in this undertaking.

Linus: Good luck. The day for celebration must be near.

(Exeunt Azubuike & Linus)

SCENE II
(Ahmad and his farm labourers on the portion of his
farm)

Ahmad: We must be quick to clear the farm because the rains

will soon be here.

Head: Are you going to change the pattern of your planting

this year or are you going to keep it as it was?

Ahmad: Mhm--! I have not made up my mind yet as there is

plenty of time ahead but the important thing is to
make sure we clear the farm and spread the manure.
We will then look into last years fields in each of the
portions of the farm and then decide whether to
rotate the crops if need be.

Deputy Head: It is better to change the pattern this year. You know
for three consecutive years the crops have not been
changed or rotated as required by the agricultural

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 technical field workers. They may think we are not
taking to their advice. There is need to think over the
matter.

Ahmad: Yes, I agree with you but we will do what we think is

the most profitable proposition.

ENTERS IBRAHIM (a neighbour and a friend on the

farm)

Ahmad: Ah. Here comes Ibrahim crossing over from his farm,
perhaps to say hello and compare notes. Good
afternoon. You are welcome.

Ibrahim: Afternoon. I just saw you with your farmhands and I

thought I should cross over to say hello to you. It
looks you have come to clear the farm. Are you going
to plant the whole farm this year and that you are not
going to leave any portion fallow?

Ahmad: Farming has been made a very expensive affair in

Wazobia. It is both capital and labour intensive and is
hardly profitable. You do not know whom to blame. Is
it the authority, the farmhands or the farmers.

Ibrahim: Everybody I think has his own share of the blame.

Firstly, the authority does not take agriculture
seriously because for donkey years the small farmers
have been using the primitive farming implements
and there appears to be no change. They bend down
all day and continue to scratch the surface of the soil
in order to eke out a living as subsistence farmers.
Year in year out. The authority in charge of
Agriculture is only interested in awarding contract for
the importation of fertilizer. This is where lucre is!
The quarrel starts and ends there. The tractor hiring
system is designed for the wealthy farmers only. It
has nothing to do with the small holders who
constitute ninety percent of the farming community

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 and they produce more than ninety percent of the
crops. The tractors are not designed for our terrain
here and thats why they break down so often. It is
only the policy makers who benefit from the system.
Small time, the tractors are auctioned and tell me
who buys them at pre-determined prices? The same
people who approved the purchase from overseas.
Our top soil is on the surface here, so if you use a
tractor, you destroy it because tractor needs to go
deeper into the ground in order to make harrows.
And the biggest drawback is that the produce does
not have a ready market. Farmers are now left at the
mercy of small time agents who lack the capital
resources to buy the produce at least at break-even
prices. Often the farmers are left with their products
with no buyers. The marketing authority of old used
to maintain not only the quality of the produce but
guaranteed prices. The arrangements no longer exist
now. The farmers too are to blame they want to cut
corners to produce the least expensive crops like
food crops, maize and not cash crops like cotton.
And the farm hands are extortionists. Thats the story
of farming in Wazobia.

Ahmad: We need to think of changing the system of farming.

Lets have small mechanical or semi-mechanized
implements of farming and make them affordable to
the average small holder so as to do away totally
with the primitive implements and bring back the
produce marketing authorities for stable prices and
ready market for the cash crops.

Ibrahim: Ah, I learnt that the big man is sick, I mean your
father and that the general family farm will lie fallow.
Is it true? Cant you three undertake to cultivate it
until Baba recovers? It will be very embrassing if you
allow it to lie fallow, Ahmad. I also heard that the old
man had told you that he wanted to select a
successor among you, the three of his children, and

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 to handover to him the mantle of leadership of the
dynasty of Wazobia and its estate. This should not
be a problem if the time-honoured tradition of the
principle of seniority is up-held unless there are
glaring reasons to deviate.

Ahmad: I think you are right there, but as far as I am

concerned it does not cut ice with me. You know I am
the most junior so it is a quarrel between the big two,
Jide and Okonkwo who I understand are deeply
involved in serious scheming and planning because
each feels that he is the most qualified to head the
family. It is not the responsibilities they are after but
the lucrative central farm which is a source of
enormous income. Each is struggling to get his itchy
hands on it.

Ibrahim: Yes, I think your father is very wise to insist on giving

you a general test which will filter out the best
among you. In that respect Ahmad, do not count your
good self out since the criterion is not seniority only.
Other qualities will be called into play. As a paragon
of virtue as it were, you stand a better chance of
winning the coveted prize. There is need for you to
join the race. Why not summon help from a shaman
or a native medicine man?

Ahmad: It will be a very wise move and definitely I will see

what I can do about it. I think it is time to go home. I
must hurry back, thank you, Ibrahim till we meet
again. I will keep you posted of any development
concerning the leadership tussle.

Ibrahim: Good day, see you later

(Exeunt)

SCENE III
(At Jides portion of the compound)

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 ENTERS Bankole with Balogun, the Baba Lawo.

Bankole: Good morning, Jide, I am here with Balogun, the

Baba lawo for a secret talk and then to plan how to
meet the Chief. Incidently, have you got all the items
we discussed before?

Jide: Morning, you are doubly welcome, the medicine to

my anxiety and worry. Perhaps we will be lucky
enough to succeed. All the items you requested are
here, including the special Kolanuts for such
occasion. Lets hear from Baba Lawo, first.

Balogun, the Baba We are so used to these things which come to us

Lawo: everyday. There is nothing to fear about. I have
prepared very strong charms which I had already
spread on the way to the chiefs lounge. And by my
oracles, he would be agreeable to our request. Its as
easy as falling off a log.

Jide: Lets move straight to the Chiefs place. He is there

waiting for us. We must be prepared to talk in unison
as to be able to counter his argument which may be
contrary to our own. The kernel of our case rests on
the principle of seniority.
Bankole: You must not be emphatic on this line of thought. We
must employ the tactics of using the stick and the
carrot at the same time. We must not allow the chief
to put forward a superior argument. We must cajole
and coax, so you must chose your words very well all
the time.

Balugun, the Baba The Chief has always been a hard nut to crack and
Lawo: so we must tread carefully. Lets not take a false
step.
(Exeunt)

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 SCENE IV
(At the Chiefs lounge)
ENTERS Bankole with Jide and Balogun, the Baba
Lawo,
each carrying a number of things for the Chief.

Bankole: Good morning Chief, we are here as per our

appointment with you. Jide and Balogun are in my
company.

Chief Wazobia: Tat! Tat! Tat! What are you bringing in here so heavy
to make my heart heavy?

Bankole: Chief, its nothing but the normal traditional gift from
an obedient son to his father in appreciation of what
he has been doing for him. Please chief do not get
alarmed unnecessarily Im one of your closest friends
and you know. I will not give my weight to any matter
which has any hidden agenda.

Chief Wazobia: Be seated and let me hear what is your business

here.

Jide: (Prostrate), good morning sir, we just come to greet

you as usual and ask for some favours. Mean while I
brought here with me certain items as present to you
as my dear father.

Chief Wazobia: What has baba lawo got to do with it? Is he here to
charm me and make my heart and mind prisoners of
his magic?

Balogun, the Baba No! No! Chief, I cant do that to you. I just
lawo: accompany Bankole being my good friend to say
hello to you.

Chief Wazobia: Bankole whats your mission?

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Bankole (he too Sir, in the name of God, we come to solicit for your
indulgence and understanding. We are asking for a
prostrate):
favour for our brother and friend, Jide.

Chief Wazobia: What favour are you asking for him?

Bankole (still It is about your proposal to select one of your

children to handover to him the mantle of leadership
prostrate):
of Wazobia dynasty. We beseech you to consider our
bosom brother, Jide for various reasons, Chief. If you
permit me to say that he is the most senior among
your children, well versed in conducting family affairs,
there were occasions on which he represented you
ably in various affairs. He is also well educated, the
best among them. He has made many friends in the
neighbourhood and has gained their confidence and
so they speak very warmly about him. Chief, I am
sure you are not unaware of some of the good
comments people make about him. I know he had
made some mistakes in the past but he had made
amends since then and has applied himself to the
task ahead more positively and diligently too.

Chief Wazobia: It sounds obvious that you are making a case in

favour of Jide after I have given my word that they
will all go through a test so that we will be able to see
the best from each. Mark you, the test is going to be
one of the simplest. And these things you brought as
gift can not buy my conscience. I do not have any
quarrel with his claim to seniority but this is a matter
which concerns the family as a whole. I cannot afford
to falter at this juncture. Is he afraid of the test or
does he lack self confidence?

Jide (becoming The Chief should remember that as the most senior
impatient he stood child, I am not being treated fairly if I am forced to go
up): through any test besides whats being practised
anywhere on this farm as prescribed by the laws of
custom and tradition.

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Chief Wazobia: I stick to my gun, the proposal must be carried out
irrespective of anybodys feeling. You can take your
things and leave at once. The die is cast. There is no
need crying over spilt milk, Jide.

(Exeunt Jide, Balugun and Bankole)

SCENE V
(Same Venue)
ENTERS Okonkwo

Okonkwo (prostrates Good morning Baba, I want to implore you upon your
full length): proposed selection.

Chief Wazobia: Morning Okonkwo. Have the days come to pass that
you appear in readiness? I would rather you come
the three of you together instead of you alone.

Okonkwo (trembling): O, no sir, I have come to appeal to you sir, as I had

already made my case before as the most
hardworking among us. I will abide by all the rules
you will set. I have been honest in my activities and
besides a few mistakes in the past, I have been
doing very well in my relationship with you and with
most of the other members of the dynasty. I therefore
beg you as I prostrate here on your floor, sir, to
select me and I will do my best to uphold the tenets
of the dynasty. I will never fail you, Baba, you know
me.

Chief Wazobia: I do appreciate your anxiety and your desire to be the

one to take over the leadership of the dynasty and to
take care of Wazobia Farm, but you know, it is not
going to be fair if I am to choose you here secretly
and then later conduct a test. That will amount to

15
 cheating and a display of naked dishonesty. My
hands are tied I cannot do anything behind the backs
of the others. Is this the way to do things? No, not in
my time.

Okonkwo: Please sir, Im not exactly asking you to do

something behind their backs but I wish to be
considered by you as the favourite son therefore
select me without any contest or test. Please father, I
am very loyal to you and I have been trying to make
you happy. I have also been very dutiful and a willing
tool in your hands. I do not think I annoy you
deliberately but only by mistakes which do occur
infrequently. Believe me, sir, if you select me I will
raise the honour of this dynasty to a much higher
level because Im so dedicated and ready to do
anything which will bring good name to our family. I
will also see that the whole of the farm is cultivated
and the produce will be sold to the highest bidder. I
will ensure we make much money and more. Sir, I
beg! --------------- I beg! ----------- I beg!

Chief Wazobia: Stop these ingratiating and obsequious behaviours

for guile and guise! We must learn to honour and
respect our words. It will but be ungentlemanly to
change my stand. It will make me lose face before
the members of the public. I love all of you as my
children and thats why I invent the new procedure in
search of the best among you. You should be
patient and abide by all, not some of the rules, of the
game. I will not cheat and nor will I allow cheating in
this game. It must be seen to be wholly transparent
and squeaky clean, no two ways about it. I can not
bend the rules in your or anybodys favour. You must
go through the process and whoever emerges the
winner should be regarded as the Devine choice and
my choice too.
(Exit Okonkwo)

16
 ACT III
SCENE I (in Chief Wazobis chambers and is in his
sickbed)

Smith (standing by Good morning old Pa and how are you feeling to-
Chiefs beside): day? The morning seems auspicious as the pale blue
sky is clear and the sun is shining brightly, thus
augus well for our great event ahead.

Chief Wazobia You are welcome my good neighbour and a bosom

(turned his face friend. It is certain that old age is catching up with
towards Smith): me. Since yesterday I have not been myself. There is
a foreboding air it seems but I would not be drawn
into a forecast for it will weaken my worn-out bones
further to envelop me with despair.

Smith (now sitting in Is it the head or the body?

a chair):

Chief Wazobia: Im in pins and needles in what you may call an ague
of fear of the unknown and the body in reaction
develops arthritic crisis.

ENTERS Okonkwo

Smith: Ah, here comes Okonkwo like a time-keeper to the

manner born. Are you set for the task ahead or are
you shaking in your shoes and trembling in your skin.
Goaded by hope and haunted by the horror of failure
whose interplay is the survival of the fittest. The Chief
is sick, he has fever and crisis of arthritis.

Okonkwo: You are not in my shoes to shake. The early bird

catches the worm. But let me see Baba, first. Baba
how are you feeling this morning? Has the doctor
come and if so what came out of his mouth and what
manner of prescription, if any.

17
Chief Wazobia: The usual doses and massage balm but no any thing
specific. The treatment has become a matter of
routine and patience and endurance are the better
for it.

Okonkwo: It is my greatest hope that you will soon be given a

clean bill of health by the doctor.

ENTERS Jide

Jide (toward the I can see the Chief wrapped in his bed and it looks
bedside): as if he is in some pain. I hope nothing very serious.
Good morning Chief. How is this morning. Smith and
Okonkwo must have been attending to you.

Smith: The old Pa is sick, Jide, we only pray he will soon

recover to enable him conduct the crucial test for
which we are all here.

Jide: You still insist with your unconventional idea? You

only preach to the converted. Im not one of them. I
nail my colours by seniority, custom and tradition.

Chief Wazobia: Morning my good son, Jide but you cannot call back
yesterday. Everything is now set. The process will by
the Grace of God, take place. Good luck, may the
best emerge among you and we will hail him.

ENTERS AHMAD

Jide: (Challenges Ah, here comes the slow coach. Why, are you
him): engaged with some magic creatures or fortune-tellers
with their prophecies which may only push your luck?
Im confessing that the last two days must have
witnessed the busy-bodies of many oracles and
medicine men in the name of this exercise. The Baba
lawos, the Shamans and the Chukwus criss-crossed
Wazobia farm and the family compound doing their
rituals to bring fortunes and good luck to their

18
 sponsors. You and Okonkwo will be surprised to-day.

Ahmad (he ignored How are you feeling Baba? I was given to
understand that the family doctor, Dudu came and he
him at first):
attended to you.

Chief Wazobia: My son, the doctor did come and gave me the usual
treatment only this time he increased the Aspirin
dosage to relieve the pain. It may not be long,
Ahmad.

Ahmad: Baba, please do not say so, as it disheartens me and

makes my body run cold as it trembles. I wish you
speedy recovery. Jide, you seemed to be on the
offensive this morning. Do not label me for I only
bring the rear but not a slow coach. As for your
magic talk Im a pious man of God and do not have
anything to do with sourcery whatever. Good
morning Okonkwo, did you hear your brother Jide?

Okonkwo: Morning my brother, do not mind Jide. People in

glass houses should not throw stones. This is not a
day of magic but that of display of ability and ones
luck for it is the leaven.

Chief Wazobia (sat Smith, are we all set now to proceed.

on his sick bed):

Smith: We are all here except Hiyo, the detail to assist me to

conduct the test ah! but here he comes at last. May
be he has some obstacles on his way, it is better to
hear from the horses mouth.

ENTERS Hiyo

Hiyo: Good morning Chief, how about your health. Are you
any better than yesterday or is it a case of
maintaining the status quo?

19
Chief Wazobia: Slight improvement as the pain has been relieved
and the company of this morning, when everybody is
around it seems to work like magic, taking away the
sickness from me to make it light. However, lets
make a start at once and in view of the fact that Im
not able to conduct the test myself, I now delegate
my authority to Smith and you will be his assistent.
You will therefore move to the venue which is the
family lounge where arrangements have already
been completed for the conduct of the test. I
therefore wish you Gods speed in your endeavous.
God bless.
(All exeunt except the Chief)

SCENE II (In the large family lounge)

Smith: As you have heard from the Chief who unfortunately

is taken ill to-day, I am given the mandate to conduct
the test in the best tradition of justice and equity,
transparency and honesty. I assure you, gentlemen
no one will be cheated. The test may not eliminate
all possible mistakes but will certainly bring out the
best among you who will be capable of shouldering
the enormous responsibilities of Wazobia Farm and
the family. The test you are about to undergo is
called the Wazobia System of leadership selection. It
is a device sufficiently designed to be fool-proof, free
and fair based on the principle of justice and equity,
transparency and accountability. Behind the screen
over there you have three small pots each is labelled
with the name of one of you and here with me are
three short batons, one each to the three of you.
Walk to the pots behind the screen and vote
according to your choice. I have to follow the order of
seniority in this respect. It is as simple as abc. Do
you understand me or is there any question?

All: We fully understand the procedure but what comes

next?

20
Smith: I now call upon Jide, the most senior to cast his
ballot. Jide over to you.

Jide (walking Thank you sir. I will now go and drop the baton in the
towards the screen): pot.

Smith: Next is Okonkwo. Would you come and take your

turn?

Okonkwo (he went This is one of the happiest days of my life. It is very
and dropped the exciting.
baton and came
back to sit):

Smith: Ahmad, please take your turn.

Ahmad (He dropped Im happy that every thing ended peacefully as it

the baton and came started.
back to sit):

Smith: Not yet, Ahmad. We are not yet out of the woods
until we know the result and everybody accepts it.
Hiyo come and join me with the participants to
retrieve the pots and their contents.

Hiyo: Im marvelled to watch the procedure, that oldman

must be a pearl of wisdom to design such a simple
device yet very effective and loaded with meanings
and direction.

All: They walked to the pots and brought them out to the
lounge.

Smith: Gentlemen, you are all witnesses. Here are the

contents; Ahmads pot is empty. There is not a single
baton (they all laughed). In Okonkwos pot there are
two batons.
In Jides pot there is only one baton. Gentlemen,

21
 these are our findings but we have to go to the Chief
who is to interpret their meaning accordingly.

Okonkwo: What interpretation? It is obvious. I am the winner.

Smith: The correct interpretation is a secret kept only by

your father who has not shared it with anybody else
as far as I know. He has been keeping it to his chest,
so lets go and report the results to him. He is the
only one who knows the next line of action.
Okonkwo, be patient, if you win no one will deny you
your right but do not be overexcited only to be
disappointed later.

Jide: The result is indicative that Im out of the race since I

got only one baton. It appears that Im robbed of my
rightful place. I will insist that the most straight
forward method be reverted to, the time honoured
traditional way otherwise the whole exercise will be
tantamount to unfair treatment of some of us who will
be victims of partiality. I will continue to protest
before God and man that I am eminently qualified to
takeover the mantle of leadership of Wazobia Farm
and family.

Ahmad: My brothers, please do not count your chickens

before they are hatched. Do not pre-empt Babas
plans with your prejudices. Keep calm and continue
to play the game according to its rules. If Jide with
one baton says he does not stand a chance of
winning, what will I say since I got zero baton. We
have just finished the turn to be on home straight.
Lets endure it a little to reach the finishing line to see
who will breast the tape.
(Exeunt)

22
 SCENE III (In Chiefs Chambers)
ENTERS SMITH with JIDE, OKONKWO, AHMAD
and HIYO

Smith: Good day Chief, I hope you are feeling better now.
We are back with the full results of the test. However,
our minds are distended as we are more confused
with the result than clear.

Chief Wazobia Ah, are all the results complete? Had everybody
(being attended by witnessed the procedure as to make it plain and
his doctor but he sat clear? What are the details, Smith?
on the bed):

Smith: It is interesting and let me start with the highest;

Okonwko emerged with two batons in his pot, Jide
found one only while Ahmads pot was empty! Over
to you Chief to declare the winner for Okonkwo is so
anxious to commence celebrations while the others
have descended into melancholy.

Chief Wazobia Beautiful; the plan has worked perfectly well in that
(propping himself up there was no hitch whatever, or was there, Smith?
from the bed): Let me then explain its concept, Okonkwo with two
batons means that he selected himself and one other
selected him too. That one other is nobody but
Ahmad. As for Jide he selected himself and nobody
selected him. Ahmad is then the only one who did
not select himself and equally the other two could not
select him at the same time they selected
themselves. In the plan therefore the magic number
is ZERO and so Ahmad has it because the plan is
looking for evidence of self-sacrifice and selflessness
which undoubtedly make the quality for leadership.
And that was what the jig-saw puzzle is all about.
Ahmad has displayed both characteristics by refusing
to vote for himself, he had made an uncommon self-
sacrifice and unprecedented show of self-lessness.
These characteristics are sine quo non of any good

23
 leader. In view of these findings I hereby formally
declare Ahmad the winner of the contest and ipso
factor the right man to assume the mantle of
leadership of Wazobia farm and dynasty after me.
The test is a creature of the philosophy of wisdom ala
Wazobia. Congratulations Ahmad. Long live Wazobia
Farm and the dynasty.

Smith: Im astonished but convinced of the righteousness of

the plan, what else could be more convincing and
apparent? What we all witnessed here must be a
divine method rather than mans imperfection of a
device. Ahmad congratulations. May you live long to
make your contributions to move Wazobia Farm
forward. May the hand of God be out there to guide
you and protect you as well.

Jide: Great tricks conjured up! Will they succeed? The

destiny of this honorable citadel has been put alight
and its unity put asunder in double jeopardy. The
consequences of which no one can predict. The
scales of justice will perforce outweigh the tyranny of
partiality. Im not convinced by the Chiefs rigmarole,
I am crestfallen, down and out! Great Heavens will
come to the aid of the cheated. But am I alone in this
persuit for my right?

Okonkwo: What, are you calling for enlistment to take our fates
in our hands or take our cause with convincing
tongue rather than subduing arms?

Smith: If I may intervene at this auspicious moment,

gentlemen, I urge you not to raise Cain but to be
phlegmatic and to look at the issue philosophically
with clear sight rather than with jaundiced eyes. I can
see that agony and anguish are interwoven to a
passionate state of rancour. Lets have sober
reflections as to be able to imbibe the tolerance of
Noah, the sacrifice of Abraham, the endurance of
Job and the perseverance of Jonah to move the

24
 mountain to Muhammad. Lets not allow Lucifer to
lure us to act like Cain and incur the wrath of God. I
implore you to be obedient, patriotic and to give the
desired co-operation to your brother in the task
ahead. I therefore warn you of the danger of acting in
the contrary.

Jide: Smith, you spoke very well and your words have put
some light in the turnel which hitherto was dark. My
heart is warmed after your entreating words which
served like a balm on an aching body to take the pain
away. I will now cooperate fully to give peace a
chance to blossom. Ahmad, congratulations and long
live Wazobia Farm.

Okonkwo: Your talk sounds like the sermon on the Mount. It

cooled my mind and gave me a new vision. My
thoughts have stopped rambling and I feel on top of
them. My co-operation is hereby guaranteed and I
tender my apology to our father Chief Wazobia. I
congratulate you, Ahmad in the name of unity.

Wazobia: Smith, my expression of gratitude will never come to

pass as you used your wisdom to defuse the wrangle
of my two disaffected sons who seem in dispute with
our diaphanous choice of a successor. Let me leave
this world now contented and happy that all hands
will be on deck for the sake of our ancestors as well
as for our progeny unborn. I will now call upon
Ahmad to come forward for his formal initiation and
instalation as the new leader of Wazobia Farm and
the dynasty. Smith, swear him in for allegiance and
faith and hand over to him these instruments of his
authority: a bundle of broom as the symbol of unity of
Wazobia Farm, a bunch of olive flowers as a sign for
peace and friendship, a sword in its sheath, a bow
and a bunch of arrows all for its protection. He will
give equal attention to each of these five items of
symbolic importance.

25
Smith: Ahmad, come forward to take your oath. Say after
me.

Ahmad (standing): I, Ahmad, do hereby swear that I will be faithful and

bear true allegiance to Wazobia Farm and the
dynasty and that I will endeavour to protect its
fundamental interests and that I will not do anything
detrimental to such interests. I will be fair but firm,
impartial and just to all in the discharge of my duties
as the leader of Wazobia Farm and the dynasty, so
help me God.

Smith: I now on behalf of Chief Wazobia handover to you

the five instruments of your authority: the sword, a
bow and a bunch of arrows as symbols of both
offensive and defensive weapons for our protection,
the bundle of broom and the bunch of olive flowers.
Congratulations and you are hereby installed as the
leader, so hail the Chief, hail the chief, hail the chief.

Chief Wazobia (with I take this sword out of its sheath and lay it here on
Ahmad prostrate your back, one, two, three, four as a symbol of your
before him for strength and you are hereby initiated into the
initiation): leadership of Wazobia as its fourteenth leader. You
can now stand, my son. I wish you success in your
future endeavours, good luck! May God be with you.

Ahmad Baba, I have run short of words to express my

(overwhelmed and gratitude to Almighty God and to you for choosing me
tearful as he stands): to take over from you. It is just like a dream.

Smith: I now call upon Chief Wazobia to deliver his formal

speech, for this short ceremony of installing the new
leader of Wazobia Farm and the dynasty.

Chief Wazobia: Smith, my children Jide, Okonkwo and Ahmad, and

others, to-day we are on the threshold of opening a
new chapter in the life history of Wazobia Farm and
the dynasty. It gladdens my heart to handover the
affairs of this great community to an able and trusted

26
 hand of Ahmad, our divinely chosen successor.
However, my short address will essentially focus
attention on the sinews of leadership. It is an old
adage which says Honesty is a virtue possess it, if
you can, while greed is an evil avoid it, if you can.
No two ways about it, a good leader must be seen to
be honest and sincere to his followership. Secondly,
a good leader must be prepared to make any
sacrifice including supreme, in order to advance the
cause of his people. A good leader must have both
moral and physical courage. Thirdly, a good leader
must set the standard codes of ethics and morality in
the system and live by them. A good leader must be
a role model to lead by example and he must have
style as an ornament which he takes to wear in
everyday life for others to copy. In every person
there is a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but a good leader
must not live by deceit as that genius of literature,
William Shakespeare said, You can deceive some
people all the time; you can deceive all the people
some of the times but you cannot deceive all the
people all the times. The legacy I am leaving behind
is that of a proud but not arrogant, cohesive but not
clannish, contented but not disgruntled, enlightened
but not benighted community of Wazobia Farm and it
is your joint responsibilities to keep the flag flying.
Ahmad, I call upon you to handle the people with
care and love while I appeal to your brothers to give
you maximum co-operation and understanding for
you cannot clap with one hand. They are your
advisers and you are just prima inter pares. I
therefore wish everybody the best of luck in the great
task ahead. Long live Wazobia Farm and the
dynasty.

ALL: Clapping and shouting of congratulations and amen.

27
Smith (amid the Pa Wazobia, we thank you very much for choosing
shouts): the theme of leadership and thereby highlighting the
good qualities of a leader. I now call upon the new
Wazobia leader, Ahmad who from now on will bear
the title of Chief Wazobia XIV, to deliver his
acceptance speech, Ahmad.

Ahmad (standing): Im too overwhelmed and humbled to speak,

however, I will summon courage to say a few words.
My acceptance speech is based upon an expression
of gratitude to Almighty God and my father for
choosing me as the new leader of Wazobia Farm
and the dynasty. I wish to acknowledge the presence
of my two brothers. Jide and Okonkwo and also the
ubiquitous and indefatigable Smith whose
contribution as a family friend, is unique and
unprecedented in the context of its value and quality.
However, with the single act of the handover my
fathers transferred care has become my care which
is full of care. My shoulders have been expanded to
carry the new care and I have to be careful not to be
weighed down by this new care.
I must struggle hard to justify this choice. And while I
do that I must uphold the tenets of the dynasty
whose motto is United We Stand, Devided We Fall.
The unity of this house is supreme and cannot be
compromised under any circumstances. It is one
Wazobia, one people and one destiny. We will strive
hard to pursue our common objectives with vigour
and determination. Wazobia Farm has symbols of a
sword as well as a bunch of flowers, we intend to
give equal attention to both. Great attention will
equally be given to agriculture which is our base, in
order to increase the production of our farm products
of cotton, groundnuts, cocoa, palm kennels, as cash
crops and cassava, sorghum, millet and beans as
food crops. Agriculture is the economic base of
Wazobia Farm and therefore its main stay. Efforts
must not be spared to boost its activities for better
yield. I therefore call for full co-operation in this

28
 regard as the torch has now been passed to a new
generation nurtured by the ardent desire to move the
farm forward and to improve the life of its people.
Thank you all and God bless.

All: Clapping all over by everybody.

Smith (closing The acceptance speech of Ahmad, marks the end of

remarks): this ceremony but before we close may I call upon
Jide and Okonkwo to pay their homage to the new
leader.

Jide: I pledge my loyalty to Ahmad in word, thought and

deed.

Okonkwo: I follow suit to pledge my loyalty in body, heart and

mind.
(Exuent all but father Wazobia)

ACT IV
SCENE I (In Wazobia bedroom)

A Spirit (talking to Chief Wazobia, it is important to keep you posted of

Wazobia in his events to come after your demise. The choice of your
dream): youngest son as your successor whose suitability as
a leader is not in doubt, will stir-up envy, jealousy
and rivalry from his two elder brothers who feel that
they were unjustifiably superceded and schemed out.
Seeds of discord and disunity are thus sown on the
Farm and the consequences of this will reverberate
and spread far and wide on the Farm. What you and
your ancestors laboured hard to put together will be
torn asunder by internal conflict and civil unrest
leading to assassination and mass killings, and the
edifice will be in turmoil as your children will conspire
to plot the killing of one another. Hell will let loose
and anarchy and violence will engulf the community
until the generation exterminated itself as a result of
greed as an evil and blind ambition based on pride
and prejudice. They will all be consumed in the fire of

29
bloodbath. After the first generation, the generation-
next will make its debut on the stage to benefit from
the spoils of the first. The leadership of this new
generation oblivious of the struggles of the past, will
be indulgent in pursuit of the culture of hedonism.
They will deviate from the righteous path with no
desire to worship in the temple of God but in the
temple of Mammon. The time-honoured religious
values will be inverted and predilection to accumulate
wealth will be its main pre-occupation. Religion will
be used as a status symbol and emotive practice of it
will be a common feature. There will be lack of
FAITH in the leadership like it says in the poem by
W.B Yeats;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst.
Are full of passionate intensity.
Things inevitably fall apart and the centre cannot
hold.
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world everywhere.
If the head is rotten, the body will stink.
There will be no standard code of ethics and morality
as everybody has abandoned FAITH to join the rat
race for wealth acquisition by fair or foul means.
Bribery and corruption the twin evils, will shamelessly
be the order of the day, ubiquitous, pervasive and
endemic. They will spawn other evils of violent
crimes and other social vices of fraud, cheating and
thieving. In sex a father will sleep with his daughter
while a son will sleep with his mother and the
following day both will be declared heros by the
society without conscience or any feeling of
compunction.
This is the beginning of the return to paganism
as the majority of the missionaries of both religions
had left the farm before the psyche of the people had
absorbed their teachings to make them flow in their
veins and their hearts. The leadership will be
engaged in witch crafts, juju, cultism and other fetish
and horrendous practices while they will attend
churches and mosques; practice without FAITH!

30
 There will be many itching hands to steal and many
mouths to lie. The criminal is arrogant and powerful,
the honest is humbled and taunted as conservative.
A paradox of the progressives. The law will not rule
and justice will be on sale to the highest bidder. Law
enforcement agents will be reduced to the status of
beggars as they are denied essential tools of their
trade and so they will become parteners in the realm
of crime. Amid the chaous and disorder, black gold
will be discovered on the farm which will be a curse
rather than a blessing as the big rats will be the
exclusive beneficiaries. Agriculture will be neglected
and the community will suffer the trimmels of
deprivation and privation. The farm will lose its unity
and cohesion and it will be torn in splinter groups
held together only by the thread of the black gold
enjoyed by the leaders and so the motto of the farm
will change to become, United we Fall, Divided We
Stand, God first and the devil take the hindmost.
The white-dressed figure of the spirit vanished
while the Chief turned on his side and passed away.

ENTERS DR. Dudu

DR. Dudu (walked Oh, my God! The Chief is gone! The pulse in the
towards the chiefs hand had stopped and the eyes are closed. The lifes
sick bed): gone and rigor mortis has set in. May his soul rest in
perfect peace. I must go and report the death to the
new Chief.
(Exit)

ACT V
SCENE I (At Ahmads section of the compound)
ENTERS DOCTOR Dudu

Doctor: Dudu The Chief is dead long live the Chief.

Ahmad: Ah, is our father dead? Oh, doctor do not say it twice
over as it sounds like a dagger through my heart.

31
 May his soul rest in perfect peace. Go, is anybody
here? Call Smith, Jide and Okonkwo and all let them
come to accompany me to the Chiefs chambers.

ENTERS Smith with Jide, Okonkwo and others.

Smith: Im staggered by the news of the death of the Chief.

Why should he go at this critical moment in the
history of Wazobia Farm. May he rest in peace-
Amen.

Jide: The inevitable has now come, that which we all fear.
Now that the Chief is gone, the tune of the music
must change.

Okonkwo: Since Baba started his illness, it was being feared

that it might be a terminal sickness. We sincerely
morn his death as we are the beneficiaries of his
wisdom and guidance. Im sorry. May God have
mercy on his gentle soul-Amen.

Ahmad: In my capacity as the new leader, I command you all

to walk in solemn procession to the Chiefs
Chambers to view his body and pay him the last
traditional respect.
(Exeunt)

SCENE II (In Chief Wazobias Chambers)

ENTERS AHMAD with the rest.

All (walked to the We are all here, Baba to pay our traditional respect.
death bed): You have left us as usual without notice and we
cannot prevent death from doing its duty. It is
hanging on everybodys neck. We all love you and
we will endeavour to give you a befitting burial.

Ahmad: Lets sit down to discuss the burial arrangement. You

all know that in his will Baba requested for the

32
 simplest funeral arrangement. It must be devoid of all
elements of flamboyance and ostentations. And no
long grave yard oratory and no expensive
celebrations. We will implement Babas wishes to the
letter and ensure total compliance. This is the only
respect we will pay him. Smith, take charge of all the
funeral arrangements with Jide and Okonkwo to
assist you. Call any other additional hands to assist
you if the need arises. I retire to my chambers to
receive mourners and sympathizers from our
community as well as our neighbours. Jide, inform
everybody by broadcast and all other means, please.
(Exit Ahmad)

SCENE III (funeral procession to grave yard)

Ahmad (Graveside Ladies and gentlemen, herein lies our great man, Pa
oration): wazobia whose demise to-day has shocked the
entire population on the farm. We have come here
not only to bury Pa Wazobia but to praise him for he
was an illustrious son of ours, a legend, an icon and
the great architect of self-sacrifice as an ideology.
His is a success story of an individual who worked
tirelessly for the unity and progress of Wazobia
Farm. Ladies and gentlemen lets pray for the repose
of his gentle soul and bid him farewell. Goodbye,
Baba.

All: May his soul rest in perfect peace Amen. And

goodbye.
(Exeunt)

SCENE IV (at Chief Ahmad Wazobias house)

ENTERS Jide with his wife Abinbola

Jide: Its now three weeks since fathers death. I thought I

might drop to see how you are coping with the new
responsibilities. My wife also wanted to say hello to
Amina.

33
Chief Ahmad Ah, I have been anxiously looking forward to seeing
Wazobia: you for some heart to heart discussion. Abinbola, you
are welcome but you can find Amina right inside so
as to give me time with Jide.

Abimbola: I hope you two will find a meeting point in your

discussion. Excuse me.
(Exit)

Jide: The purpose of my visit is to find out what is in store

for me, now that you are in the saddle. I am prepared
to cooperate but there must be strings attached. I
want joint leadership in such a way that as soon as
you are out of the farm, I automatically take-over.

Chief Ahmad Im totally up-beat that we can strike a deal if both of

Wazobia: us act honestly and sincerely but I think the proper
place for such discussion will be when all of us meet
together at the family lounge.

Jide: No, I do not want my personal affairs to be discussed

at such a forum. This is why I came alone. I also
wish to alert you to be aware of Okonkwo. He can be
a green snake and that will be very dangerous. Im
often cantankerous but I do not harbour any malice.

ENTERS Abinbola with Amina

Amina: It looks as if maturity is playing its role here and the

two disagreeing brothers are now in concord.

Abimbola: Have you finished? I wish to reach home soon.

Chief Ahmad Jide, I will soon call a meeting to iron out matters. I
remain sanguinary. We shall agree yet. Good night
Wazobia:
Bimbola.

Jide: Be ware, Ahmad and good night.

34
 (Exeunt Jide and Bimbola)

SCENE V
ENTERS Okonkwo with his wife Ngozi

Ngozi (jokingly): Hail the Chief, hail the Chief and where is the queen?

Okonkwo: Good evening my dear brother Ahmad. The weight of

responsibilities of the Farm does not seem to tell on
you.

Chief Ahmad Ngozi knows where to find Amina but you are doubly
Wazobia: welcome here. Any matter? In any case a month is
too early to show the lines of care on my face but you
know I take things in my strides.

Okonkwo: Mine is short and sharp. I just drop in to see how you
fare and at the same time to re-affirm my loyalty to
you. I will never betray your trust. I am ready to give
my best for any assignment you care to give me. I
have been with you all along and would not do
anything that will endanger our basic understanding.
Take it from me, please.

Chief Ahmad This is very re-assuring and Im grateful for the

Wazobia: gesture. These things will be sorted out soon, its too
early to make any commitment. But here is Ngozi in
company of Amina.

Ngozi: Have you not concluded and be agreed yet? You can
put a full stop here and carry on later as we are
expecting some guests at home. Goodnight Amina.
Thank you for the reception.
(Exit)
Okonkwo: I want to intimate you in confidence that you must be
at alert, I cannot trust Jide. Good night.
(Exit)

35
 ACT VI
SCENE I (at family lounge, Ahmad assumed office
as Chief)
ENTER Smith, Jide and Okonkwo.

Smith: It is nice to see you in your chieftaincy regalia or

robes as I may call them. They fit you very well to the
manner born and have added personality to you, hail
the Chief, hail the Chief, hail the Chief.

Chief Ahmad Ah, Smith, I hope you are not mocking me, any way
Wazobia: Im glad to see you arrive on time. I recall with
nostalgia Babas strictness for punctuality as he used
to say Punctuality is the pride of a prince.

Jide: Good morning Chief. The atmosphere seems to

change here and the place is wearing a new look.

Okonkwo: I can recall that the last time we were here was when
Baba summoned us to inform us about the process
of selecting his successor. Time flies.

Chief Ahmad My brothers and our good friend, you are all welcome
Wazobia: to our inaugural meeting for the purpose of
acquainting ourselves with our new roles with
properly defined functions as well. However, before
we get on to that I wish to seize this opportunity to
thank you for the tremendous support you have given
me and to say that this augurs well for the future of
Wazobia Farm and dynasty. I also want to spell out
the basic concept of self-sacrifice as the most
important cardinal value of my policy and on that
score, I hereby slash by 50% all the allowances
traditionally enjoyed by the Chief. Furthermore 50%
of my private portion of the farm to those members of
the family whose hard work has proved that they
require such addition. I will also make myself
available here in the lounge or at my section of the
compound for anybody who wants to see me for any
problem. There will also be proper accountability of

36
 all funds as income as well as expenditure.

Jide: No, No, Chief this is too early to start bringing such
drastic changes which will alter our time-nohoured
practice. You can take a horse to the river but you
cannot force it to drink.

Chief Ahmad Look Jide, Im prepared to make any sacrifice for the
Wazobia: sake of Wazobia Farm and the dynasty. You should
try to emulate me.

Smith: Jide, you should put the interest of wazobia before

any other consideration.

Okonkwo: I think the Chief has explained that it is an inaugural

meeting to acquaint ourselves with our new roles.
What is wrong with that, Jide?

Jide: I must draw your attention Okonkwo, that you should

not address me like that. You should know my
position here as the eldest son.

Smith: My! That must have come to pass now, is it not?

Chief Ahmad Come, come, Jide. You have not read me correctly.
Wazobia: All I said was that the purpose of the meeting was to
acquaint ourselves with our new roles, for instance I
have the intention of making you my deputy.

Jide: No, No, I would not accept that offer. I will like to
remain somebody to play devils advocate.

Chief Ahmad In that respect therefore I appoint Okonkwo as my

Wazobia: deputy and Smith as my Chief Adviser. I will spell
your functions as we go along. This is an open and
shut case.

Jide: It is going to be a conspiracy of three against one.

This will be an unfair treatment and is likely to cause

37
 some ripples.

Chief Ahmad You pitch your tent against ours. We regard the
Wazobia: matter as a family affair in which everyone of us is
free to say his piece without let or hindrance. We
want effective and useful contributions not pseudo-
opposition.

Okonkwo: Sir, I accept the post of the Deputy Chief. This is an

innovation. It was not there with our father. It was
almost a one-man show except Smith who was
conspicuously ubiquitous and an efficient helping
hand, I must say. He discharged his duties with clat.
I will endevour to emulate him. At any time in the
absence of father then Smith was the king without
the crown. I am ready to serve under you with all my
heart.

Smith: Thank you very much Okonkwo, for the compliments.

I could not fail the Chief who was a childhood friend
although much older than me. I just did what I could.
However, may I seize this opportunity to accept the
post of Chief Adviser to the new Chief. May God help
us all.

Chief Ahmad I will like you to accompany me on a tour of the farm.

Wazobia: It is necessary we visit it before the rains set in to see
what changes can be made to improve the lot of the
farmers, especially with regard to maize planting and
fertilizer procurement. Good day till we meet there
next week by the Grace of God.
(Exeunt)

ACT VII
SCENE I (on the farms)

Chief Ahmad It is my greatest wish and ambition to make our

Wazobia: farms the best with maximum yield, surpassing all
others. We have to work hard in order to produce

38
 the desired result.

Smith: Look over there. It must be some people working

hard on the farm. Can we go there and see who it
may be.

Chief Ahmad It looks as it is Okonkwo and his people working on

Wazobia: the land. Well done Okonkwo, for how long have you
been here. You have covered a large area I can see,
preparing the land. Are the tractors in good working
condition?

Okonkwo: We have been here as early as the cock crowed. My

men are at it with great enthusiasm Chief.

Smith: You seem to be enjoying the fatigue, Okonkwo are

you planning to win the annual prize of the best
farmer on the farm?

Okonkwo: That has not crossed my mind at all but that is not to
say that I do not nurse any such ambition. Im not all
that smug.

Chief Ahmad Have you seen Jide or is it the usual defiance of my

orders that makes him absent?
Wazobia:

Okonkwo: No, No, I do not think so. Recently he has not been
feeling well. A kind of fever and headache are
worrying him. He has must gone to see the doctor.

Chief Ahmad We plan this season to rotate the plant crops like
Wazobia: groundnuts, cotton, sorghum, millet, soya beans,
beneseed, and beans. We may also boost the
orchard on the southern part of the farm for fruits
while the tree crops will be left intact. Incidently did
you hear that there will be an increase in the prices
of cocoa, palm kennels, groundnuts and cotton next
season? Ah, here comes elder Jide. May be he is
feeling better now.

39
Jide: Chief, you did not send message to find out about my
health condition. I have an attack of malaria said the
doctor.

Chief Ahmad Elder Jide, who would have informed me about your
Wazobia: health except you? It is a pity I did not hear about it
until I reached here when Okonkwo told me about it. I
hope you are all right now. However, we are planning
the strategy of this seasons cultivation for increased
yield.

Jide: No, Chief this is not the way to go about it. We are
not expert on agriculture. We should therefore leave
this to the expert to do.

Smith: Surely, expert or no expert, we can choose what we

want to grow on each section of the farm. We are
equally very familiar with the terrain.

Jide: This is an expression of ignorance and I will not be a

party to such decision as the adage says where
ignorance is a bliss, it is foolish to be wise.

Chief Ahmad We can iron out these differences later at home. The
Wazobia: purpose of the visit on the farm is to go round and to
see for ourselves how things are. Details can be
worked out later. Lets go home now. Supposed you
come home, Smith.

Smith: With all my heart but say when.

Chief Ahmad In a couple of days after dinner.

Wazobia:
Smith: I will endeavour to make it by the Grace of God.

(Exeunt)

40
 SCENE II (at Jides section of the family house)
ENTERS Okonkwo

Okonkwo: How are you elder? It looks you have got a new title
a befitting one, isnt it? I have decided to come
alone for very serious discussion.

Jide: You are welcome. You can go ahead. My ears are

listening.

Okonkwo: We can not allow the great Wazobia estate in such

incompent hands. The people will blame us for it and
make us a laughing stock.

Jide: Well, my stand is well known all over the estate. You
can see on the farm, he and his Chief Adviser
displayed nothing but ignorance.

Okonkwo: Ahmad hasnt got the faintest idea of how to run a

modern Wazobia Farm and we have to do something
quick and smart too to right the wrong.

Jide: We will stir-up trouble among the populace leading to

civil unrest until a change in leadership is effected.

Okonkwo: Can you organize this kind of thing quickly?

Jide: As easy as ABC. I have associates you know.

Chief Ahmad
Wazobia (knocking Knock, knock, is there nobody inside?
at the door of Jide):

Jide (standing and Im here but who is there? Ah, chief, what a pleasant
walking towards the surprise. I have never expected you to be here at this
door): hour of the evening.

Okonkwo: Sir, you are welcome, I have just arrived. I came to

see Jide and his illness. What a coincidence!.

41
Chief Ahmad My brother Okonkwo, I came here via your house
Wazobia: with the intention of killing two birds with one stone.

Jide: Please be seated Chief let me call Abimbola. Im

sure she would be glad to see you here Bimbola,
Bimbola, the Chief is here prepare something nice
and delicious for him.

Abimbola (from with It is a great pleasure to be the hostess of the Chief

---): himself, but is Amina here?

Chief Ahmad Amina has travelled to see her granny who is

Wazobia: suddenly taken ill. You know with old age.

Abimbola (came to Chief, you must make do with what we have because
serve tea and it is a surprise visit.
snacks):
Chief Ahmad I come to see elder Jide and about his fever. He
Wazobia: reached us on the farm not feeling well.

Abimbola (she Have a good time. I must go back to watch my

withdraws to give favourite programme on the tele.
privacy to the three
brothers): (Exit)

Chief Ahmad
Wazobia & Thank you my sister.
Okonkwo:

Chief Ahmad Jide, how are you feeling now? Have you taken your
Wazobia: prescribed medicine? I know you are disciplined on
doctors prescription, you are a stickler in that
respect.

Jide: Chief. I thank you very much for the visit. It has
invigorated me and made me feel good. Any matter
for discussion? We are just discussing with
Okonkwo, telling him how happy the Wazobia
community is with your new style of leadership you
like to see things for yourself. We all testified to that

42
 effect, is it not true, Okonkwo?

Okonkwo: Chief Ahmad has been very nice and

accommodating. He is a listening leader and very
humble and easy to reach. These are no doubt
characteristics of a good leader. If I may say, keep it
up, Chief but you can regard it as my report card on
you, if you like.
Chief Ahmad Thank you my good brothers, elder Jide and
Wazobia: Okonkwo. Im here to talk about the farm. I have
been contacted by one Mr. Oshinko from a faraway
land which sells tractors and is prepared to sell them
at a discount rate to the Farm. You can sleep over it
and we will discuss it fully at the next meeting of
ours. However, I told them there would no question
of kickback or kick front. We must be transparently
honest in our dealings and ready to make sacrifice.
Good evening, I take my leave of you.

Jide: Chief, you are leaving so soon. Lets see you off
please.
(Exeunt)

SCENE III (at Chief Ahmads section of the house)

ENTERS Smith

Smith: The Chief is relaxing, removing the crown of care

and whacked. Im here to keep the appointment.

Chief Ahmad Im anxiously looking forward to seeing you. There is

Wazobia: a lot to be discussed about some frightening
unfolding developments in my relations with my two
brothers, Jide and Okonkwo. Some weeks ago they
dropped here one after the other by coincidence.
Amazingly, each told me to be careful about the
other and not to trust him. Now, I went to see Jide
who was sick recently, and surprisingly I found
Okonkwo there. Both of them were shocked to see
me and they looked caught-up as if they were
conspiring to commit some evil. I could not believe

43
 my eyes. What are they up to? Are they up to some
unworthy mission of conspiracy or was it just a
coincidence but they looked shaken and worried to
their foundation. I pretended to look casual and
indifferent as if I did not notice anything strange.

Smith: To add insult to injury, intelligence has just been

received on the activities of one youngman called
Zhinge who has been stirring up trouble and
disturbing the peace, here and there. A counter
insurgency guards have been despatched to the
flash-point. Furthermore, he was reported to have
link with Jide from whom he gets support both
financially and militarily. As for Jide and Okonkwo,
you simply trust neither of them.

Chief Ahmad I had wanted to tell you that all what we saw
Wazobia: Okonkwo and a handful of his men doing on the farm
was mere gimmicks. One of his stock-in-trade. It was
just a show of pretentious falsehood in order to
create false impression with intent to deceive
Okonkwo is very good at that.

Smith: We have to swing into action. We need some flies on

the wall of both Jide and Okonkwo. Here comes Tola
about whom I was telling you before. He was one of
the most trusted persons close to Jide before we
pulled him to our side. He can be a perfect fly on
Jides wall.

ENTERS Tola

Smith: Tola, tell the Chief what do you know about Jides
secret activities apart from your main job of
destabilizing his section.

Tola: You know Jide is very clever and a shrewd fellow

who knows how to cover his traces very well. He has
a secret cabal whose inner circle is difficult to
penetrate, however, I have been able to learn that

44
 Jide is training a batch of hoodlums and thugs deep
in the far end of the western part of the farm. They
have brought guns and ammunition for the training.
And it wont be long before they strike in an attempt
to oust the Chief and Jide to take over.

Chief Ahmad This shocking revelation does not come to me as a

Wazobia: surprise. Jide is too ambitious and he does not
reckon with God in his blind pursuit. Smith, direct the
Chief Guard to go into the matter at once and
conduct a thorough investigation and submit report.

Smith: He is already on it. He will soon come with the

findings meanwhile Tola, you can go and continue
with your activities both covertly and overtly. The
baby who says his mother will not sleep, he too will
have none of it.
(Exit Tola)

ENTERS Chief Guard

Chief Guard: Good morning sir, I am here to brief about with the
most secret activities of Jide and his gang.

Chief Ahmad What are your findings, if I may ask? Is he planning

Wazobia (shaken): for an uprising in a bid to take over?

Chief Guard: Yes sir, precisely that is it in a nutshell. The details

are that he has about thirty men or so, all trained to
handle firearms. Their hide out is western end of
Garus Forest of the Farm.

Smith: With your permission, Chief, should he go ahead to

pre-empt their action and cause them to be arrested
at once and subsequently be brought to justice?

Chief Ahmad Yes, without hesitation. Let him take his people and
Wazobia: approach the place with caution and care. There will
be by the Grace of God, no failure. Round up the
culprits at once and we will put them on trial.

45
 (Exit Chief)

Chief Ahmad We would request for a neutral judge from a

Wazobia: neighbouring farm so that we may not be accused of
miscarriage of justice.

Smith: In order to be seen to be fair and just, it would be

ideal if we can find one of Jides own to conduct the
trial.

Chief Ahmad You are absolutely right there but who could that be,
Wazobia: Smith?

Smith: We will find the most suitable and qualified person to

carry out this historic assignment. Good day sir, till
we meet at the Annual Council Meeting tomorrow as
fixed.
(Exit Smith)

SCENE IV (at the family common lounge)

Chief Ahmad Gentlemen, this is our third Annual Council Meeting

Wazobia (in the to discuss the performance of the farm. Im glad to
chair): report a success story in that there has been a
remarkable improvement upon last year. The tree
crops especially are doing exceptionally well and the
prices of cocoa and palm kennels have risen to new
heights. Groundnuts and cotton are not left behind
they maintain their primacy in gross annual earnings.
The total earnings of the farm this year have doubled
that of last year and that means more purchasing
power for our people on the Farm. Im therefore
seizing this opportunity to congratulate everybody
who contributed to the successful season. We have
the best grade of groundnuts, cotton and cocoa.
Details of these are being worked out and will be
given to you as handouts for perusal and study so
that any question thereof will be taken on at the
subsequent meeting.

46
Okonkwo: You have not mentioned anything about the black
gold, Chief.

Chief Ahmad My goodness, that must be an oversight . I have got

Wazobia: all the details about oil exploration on the farm. No
yield has yet been reported by the foreign explorers
but there is every indication that there is a lot of oil on
the Farm. Does that answer your question.

Okonkwo: Thank you Chief for going to such extent to explain

about the progress being made on the black gold.

Smith: May I know why Jide is not here for this meeting. Im
sure he had been properly briefed before the date
but here comes the Chief Guard.

ENTER Chief Guard and his Assistants

Chief Ahmad You seemed to be in a hurry as you came in without

Wazobia: notice. Is it an emergency visit?

Chief Guard: An emergency indeed, sir, mission has been

accomplished that Garus Forest was accordingly
surrounded and attacked.
We found retired sergeant Barnabas as the military
training Chief Instructor with a number of assistants.
One-hundred and fifty persons were arrested and we
recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition.
They were planning for an insurrection and had
drawn a map for action. Valuable documents were
also captured.

Chief Ahmad But who in the name of God, is behind all this
Wazobia: heinous crime. I hope nobody has escaped among
the main suspects

Chief Guard: Retired Sgt. Barnabas was interrogated and he

confessed that it was Jide who is behind it all. He
supplied to them money, equipment, arms and
ammunition. We recovered five hundred thousand

47
 wazobia from the hideout. Like Judas goat, Jide
leads the way.

Smith: Where is Jide now.

Chief Guard: He is already in our net and I wish to assure you that
all those involved have been napped and are safely
in our custody.

Okonkwo: This is terrible! I could not believe my ears. How

could Jide want to plunge the farm into chaous,
disorder and anarchy! Oh, God forbid an insurrection
on this farm.

Chief Guard: Permission to carry on. This is just to brief you, sir
about the latest development.

Chief Ahmad Permission granted. Well done, please carry on and

Wazobia: be thorough and meticulous and spread your
tentacles and cast your net far and wide.
(Exit Chief Guard)

Chief Ahmad You have heard this shocking revelation, Okonkwo,

Wazobia: from the horses mouth. If no any other business, we
may adjourn to meet again next month.
(Exeunt)

ACT III
SCENE I (at Wazobis section)
ENTERS Okonkwo

Okonkwo: I just decided to pay homage and also to sympathise

with you about the shocking revelation of Jides
unfortunate attempt to upset the apple cart. It is too
short-sighted and a bit of a miscalculation.

Chief Ahmad Thank you for the expressed sympathy but you know
Wazobia: I would not have been the only one who might have
been affected. Anarchy would have descended on
the Farm. Had he succeeded, it would have been the

48
 beginning of the introduction of sectionalism on the
Farm.

Okonkwo: As far as I am concerned, the attempt was bogus

and pedestrian as it was not well thought-out
especially its implication and consequences. Chief, in
the absence of Jide, Im now virtually, a kind of
ambassador plenipotentiary on the Farm as I am
ready to serve you in any capacity. I would therefore
wish to be considered for additional responsibilities to
be able to dispense with many matters before they
reach you, like taking charge of the guards, treasury
to ensure the safety of the funds and the fertilizer
distribution.

Chief Ahmad Oh, Okonkwo, you are already my deputy will that
Wazobia: not be enough responsibility for you? How can you
cope with additional jobs. Would not that be too
greedy of you.

Okonkwo: No, Chief you know I have my own boys whom I can
call to assist me like you saw me do on the farm the
other day.

Chief Ahmad Is it only your boys who are worthy of consideration?

Wazobia: What of others?

Okonkwo (laughing): I neednt say it, that it is I before others.

Chief Ahmad Will that be fair and just?

Wazobia:

Okonkwo (laughing): Chief, it is said that make hay while the sun shines
and remember you need my cooperation to succeed.

Chief Ahmad I hope it is not a veiled black mail, Okonkwo,

Wazobia: however, I will look into your requests when we meet
next week for the Council. See you there.

49
Okonkwo: Thank you very much, sir, for giving me cause to
smile.
(Exit Okonkwo)

ENTERS Smith

Smith: Chief, I am sure you are thinking of the next meeting

of the Council of Elders. When is it, I seem to have
forgotten as I left my papers back home. I have got
the name of the person who would be appointed as
judge to try JIde and his gang, in case investigation
shows that there is sufficient evidence to put them on
trial. He is Bankole an old friend of our late Chief. He
is a strait laced person, a legal mind and has the
knowledge and the experience of the profession. He
will be good at it.

Chief Ahmad Have you discussed with him and you find him
Wazobia: agreeable. You know he is from Jides section but I
think he does not see it that way. Ah, the Chief
Guard is here.

ENTERS Chief Guard

Chief Guard: Yes, Im here to inform you that my boys have

completed their investigation in the case of Jide and
his co-suspects.
Chief Ahmad Capital! Who and who are involved, and what
Wazobia: evidence is there in the case?

Chief Guard: This is the most sensational case ever investigated

on Wazobia Farm. It has already got publicity from
the press and members of the public are very keen
about every detail there in. Jide is the leader, the
organizer, the financier and the Chief strategist. He
has some lieutenants like Atoro, Segun and others.

Smith: You have done a thorough job, leaving no loopholes

or loose-ends or stone unturned?

50
Chief Guard: Proper legal advice was sought and it is a water tight
case.

Smith (talking of In that case, the judge should be sworn to fix date for
Chief Wazobia): trial.

Chief Ahmad Lets now move to the lounge to discuss the issue at
Wazobia: the meeting.
(Exeunt)

SCENE II (at the family lounge for the meeting)

Chief Ahmad I hope everybody is here. We have a very heavy

Wazobia: schedule to-day but first thing first, the attempted
insurrection.

Okonkwo: Is there any development since investigation had

commenced?

Smith: Full investigation report is now ready with the Chief

Guard who is here to brief us.

Chief Guard: I have already briefed you but for the sake of
Okonkwo, let me add that Jide is the architect and
the planner. Out of the one-hundred and fifty persons
including ten women, originally arrested and
interrogated seventy will stand trial, some will be
used as witnesses while the rest are released on
bail. A cache of arms, propeller grenades, two
hundred AK 47 rifles, valuable documents and sewn
uniforms were recovered from the scene.

Chief Ahmad Chief Guard, you can go thank you.

Wazobia: (Exit Chief Guard)
ENTERS Bankole

Chief Ahmad The next item is the appointment of the judge to try
Wazobia: the accused persons. And standing here before me
is Bankole. If you concur, unanimously, Okonkwo will
swear him after the meeting and let him proceed

51
 with the trial immediately. Bankole, you can wait in
the room over there while we discuss about you.
The Last item is also the appointment of Tola as a
member of this council, to replace Jide. We all know
him and the contributions he has been making. Any
objection, Okonkwo, Smith? Here is a copy each of
the security report on him.

Okonkwo: No objection.

Smith: No objection.

Chief Ahmad Okonkwo, you swear him together with the judge.
Wazobia: Any other business otherwise the meeting stands
adjourned.
(Exeunt)

SCENE III (at Chief Ahmad Wazobias section)

ENTERS Smith

Smith: Chief, your fears are buried, for to-day as you have
known, the judge has delivered his judgment and he
has found Jide and five others including Atoro his
closest disciple guilty as charged and he has
sentenced them to fourteen years imprisonment each
with hard labour. The whole of the farm is jubilating
except a few from his section. The majority of people
think that he got his deserts.

Chief Ahmad I am very glad to hear that because as you said it is a

Wazobia: condign punishment. Let him languish there. We
have to call the Fifth Annual Meeting to brief the
people as this trial has taken almost one year to
finish.

Smith: This is a very complicated case and those on trial are

very important people and had means although the
case had not suffered the evil culture of our criminal
justice system of incessant and unnecessary
adjournments because the judge understood your

52
 message through Okonkwo, which said that Justice
delayed is justice denied and equally justice rushed
is justice denied. Procrastinations were far and few.
(Exit Smith)
ACT IX
SCENE I (at Okonkwos house)
ENTERS Chief Guard with Chuku

Okonkwo: Our plan shall be action-packed and shall be

executed with precision such that it will be fail-proof.
Chief Guard, our arrow-head is Assistant Senior
Guard Chuku who will lead the attack at Chief
Ahmads section of the compound and will shoot to
kill anybody they find there but before then you
should undertake a major shake up in your
organisation as to transfer almost everybody out to a
new station. Chuku and his assistants will be posted
to Chief Ahmads section. While there, he will move
very closely to the chief, using all guile and wiles to
gain his absolute confidence and trust by adopting a
servile behaviour and thus ingratiating himself to the
Chief. He should watch him like a cat watches a
mouse to learn about his habits and movements. At
the same time, Chukwu should carryout weapon
exercises from time to time until he becomes a
master-hand. You should supply him with enough
quantity of arms and ammunition for the operation.
You should monitor their progress and keep me
posted. Thats the mission. Is it clear?

Chief Guard: Yes sir, but as this is a major assignment with

concomitant risk and fear, I would need an unlimited
amount of money, for you know, the boys will be
putting their lives on the line and the difference
between success and failure is death.

Chukwu: No doubt sir, the operation requires a vast amount of

money. We have to buy drugs for the use of the boys
to build false self-confidence in them.

53
Okonkwo: Money can never be a problem. We have made
enough provision for that and to assure you, here is
five hundred thousand wazobia for a start. Any other
thing? If none get cracking at once. Lets pray for the
best of luck. Date and time to strike will be fixed later.

Chief Guard: Amen.

Chukwu: Amen
(Exeunt Chief Guard and Chukwu)

ENTERS a guest from Yehudi Farm.

The Guest from I have instruction from home to find out how far the
Yehudi: plan has gone and to assure you that we are with
you in-to-to and will supply all the logistics you may
require for the operation.

Okonkwo: Sir, the plan has been completed, it has now reached
the stage of implementation but what we require now
most is plenty of money and intelligence coverage.

The Guest: I have been instructed to make available any amount

you may need for the operation. Three million, ten
million or how much? As far as intelligence is
concerned our main organization is already covering
it and is doing very well.

Okonkwo: Thank you sir, five million will do for the preparations.

The Guest (hands Here you are. Any additional money you may need
over the money): contact me on our secret communication line. It may
be of great interest to you to know that Wasapi Farm
is greatly interested in your proposal and is ready to
assist. Contact me for detail. I must take leave of you
lest an unfriendly face appears.
(Exit the guest)

54
 SCENE II (at the family lounge for council meeting)

Chief Ahmad Gentlemen, you are welcome to our last meeting of

Wazobia: the year. This is the fifth since I assumed the
leadership of Wazobia Farm and dynasty.

Okonkwo: I must say that the Chief has been doing very well in
all spheres of the farm.
Smith: Yes, he has made good of bad and friends of foes
and the Farm is very prosperous. What else do we
need. There is relative peace also now that Jides
trouble is over.
Tola: No, Smith do not start singing victory song for we
may not be out of the woods yet.
Chief Ahmad You must have read from the brief sent to you ahead
Wazobia: of the meeting about the performance of the
economy especially agriculture in this years harvest.
From the statistics, it is an excellent performance. All
crops both tree and plant have done remarkably well
specifically groundnuts and cocoa whose yields have
reached an all time high. The security on the farm
has also improved tremendously and new schools for
the children are being built. It is a remarkable year of
success and we have cause to celebrate. The next
item on the agenda is roads. Next year we will build
more feeder roads especially on the eastern side of
the farm where evacuation of produce is difficult due
to the inaccessibility of the area due to the bad
condition of the roads.
Okonkwo: What about the health care delivery system?
Chief Ahmad Okonkwo, you seem to jump the gun. It is the next
Wazobia: item if you care to look at the agenda. We are going
to have six clinics. Any other business? The meeting
stands adjourned to next year, by the Grace of God
Happy new year in advance.
(Exeunt after closing prayers)

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 SCENE III (at Chief Ahmads section)
ENTERS Tola

Tola: God, permit my tongue to freely wag as to unravel

what the ears have heard that makes the heart
throbs palpably.

Chief Ahmad Tola is anything wrong with the farm? I hope nobody
Wazobia: wants to disturb the peace we enjoy now.

Tola: Chief, if you have two ears only, barrow an additional

one. Another case of insurrection but more hideous
and sinister is in the offing with Okonkwo and his
gang. A plot has been hatched. A conspiracy to strike
at the heart of Wazobia Farm and assassinate you
and all those loyal people close to you a heinous
crime. They planned to strike at your place to-night.
Let us run away and escape to take refuge in the
neighbouring farm.

Chief Ahmad In God I believe and as a fatalist,1

Wazobia: surrender totally to the will of God. If it is the wish of
God that I am to die, running away will not prevent
Him from taking my life. Stay put and pray earnestly.

Tola: I must therefore take my leave to return to my house,

hoping that nothing will happen. Good day sir.
(Exit Tola)

SCENE IV (at Okonkwos residence)

ENTERS Chukwu

Chukwu (trembling The deed is done and it is mission accomplished.

with blood stained The dead bodies of Chief Wazobia Ahmad and Other
hands and wounds): are there and the house is on fire and your enemy is
dead.

Okonkwo: Well done my boy. This is an excellent job done with

precision and accuracy. Go and make broadcast of
the take-over of the reigns of authority at once and

56
 stay incharge until further notice. Post your men to all
strategic places for security.

SCENE V (at Chief Ahmads section on fire with

smoke rising high in the sky)
ENTERS a small crowd of on-lookers

One man (shouted): Murder!, Brutal murder! Murder, Brutal murder! The
butchers have done it! The butchers have done it! It
is an evil, a despicable and contemptible act! Oh
people come and fight evil.

Another man (crying The cowards! The cowards! A cowardly and a

profusely): dastardly act by cowards who stole time of the dark
hours of the night to perpetrate evil of this
magnitacle. It is a great sin to butcher innocent lives
in their sleep with their wives in bed. We shall not
forgive nor shall we forget. May Heaven rain terror on
their bloody souls! Dammed without redemption!

Another man (wailing The enemies have at last got him. He had been a
and cursing): target for long. The first attempt was made by Jide
but the plot was discovered and the culprits were
caught in their nefarious act. Now Chukwu has
unfortunately got him. This is killing one bird with two
stones!

Akano (spokesman Oh my God! Oh my God! look at Ahmad dead on his

for Ahmads section sleeping bed with his body brutally butchered and
crying): ruptured with blood split to the roof, on the walls and
flowed on the floor. This is barbaric, brutal and
insane. The sanctity of live had been violated and it
reveals the crude and backward culture of the
perpetrators of this evil whose effect will resonate in
the whole of Wazobia for decades to come. We will
avenge the death of Ahmad and all those killed with
him. We will do it for vengeance for this is a
challenge on our honour, pride and respect. What
raisons detre have they got for descending so low if
not to confirm that they are more animalistic than

57
 human. It is implacable hatred, inborn greed, insane
ambition, ignominous malice, consuming jealousy
and a mobid desire to change the equation in
Wazobia as to make the minority rule the majority by
force of arms. We shall not act in a hurry nor shall
we hurry to act. We shall also not fear to act nor shall
we act in fear. We are not going to strike in the dark
hours of the night but we will hit the enemy in broad-
day light in battle face to face until the enemy of
peace is vanquished. In sorrow let us pray solemly
for the repose of the souls of all those killed by the
bullets of the assassins.

Another man May their souls rest in perfect peace while we

(continued): impricate ruin and retributive justice on their
enemies. The curse: God in your infinite mercy and
being the judge of all judges, visit the sin of this
murder on our enemies all and inflict collective
punishment on them and their descendants. Send
them on exodus and let them live in diaspora to
become strangers at home. Deny them any
semblance of unity, not to conspire to harm anybody
in future, instead keep them in perpetual conflict,
crises, animosity and mistrust among themselves.
Afflict them with mensrea to make them worst
criminals of all types where-ever they are and let
them fill our prisons at home and abroad. Divert their
attention to acquisition and accumulation of lucre but
make them parsimonious as never to put it to any
good use. Make them a pariah human specie and a
mark of obloquy to be loathed by decent people any
where. Let treachery and betrayal of trust, itching
hands and lying tongues become their characteristics
and cause the coveted crown they toil to capture to
remain elusive to them to the day of resurrection.

Another man There are some wrongs we can forgive and forget.
(concluded): There are some wrongs we can forgive but not to
forget. There are some wrongs we can forget but not
to forgive. But this is one wrong which we can neither

58
 forgive nor forget. Gentlemen, lets proceed to the
graveyard for the funeral. We will bury our dead with
honour and respect.

SCENE VI (at Akanos house after the funeral)

ENTERS Akano with a large crowd of people

Akano (sobbing): Gentlemen, please be seated. You are all welcome.

This is a sectional affair from its beginning to its end.

One man: Akano, I understand that Okonkwo had slipped out of

Wazobia. We branched to his house only to find it
locked with no sound of a soul, but an aerie
atmosphere pervaded round it. A sectional take-over
can never succeed.

Another man: I am given to understand that Okonkwo had stowed

away in a ship and had made to the never-never
land. They killed Tola and three of the most senior
guards of Ahmad during the attack.

Akano: Who is incharge of them. Is it Assistant Senior Guard

Chukwu who made the morning broadcast of the
takeover or somebody is behind him?

One man: We have to wait and see as the drama unfolds itself
but one thing is clear, it is sectional, no two ways
about it.
Akano: The situation is totally unclear but where is Nakoma,
where is Jume these are the senior guards on our
side.

Another man: The take-over bid is complete. Chukwu and his men
have set-up check points and road blocks all over the
places to prevent free movement of people.

Akano: Does that mean we are prisoners in our own homes?

Another man: Lets remain in contact with one another before their
security find out what is happening in your house here.

59
 (Exeunt except Akano)

SCENE VII (at the Guards Hqtrs.)

ENTER Chukwu and many other guards armed to
the teeth

Chief Guard (in full The guards, my brothers and sisters of Wazobia
command): Farm, this is my first formal address to you for the
purpose of briefing you about the incident of the early
hours of this morning in Wazobia. We sincerely
regretted the loss of lives which occurred during the
event but we must make effort to put that behind us
and to embrace the new order with full loyalty and
co-operation.
Therefore, I, Chief Guard Okolo do hereby assume
the leadership of Wazobia with the title of Supreme
Commander until such time the situation is brought
under control. All those who remain loyal will have
nothing to fear but anybody who wishes to test our
strength to cause trouble will meet the wrath of this
authority. The purpose for effecting the change of
leadership is to stem the tide of sectionalism which is
creeping into our system and to stop Wazobia from
drifting into disorder and anarchy. The ugly dark
history of Wazobia is now over and we move forward
and do away with divisive tendencies. Consequently,
I hereby release the following Wazobia command
orders: one, I assume the leadership of Wazobia as
the Supreme Commander of Armed Guards of
Wazobia; two, all those involved in the action to bring
the change will hereby be kept out of sight for the
time being in order to assuage the feeling of those
whose relations lost their lives during the action;
three and four do hereby unite Wazobia as a single
entity. All sections created by our past leaders are
hereby abolished with immediate effect. God save
Wazobia.

Chukwu: Sir, I do not understand where you said all those who
participated in the action will be kept out of sight.

60
Chief Guard: I mean what I say. Im in charge and no one else.
You must obey orders.
(Exeunt)
ACT X
SCENE I (at Akanos house)
ENTER Guard Jume, Reme and others

Akano (listening to You are all welcome. Let me switch off the radio.
radio):

Jume (in civil dress): Did you hear the broadcast of our chief in which he
abolished sectional farms and made it unified one
Wazobia Farm like the time before the trio of Ahmad,
Jide and Okonkwo?

Akano: It is a device to deceive in order to reap some benefit

but it has triggered unrest occasioning riots in many
flash-points in this area. The unification order is a
hoax. We will oppose it with all our strength and
power. We will rouse the conscience of the people.

Reme (in civil dress): The time is ripe for action. All these happenings are
part of the provocation.

Akano: We planned demonstrations to oppose the present

leadership which we believe has a secret agenda.

Jume: Time will show. You cannot cheat all the people all
the time.
(Exeunt Jume and Reme)

SCENE II (at a secret location in Western Wazobia)

ENTERS Asst. Senior Guard Jume with a few of his
colleagues.

Asst. Senior Guard Six months is enough time to strike, if we are ready.
Jume (in command)

Asst. Guard Reme: If you give the orders we can strike now. Look at the

61
 riots this leadership has caused and also the bad
blood generated between the people. No love lost
between sections.

Asst. Senior Guard How many armed men have you been able to muster
Jume: and what ammunition have you and what logistical
arrangement have you made?

Asst. Guard Reme: I must tell you sir, we are ready for action. I
understand that the Chief, afraid of trouble has taken
refuge, not far from here and is lodging in his
deputys house who has been posted here.

Asst. Senior Guard That makes it easy for us. He is now within our
Jume: striking range. What is the time now by the way?

Asst. Guard Reme: It is ten minutes to mid-day.

Asst. Senior Guard Come on, lets move at once into action and launch
Jume: an all out attack in this broad day light. Our motive is
pure, we will therefore succeed by the Grace of God.
(Exeunt)
SCENE II (at Guards Hqtrs. After the take-over)
ENTERS Deputy Chief Guard Wago with many
armed guards.
Deputy Chief Guard Fellow Wazobians, it is my duty as the Commander-
Wago (in broadcast): in-Chief of the Armed Guards of Wazobia, to keep
you informed about the latest developments on our
Farm. As a result of recent action, there has been a
change of leadership in Wazobia and the forces of
darkness, who wished to change the equation in
Wazobia by violence, deceit, treachery and betrayal
of trust have been defeated and Im happy to inform
you that the status quo is hereby restored. God bless
and long live Wazobia Farm and the dynasty.
(Exeunt)

M.A KURFI
20/5/2008

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