Garin Mazugal

Chapter 5

The spacious parlour that beautified Haj.Talle's house was the venue.Men dressed in beautifully embroidered clothing occupied every inch of space in the parlour. The date set for party primaries was fast approaching.Haj.Talle's summoned party leaders to come give her first hand information
on preparations and strategies mapped out by party eggheads to ensure their victory in the coming polls.The meeting was also called to deliberate on the appropriate candidate the party should field in the elections. The party has never found itself in this kind of dilemma throughout its existence. The dilemma of fielding someone who is clearly equipped for the job and one who just wants to share money. Alhaji Iro,the party chairman led the delegatio.Ordinarily, they wouldn't have honored the invitation because their minds were made up.They however didn't want Haj.Talle to feel disrespected.
  Alhaji Iro opened the gathering with customary prayers.Majority of the people present found the prayers rather comical.They know the person saying this prayers. When it's time for politics, Alhaji Iro knows no God.

"Ai baza mu ji kunya a duniya ba (we won't be put to shame on earth) "A sentence that sums up his political life.
 
" Hajiya Talle " He started."You called us here,to this place, because you have something to say and as your children, we all honoured your invitation. It'll be good if you take the lead by telling us what this is really about "

"Yawwa Iro." She was the only one that called him like that. How he hated to hear it!

" I think i need to express my gratitude to all of you.You had schedules mapped out but still made out time to come.Thank you. The reason I called this meeting isn't something that is hidden. The elections are fast approaching and if we're really serious about winning,we need to start preparations in earnest. I want to know the measures we've put in place to ensure we have a smooth primaries first and a smooth ride into the seat or power in Mazugal...."

  Mal Barau,party PRO,responded.
"
Thank you Hajiya.May your days be long.We met,I mean party executives to synergize and brainstorm on a lot of things after which we came to the following conclusions :

a) That Dr.Yaro,your son withdraws from the primaries for Alhaji Mai Naira.
b) That Dr.Yaro will not grant interviews of whatever kind to journalists.
c) That Alhaji Mai Naira will be the flag bearer of this party with or without primary elections. Most likely without because even if its going to hold,it'll be of face value."
Their faces told tales of someone trying hard to laugh at a funny joke an at the same time,trying hard not to laugh because of the respect he/she has for the person in the joke.
He continued.

"d) That we all pray for the success of this party and
e) that we open doors of alternative authority.
We must all work for the success of this party"
He sat down almost immediately. A look of confidence permeated through everything that held his face together. There was no sign of remorse either.

Dr.Yaro was motionless. Sweat dripped down,with reckless abandon,mirroring his confusion. "How can someone loose an election he didn't partake in? What happens to my supporters then? What am I going to say to them? The questions came too rapidly to be attended to.He would have sworn that Mal Barau had a huge sense of humour but his face bore no smiles. There was deafening silence in the room.It dawned on Dr.Yaro that the opposition that'll come will be either from him or his mum.But his mum sat with so much comfort that hr was tempted to think she was in on the act.He continued to stare at her as if begging her say something. Haj Talle realised how hopeless a situation her son is in and decided to talk.She however knew that nothing changes when politicians in Mazugal come together. She just wanted her son to see that she at least did something to help.

" Barau..thank you"
She said,adjusting her sitting position.
"But I want to know when this decision was taken.You first of all sidelined me in the scheme of things and as if that's not enough, you agreed to Dr.Yaro,my own son,dropping his ambition. Barau why? Alhaji Iro,party chairman, I need answers."

Mal Barau cleared his throat.

"Hajiya,we're grateful. You see, times are changing. Things are moving very fast now.Everyone is trying to adapt to these changes.As a party,we have gone thorough a lot. Thanks to you, hajiya,and others who made tremendous sacrifices for this course. Like I said,times are changing.We,as youths, want to evolve, our strategies, campaigns......"

Barau was dancing around reciprocals. He wanted garnishing what he had to say but his instincts kept failing him.
Hajiya was clearly irritated by the sight of Barau,a boy she literally sponsored through school, mumble nonsense. Hajiya caught the bait but she wanted Barau to be very clear.

"You haven't said anything Barau...you've been dancing around what you have to say..like a spineless coward."

They were all bolted to reality. Hajiya hardly gets angry but when she does, nobody survives. But they still wanted riding their luck.

"Hajiya,Look"
Alhaji Iro broke the silence.Barau was already shaking in his pants. Hajiya was like a mother to him.Bad things happens when Hajiya gets angry. That he knows very well.

"It's not what it seems .We can't sideline you.Its just that at times, we will take decisions without your knowing.I mean, because of our experience, age and power,I think we're better placed to do
this".

Hajiya kept staring into the sky in a desperate attempt to hold back her tears. She was being technically expelled from a party she singlehandedly built. How loyalty changes!
 
" How about Dr.Yaro then. Why shouldn't he contest?"

"Because he doesn't want to spend money"

  "And what does that mean?"

"Come on Hajiya.Don't tell me you don't understand. Dr.Yaro is the best candidate we have but being the best doesn't mean he will win.He doesn't understand the peculiarities of our political environment "

"Can you tell about these peculiarities?"

"Hajiya,let's not kid ourselves. Our people don't need talks and promises.They need money, food, bathing soaps,wrappers and any other popular campaign material. Dr.Yaro doesn't want to offer us bribe.He is satisfied seeing us,his party members hungry. He doesn't even fuel our cars.And he expects to win elections!"

Dr.Yaro was stunned at this shameless display of greed and lust for materialism. It was surprising albeit funny that people outside still respected them.He contemplated staying mute but decided against it
."You can't beat a child and still ask him not to cry " he thought.Time is ripe for him to speak.
 
"Ehhn,Mal Barau.I greet you.I wasn't aware that you and your fellow potbellied cronies perpetually lived in hunger. I didn't know you needed food at home.I would have made provisions for that,i mean,i would have employed someone to cook for all of you. You also talked about me not fuelling your cars.That is a very funny thing to say because if you and your gang weren't blinded by the smoke you professionally puff out from the Cuban Cigar's made available by,of course Alhaji Mai Naira,you would have seen that I don't operat a gas station.Anyways,I never expected less. Grown up men selling their destinies for cumbs.Isn't that a fantastic way of life?! Kids will grow up and realise the truth of their fathers wealth.A slimy,backstabbing, greedy....."

Alhaji Iro was evidently angry.The insults was becoming too much.He won't sit down to be insulted by someone he could easily destroy.

" Kai,listen Yaro.We've heard enough. Our silence doesn't pass for stupidity. If you think you have the capacity to defeat Alhaji Mai Naira,let's meet at the primaries. I'm leaving.."

Alhaji Iro stood up with assured steps. He walked out of the house without saying as little as goodbye to hajiya.

" The battle line has been drawn. Its time to show them my bad side. I pity Yaro!I'll make sure he regrets being born!"  He thought to himself.

Alhaji Iro's departure was the catalyst others needed.They stood up in trickles sometimes hiding under lies to get out.Alhaji had a reputation for living his life in a cluster of ideologies he seems fit.These ideologies, no matter how offensive it is to other people, are the basic principles he runs his life with.He is a student of Thomas Hobbes school of Absolutism; an asinine belief in an authority having total control of the lives of people.This maybe the reason why his life is a littany of disorganization. Alhaji Iro has been married to 16 women.Only 2 survived. He brutally exploited the power of divorce given to men by sending his wives packing over puerile issues. "Asassake"  is the name he is called in secret. Nobody dared that in public.Iro will destroy his ability to talk.That he was sure of.