Garin Mazugal

Chapter 9.

Abuh stood within his admirers. It was undoubtedly a time of the day he relishes-who wouldn't? The guys absolutely respect him to the point of infallibility. His words are regarded as somewhat prophetic, pathetically gaining traction because of the incurable and incorrigible degree of ignorance prevalent amongst the youth. Abuh was like their informant of sort-nothing happens without his knowledge, at least, so they thought. This notion,to a small degree is true but very false in the real scheme of things. Abuh was a professional liar, day and night. He could swear that he saw the sun in the night.
Today's gathering was centred on the political atmosphere of Mazugal.There was an air of negligible tension obtainable in the society.Everyone tried not to ascribe importance to the elections but fear that the absence of the importance so ascribed will more or less lead to chaos and to an extent, violence.
"Kuna Ji(Can you hear me)?" Abuh started. Ears went up, swollen like dough, in readiness for lies to come.They enjoyed it.Abuh couldn't care less.
"Kun San the elections are coming.."
"Gaskiya kam (True)" Came a ravenous response.
"Abubuwa na faruwa Mallam! (Things are happening!). Do you know that Dr.Yaro wants to contest? Yaro,son of Hajiya Talle? Do you know?"
"I know.He is a good person, just that Alhaji Iro doesn't...."
"Shutup" Abuh hated that Habu always had to interrupt him.He hated him more for knowing things. Habu's presence in the gathering is a threat he has to deal with and that he'll do soon.
"Me ka sani? (What do you know).All you do is to talk rubbish every day..Kaman an hai pe ka a bola (Like you were born in a trash can).If not that I'm a patient person, I'll have sent you out of this gathering.."
"A yape mai (Forgive him) yaya!" .The bootlickers."Continue with your story "
"You see that boy,Dr.Yaro.He was my mate in school.He was a wawa..he knew nothing then! I always gave him answers to all questions he didn't know. There was a day he was asked to spell his nam and he couldn't. I helped him"
"Gaskiya shi bawo ne(He is a dunce)"
"Kuma..listen fa.That guy likes yahudawa (Jews) sossai! Why do you think he is contesting?? It is because he has plans!!
" Habaaa?!...What plans?"
"See, if he wins, he'll ban sure(marriage!).. He'll say that any girl that isn't up to 18years old shouldn't be allowed to get married!
" Ka ji kafiri! ( infidel!) " "So yake ya chanja sunnan anabi(He wants to change the prophetic way of doing thing)" "Karya ne!"
Responses like this choked the air.Anger visibly written all over their faces.A few of them have their marriage dates fixed.The fear of them loosing their 12year old brides was like a spark that barges into them,giving therm the impression of an enemy invasion and thestrong desire of self defence.Some of these brides were married off without their consent. Others hardly know the difference between 6 and half a dozen but still,they were thrown into marriages. The mental health of these brides was of little or no importance to them.
Abuh enjoyed gatherings like this.He has given the crowd what they wanted and sauntered to enjoy the moments.The constancy in his lies will definitely pass for someone making a living off lies.Abuh however wasn't making anything out of it.He enjoyed, every moment of anger shown.The feeling of being able to control how people think made him happy.He waasnt done yet.
"Kuyi hakuri (Be patient). Ai he'll never succeed.Ba we worship Allha ba?!"
"Yes!"
"So why are you stressing yourself? Just wait and see how he'll end!"
" Ai kuwa !"
"Kuma that's not the end fa! Ferry body should come close"
Habu shook his head.He knew the lie that is to come was of unprecedented dimension. Abuh has never asked them to come close.He did it nevertheless,not because of respect of Abuj as there was none, but because he wanted to hear what Abuh had up his sleeves...again.
"I want to let you in on something no one knows in Mazugal.Before Yaro was born,Hajiya Tallest went into agreement with Yahudawa(Jews). The agreement was that they'll work together to corrupt Islam using different tactics.I'm sure you can remember.Another tactic they want to use after the elections is the introduction of one thing....wai family planning.That a man and woman should plan their family.Duk karya ne (All lies). They just want to reduce the population of the people in Mazugal..."
"They can't"
"Zamu yake su (we'll fight them)"
"Allah ya tsine musu ( Allah's curse be on them)"
Their faces wore anger,a clear paradigm of youthful exuberance, wanting to fight anyone perceived to be the enemy not minding if this anyone is stronger or not even the enemy in the first place ..
"Listen.." Abuh continued. "You think Yaro is a Mazugal name? You think so?"
"Yaya sa ka gaya mana ko ( Tell us what it is)"
"They came about that name in the meeting I told you of.The one between the Jews and Hajiya Talle.You know they sponsored her education. The name YARO means Yahudawa Aron Rai (Soul borrowed from Jews"
Cries of wonder and bewilderment drowned Abuh's voice.The response that greeted this 'revelation' shocked him. No one remembered asking what the O means.Whatever it is,it really doesn't matter to them.The sequence of cursing then took it's natural place in the scheme of things.Things like "Cheats" "Sellouts" "Hypocrites" were appended to the characters of Hajiya Tallest and her son.They were still swimming in delusion when the call to pray interrupted their meeting,abruptly putting it to an end.They all stood up dusting their trousers,slowly making their way to the mosque.Abuh didn't go however."Ai be yi niya ba( He hasn't made no intention)."