2 10 31 https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/756d3f5edf753f9c52c10211ca5b1997.pdf 22c81165f8bab95b6e691268454ec6c4 PDF Text Text ��ACKNOWLEDGEMETS: I am gratefully in-debted t ~ : Messrs James A. Arimah, Producer of ''Community Social Register", N. E. Nkanu, a Typist, and Simeon 0. Beckley, (RecordingEngineer) all in the E.N.B.C. Enugu. Also my acknowledgements go to all my inforinants. �ALL INQUIRIES ARE TO BE DIRECTED TO:I. Mr. M. U. E. Nkwoh, University of Nigeria, NSUKKA. EASTERN NIGERIA. . 3 Mr. V. C. J. Mbah, National Achieves, ENUGU. 3. G. A. IBE District Supri~endent'sOffice, Nigeria Railway Corporation. ENUGU. 4. Mr. Luke C. Metu, No. 13 lbadan Strcer. Fegge-Layout, ONITSHA. ALL HIGM7S RESERVEI) Price:= Twc) Shillings. ( 2/6d BY POST �"Cocktail Ladies" is a compedium of onc in the many series of-broaCcasts made by Mr. M. U. E. Nkwoh over the Eastern Nigcria Broadcasting Corporation network in t h c pragramme "Community Social Kcgister". The progcunme became so captivating, the ideas expressed so controversial and the author's rendering of them so academic and scholarly that there hss been a nwcr ending stream or%quests for the repeti1i.n of these talks. To satisfy the onc and the many, the author considers a booklet form of these. talks desirable - hence this booklet. Mr. ~ a r i u sU. E. Eu'kwoh is an undergraduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where t o t a s teen registered fcr a Degree Course leading to Honours English. This is the crowning mark of his brilliant a c a d e m i c career. He did his Ekmentary School Studies at St. Matthew's R.C.M. Umuchu and St. Charles' R.C.M. Achina. From there hc proceeded to St. Patrick's College, Calabar for his Secondary School Education. There he passed out with an encouraging class and started to do private studies for more. advanced courses. He passcd his G.C.E. Advanccd Level Pa ers with all the nwks and all the characteristics o fJ' a scholar. One thing that has been very characteristic of him throughout his academic history is his wonderful f 1 a i r for languages. To this can be added his eternal propensity 10 write and to publish. Ever before he wcnt into the University of Nigeria, he had written much about much, and those who had the rare opporlunity to read those scripts could not but see the mark of genius on every page of those writings. �But some of them "were 'born to blush unseen' and did "waste their sweetness on the desert air", remaining unpublished till today. Here I have in mind his poems. Mr. M. U. E. Nkwoh is also noted for his rather philosophical analysis and interpretation 'of things of life. He is always interested in writing on contemporary topics, sometimes too domestic, and sometimes too common to merit the attention of any but the philosopher or the academician. These common topics are often-times very old to us but very new to him, very common to us but very strange to him; and finally on the pages of his writings, these common experiences become exciting. and captivating. You simply can't help, but admire genius. These qualities of his writings can be well seen in the present volume. As the sub titles show, the booklet deals.with things around us. After reading it, one cannot help but sit up and imagine what society is, as it is now, and what it should have been in a contemporary Utopia. But w h e r e lies the difference between what is and what should have been? It lies in these social cancers which gnaw decp into the very entrails of society. It is these cancers that the author wants to bring to the lime light. His success or failure should be judged from the abovementioned angle. . Many of the talks rnay cause a high voltage of concern and may be disapprobation to many. Man) will sit complacently on their chairs raining anathema on the author of "all these evils". But the paradox of it all is that the popularity of the author lics rooted in the disapprobation of the FEW that fcel insulted or slighted. His honour, as it were, srands rootcd in thcir dishonour. �INTRODUCTION Mr. M.U.E.Nkwoh was an Associate Editor of the I 'niversity . Magazine (The Pioneer) and Internal n Bulletin (The Arrow). He is a r e m b e r of the Creative Writing Club of the University of Nig-ria. H e was the Publicity. Secretary of the Pax Romana, U.NX Branch, and the Publicity Secretary cf the N.C.N.C. Youth Vanguard University Branch. On lastvacation hewas Assisting t t c E.N.B.S. Ncws Editcr Beforeentering the University he was popularly known as a free lar.ce journalist. Many of his articles had been published in the National and Local Press. I now rccornmend his "Cocktail Ladies" to all readers. V. C J. MBAH B. A. Horis. (Londo~t) National Archives. Enugu. �EXTRACTS OF LEmERS OF REQUEST FOR THE Series OF TALKS (FACING THE FACTS AROUND US) TO BE REPEATED C. S. NWOSU. Principal Accountants Ol%ce, Nigeria Railway Corporation. ZARIA 13th September 1961 The General Manager, Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service, P. 0.BOX 350, Enugu. Dear Sir, COMMUNITY SOCIAL REGISTER BY MR. NKWOH OF UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA. I have listened with great interest and rofound admiration the radio broadcast of Mr. N woh of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on the above subject, and request you to send me copies of the series of his commentary on the social life of our men and women. 2. It is the desire of all those who are in the same school of thought with me to possess copies of this master piece which covers all the day-to-day activities of our youths. It is indescribable to explain how the youths in this part of the federation welcome Mr. Nkwoh's observations and thought provoking facts. 3. Should this not be available with you, may I request you to direct my request to Mr. Nkwoh and urge him to meet my humble request which will help to educate most of the uniformed scattered here and there. I enclose herewith self addressed stamped envelope for your early reply. Y u s faithfully, or (Sgd.) C.S. NWOSU R �h u m : Mr. E. A. Morka, Vivian, Younger & Bond Ltd., Ringim Station. The Manager, E. N. B. S.. Enugu. Dear Sir, Your programme of 9:30-9:45 p.m on Sunday the 20th has inspired me so highly, that I am moved to writing and requesting you mainly on two points:1. That those who heard the programme will surely be interested if you help your listeners to get it in book or pamphlet for exactly as it was read that day. Then the rush of the sale will prove to you and the composer how valued it is. 2. That 1 personally request you to repeat the programme twice more at least before letting it off. If you kindly accept my request of later, I prefer it on Saturday the 26th and Monday the 28th August, 1961., at the hours of 7:15-8:00 p.m. each of the days. My aim is mostly on its being published in any form for sale, and I trust whatever amount you or the "author" may fix for its sale, may not d e b a r its urgent clearance. For your prompt response to this, 1 herein enclose a three pence stamp. I very much regret of not quoting the tittle or heading of the programme owing to meeting it midway. Yet, the subject dealt with the "CARE-FREE" lives which our girls are indulging, and the real effect of it at last. Thanking you immensely for the careful arrangements to introduce such a touching programme. Sincerely yours, (Sgd.) E. A. Morka. �St. Matthias' NDD. Mba., c/o OW/NTA P.A., Via ~ b a . 26th August 1961. The Gen. Manager, E.N.B.S., ENUGU. I humbly ask that a copy of the last night's speech, entitled- "THE COCK-TAIL LADIES9'.may be sent to me at any cost. I am very sorry that I could not get the name and theaddressof the person who presented the programme. I think I heard something about the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Please, if you cannot give the copy to me, you c n a let me know more of the producer of the programme so that I may not fail to have a .copy of the speech. Your help and your advice are needed. Yours faithfully, (Sgd.)' Sidney E. Amanze. �FACING THE FACTS AROUND US (SERIAL TALKS) Chapter One NIGHT MARAUDERS: THEY CONSTITUTE A DANGER IN OUR MIDST so insecure; What is left to aallman when his life isfundamental his property removed and his right to live his own life, possess his own property, is so badly threatened? The sacred duty of any government and in fact any society for that matter is to ensure this fundamental protection of human life and property. Life is not to live merely but to live well, happily and peacefully; yet there are some among us who live without any designs at all or witbout any visible means of livelihood, and still live the most luxurious lives in our best hotels or our most popular pubs. How do they manage? For some years now, Nigeria has been under the influence of night marauders. The P r e s s had reported of their depredations; the radio had punctuated their atrocities. It remains now for the television to dramatise their heart-breaking activities. Every day, we hear the news of these infernal people. Cars are stopped and the drivers brought out and beaten almost to death; while the keys of their cars are removed and the cars driven away. Many have surrendered all their bodily belongings at gun-points and half-deadly, half-nakedlystagger away in pants. Mouths have been forced to close, hands tied with ropes, while pockets are carefully searched tor gold, Faces have been slapped red when nothing or an insufficient amount is got. Some have been castigated and go away with swollen kuttocks. One becomes so unfortunate to encounter these heartless souls! pray, become not a victim. �12 COCKTAIL LADIES Nowadays, strange letters are written by anonymous people commanding a surrender of itemised property or articles on appointed days, at an appointed place and at a stipulated time. Failure t o comply with such unjust instructions disposes the affected to serious consequences. And the consequences, what are they? Your house or store can be broken into by force and the occupants forced out to make room for a thorough clean up of removal of all your valuable property. Motor tyres can be removed from parked cars in the garage; valuable furrriture; clothings and what not, are duly packed away. Treasuries had been broken into, lorries stopped on tb.e way and the passengers searched at gun-points. Many a time it is reported that thousands of pounds were removed from this or that treasury or that merchant's firm. Everybody hears of these havocs everyday. What is to be done? Where d o we go from here? We a.re living in a state of fear and our life and property are so unsafe. May God save us from the hands of these wicked people. Recently an English lady (I think a Mrs. Urogbo at Surulere, Lagos) wrote a very pathetic letter, through the Editor of the 'Sunday Times', to these night (and nowadays day) marauders. In that letter she rcq~~estea thieves to return her only belongings the which they had so unkindly removed The worst aspect of the story was that after despatching t h e letter, the thieves visited her house again for a final shake up. Poor lady! She went back to England a s :I result. Many Nigerians felt insulted by her letter since it was published. They might be right and they might be wrong. One thing we must not forget is what was her mind's disposition at the material time of writing. Nothing was left for her from all her cherished property. What would you have done in a similar situation? I agree that banditry is not pecu1i:ir to Nigeria and highway men orerate in England too, RLII i s t h a t a sulkient o r y u IT) e 11 t to �THE NIGHT MARAUDERS. 13 condone evil? Nigeria can't afford the expensive joke of marauders' atrocities s i m p l y because high-way robbery is a world-wide cancer. Why must we Imitate a bad thing because it is done everywhere? How then do we make our unique mark as a new force in the world? We must face facts and view things objectively and realistically, from the background of contemporary events. We must resist, immediately, this newest threat to human life and property with all forces a t our command. In Eastern Nigeria today, people are alert all night. It is life or death. "Traders and Tenants Associations" arc formed to drive out all thieves from all the big towns in the Region. The Police Authorities are well informed of these associations. They even attend some of their meetings. Acccrding to these associations, anybody found comporting himself in a manner likely to arouse suspicion, either at odd places or times, are arrested by the people. Sometimes, the suspects are handed over to the police and sometimes the law of the jungle is applied. In Onitsha, Aba and Enugu night vigils are kept. Other towns do the same because this wave of terrorism is passing on from town to town. It is just like the trade winds and could blow to another town tomorrow. This is a serious matter and the position requires an immediate handling by our governments, by the police and by the people themselves. It is not a matter to play politics with; nor one to make headlines in our newspapers. Anybody that pretends that this or that Region of Nigeria is holier and freer from the havocs of these night marauders then the other one is dishonest and a cheat. He is a brazen hyprocrite. This position has become deplorable and like a canker worm is fastly eating the body fabric of our society What is to be done? Who are the night marauders? How do they operate? What implements do they use? What time of t h e night do they operate most? Who can tell us? �To say exactly who are these night marauders is to tread on a dangerous ground. It is to go to that place where angels avoid. It is to challenge the devil and in fact to invite trouble. However, my guess in this talk will be as good as yours. "Nobody i; more like an honest man than a thief". During the day, all that suit up are not gentlemen. Their politeness, good grammar, excellent poise (personality), superb gait, fashion of dress and cheerfulness, are but dressed falsehoods. They are all hollow and are just whited sepulchre. When you are iii the pubs, those very liberal offers of drinks with "get him four to six bottles" are to be looked at twice. Mind those latest fashion of hair-shave, short shorts, tough knots of tie, chimney smoke of cigarette, especially the "taxi high society" or those long pipes. And look out for those loudest speakers, braggarts, classical dancers of "cha-cha" and sometimes "ro-po-pow, or the latest heat of a "high life" music. Then don't over-look those that bring out their walletswhich are full of "red notes" (pound notes) and just carelessly single out one to order a roast chicken and bottles of beer. This, they often do to impress the bar-maids around! You see, I am only trying to suggest that thieves are the people you can't suspect as being anything but honourable gentlemen. Have you ever been told by an apparent well dressed youngman to "excuse me", and then to give him just five shillings to complete his money to collect an article just around the corner? well, try Lagos or Aba. It is the fashion now for some thorough-bred loafers to stop gentlemen at Aba and ask for some money. "for God's sake", just to go and eat. And these people are so hale and sound! My God! What is wrong nowadays? Who are the night marauders? Some people often suspect some taxi-drivers as being thieves because msny a time their cars are used by these marauders. �rn~ NIOBT MARAUDERS 15 The argument is that if they are not, then they are accomplices. Well! I don't share this opinion as I know many honest taxi drivers. Nevertheless, there could be a Judas in every group of twelve. Some people say that "Passenger Collectors" ('ocho passenger') are the real thieves. How can they, when so many of them are responsible men with big families and have children in colleges and even nowadays, in Universities? But there could be Judases in their fold all the same. There is the assertion that the night marauders are jobless men among us. This suspicion appears teneable in the light of bitter facts of reality. Yet, if they are, from where do they get the dynamite with which to explode treasury safes? Who buys guns for them or the cars with which thefts ace committed? Who teaches them how to remove plate numbers or tyres of motor cars? Who provides the money for all the necessary equipment for their thieving adventures? Some people suspect some lorry owners and mechanics are thieves. I think these people are too big to be thieves. This accusation would be an insult to their class, seeing that they have enough money and to spare. Who are then the night marauders? Once more, your guess is as good as mine. Personally, I think they are a combination. They can be drawn from taxi drivers, passenger collectors, apprentice mechanics, jobless folk and from big men in offices or even at home. Some big men employ these thugs to loot and bring back booty. These are the people who provide the night marauders witha leadershipand all that they would need. Already they have got the money, but yet want more and more money. Humad greed! It can know no end. What is to be done? And by the way, have you ever had the misfortune t o see a night marauder? If you have not, then have an idea. My informant told me that the real experts dress in black all over, imitating the "mark of Zoro". Those that do not dress in this full regalia, cover their eyes with a handkerchief which eyes, and paint their faces dark, �bear holes for the possibl with charcoal. They carry about jack-knives, torch ight, a short-gun and at times a matchet or a club for dealing heavy blows to resistant objects like windows or doors. They have also some carpenter's tools to lift stores, remove hinges of doors or draw out nails. Some of them carry dynamite to explode safes of treasuries or firms or offices while others carry about with them some quantity of chloroform with which to keep occupants of a visited house sleepy. Some carry long and hooked sticks to remove clothes hung inside from the .windows. Before these tough boys set out for their 'depredations, they often smoke the Indian hemp (from where they get it, I don't know) or drink to a point of intoxication. !' Where do, t h e y live? Who are their friends? Generally it is believed their friends are hotel girls. Their home is ever here and nowhere. But my information was got rom one of them who was caring for himself in a pub. The pub is definitely the place to look for news. Down at one corner, all alone, was a fine and well d r e s s e d gentleman. He was carving for himself a chicken, wlth four bottles of beer standing on his table. Two had been drained by him while two remained undrained. I dec7ed to keep him c o m p a n y with my friend. He was all welcoming. More beer was ordered for my friend and I. Four bottles. It appeared my informant goes by four. The drink continued and discussions progressed too. A time came when he had to boast of his various activities and this time often comes with people who drink without control. At such a time, the most humble can reveal the w h o 1e of his life. What more for a die-hard rogue? -This was how I got all my information. Don't ask for more, please. Something must be done about these night marauders. Can house to house campaign do to comb them out? This is already being pract~sedin Onitsha and Aba. Can the Police (and they are over-worked, being so few now, with hundreds of them in the Congo) do? fY" �NIGHT MARAUDERS: 17 They can, especialy by patrolling along the street as they used to do. 1 wonder why nowadays they have ceased. You cannot see a single Policeman on duty along our streets nowadays. When there is any shout of "thieves, thieves, thieves" nobody comes to your rescuse. No whistles are blown by the Police. The chese is your. own risk. Sometimes, in the chase, m'any have lost parts of their bodies or become killed even. Let the Police Authorities revert to the old good practice of stationing Policemen on beat along our streets. The Reservation Area (if any such area still exist in these independence days) are not the only places that inhabit honest c i t i z e n s who pay their taxes regularly to enjoy the security of life and of their property. The Magistrates can be.empowered to give thieves life imprisonment. Parliaments can empower them with neccessary weapons of the law. We can not continue to live our lives at the pleasure of thieves who sleep during the day and convert the night to their own days. Alternatively, the people can choose to employ the law of the jungle. The practice now at Aba is to search every-house for suspects and comb them out. As a matter of fact, every street in every township knows its own loafers. Thcse people should be made to realise that their power is not invincible. Some public denunciation of these powers of darkness is necessary. When a thief is caught, he can be brought out to be tried and then punished in public before he is imprisoned. He can be spat upon: his face can be slapped and anything that will disgrace should not be spared. This will be a lcsson to those not discovered yet. �Chapter Two COCKTAIL LADIES n my first talk in this series, I spoke to you about I t h e dangcrsof night marauders in our midst. ~ o d a ~ , I want to direct your attcntion to ailother group in our society whose existence is becoming disgraceful. I have chosen to call them "cocktail" ladies. Let us therefore considcr them tonight. The mistake of fcminisni nowadays is that women want to do cvery thing that men do. Womcn want to go to the moon or to sound the deepest oceans. They want to out-smoke and out-drink men. They think t h e y can easily be soldiers, pilots, enginedrivers and other odd jobs that men do. Why do they think and want these things? Well, just to rival mcn and to be cqual with them. Already they are succccding and will soon morc than succccd. Today you see women in almost every fcild of life, in thc Policc Force, in Civil Service Ofices, in Parliamcnts, in Hospitals, driving about their own cars, hcing rcputable contractors or wealthy traders, broadcasters, tax-collectors and tar-payees too. Soon we shall liavc women taxi-drivers. But the fun is that womcn forget thatbeing different bcings, they have nlmlutcly special and difkrcnt characteristics. Thcy forget that the hocd docs not make the monk. It is therefore not i n wcnring "tough pants and shorts" which men wear that thcp b e c o m c automatically men or men-like. �19 COCKTAIL LADIES Take a look at our society ladies! Their motto is "let your life be as happy and sunshiny as you can make it. the men are always around to foot the bill". With this motto, these cocktail ladies, these human parasites, these lazy .drones and good-fornothings, go about living in a manner not altogether respectable or desirable. They know all the "big guns" in town. They have been to all parties held at the Governor's or Premier's lodge. They have been driven a b o u t. by big men in their big and long American cars. They are sure to be at the next Minister's Cocktail party or at the marriage of a big personality in town. They will be at all places at all .times. How d o these self-elected society elitie come about? What are their qualifications? Have youever thought of their undersirable existence or have you never felt :their presence?. Take a look around you. Visit some big men; attend some parties: -watch your television sets (if you are lucky to have any). These ladies exist in every big township and know all the big men of the town. They can be working-class or nurses or Women Police or bank clercks or typists or sales-clercks of firms or telephone operators They can also be school teachers or some clever housewives, disgusted with their husbands or those glamorous seekers of ostentatious jobs. You can always know these people hy their ways. If they had been "Miss Any Townships" or mere " r u n n e r u p s" or even "attempteds". then they m u s t let all the world know this by how they dress and talk with a borrowed accent (even though they did not pass .the standard six nor ever crossed the River Niger). They paint their lips, finger and toe-nails and retouch their eye brows with a blue pencil. - �20 COCKTAIL LADIES They use scent, different ohtments and assorted cosmetics and these, only to advertise their painted beauty. To augment, they sew dresses that are kneetight ("cross no gutter" I think they call it) and mount on shoes that are a foot high. On those "knockabouts" they skate around, false living and false feeling. This is the time when they attract attention and consequently win introductions. In' the offices, t e l e p h o n e attendants (or do you call them telephone receptionists or "operators?) are wonderful people. They t e 1e p h o n e anybody that matters Sometimes they apologise and say that they thought it was "so-so and so" they met at a party held last night at Mr. X's residence. But the fun of .it all is that the person telephoning simply wants to be there. "Don't mention" is often the reply and "you are cordially invited, if you please". With this weapon of a previous telephone introduction, everything else is smooth sailing. The day b e c o m e s crowded moments- for the turkey-cock. Her work is no more properly done. The party becomes the talk of the day. She telephones o t h e r cocktail ladies, asking whether they will be attending. If they would, the dresses to be vorn are discussed; the make-up to be pasted on the face not left out ofcourse. Suitable men to match are intimated to foot the bill of transport and other incidentals of the occasion. This does not provide any difficulty because these cock-tail girls have a thousand odd and different boyfriends. The only qualification of those boy-friends of course is the possession of a car and a disposition to spend freely. The boys must belive in buying roast chickens, sausage rolls, drinks (shorts of ginger or brandy) and must take them out regularly to the films. What these girls want is a busy life of vanity. Nothing more, nothing less. �COCKTAIL LADIES 21 There is another group of cocktail ladies. These are "carnival boats". (By the way, have you ever .attended' the "Alpha Carnival" show?). Their skates a r e very s h o r t and wide,. infact rather too wide in .circumference, (umbrella skates.) Around the waists of the wearers appear to contain some soft materials,. perhaps p a d s of a type. These materials raise the ladies' buttocks to fit with the umbrella skates which will swing low, high and a r o u n d , at the slightest movement. The hair-do is any thing of your guess, provided you guess the unusual. Some of them $0 about with such shampoo'd, plaited or stretched ham It is a good curiosity to watch the novelties of our women's latest. hair-do. From styles they call "rats and rabbits,' "hill-top", "samba", ayakata", ajakaaja", .to plateau", "basket" "double weave" and "society emblems". With these they are simply on ,top of the world. Nobody is regarded again except one who can 'richly pay to help them live luxyriously and smartly. When fully dressed, how these ladies -carry about themselves! The neck is kept stiff and &rect; eyes are down cast or at times half-closed and -the p a i n t.e d lips kept tight and ready for the slightest necessity to advertise the teeth. The hoppinggiat is carefully p r a c t i s e d and some smarting ways of speaking the English language is memorised. Everything is simply put into the show. The fun of these cocktail ladies is that because .they are "birds of passage or changelings to every big man*', they go about swell-headed. In officesan ordinary typist or telephone operator who is friendly .with the boss does not regard anybody again. What can you do? Can you give her a query? Will you report her? To whom, to the boss? Whichever you do, you can be surc to enter into trouble with.the big man, and that if you are not careful. If you give her a query, �22 COCKTAIL LADIES she wilt tear it to pie&, even to your face, and curse: you with such abusive language. What can you do? You are rendered powerless because she is a cocktaitj lady, and besides, a friend of the big man in chargelor , your office. Take a look at a young Police woman who:is in the: good books of the A.S.P.! Every constable, even an Inspector, is cheap to her. She will novtake instructions. from any except from the A.S.P. But she forgets she is in the Force. This situation is the same in all walks of life where women infest. But who is a woman? A certain English poet defines a woman thus:Woman, doubtful theme, I sing; Dear, delightful, dangeraus thing! Magic source of all our joy, Tempting, trifling, tinselled toy. Every faculty possessing: That constitutes a curse or a blessing: witty, empty, fond, capricious. Pious sometimes, often, vicious, As Angels handsome, devils proud; Modest, pert, submissive, loud; T a cheer 'and to torment us, given. Without them, what, ye gods, is life? And with them, what but care' and strife? According to a certain woman writer, Marie Coreli: "a \\;oman considered in the rough abstract, is only the pack-mule of man; his goods, his chattles, created specially to be the vessel of his passion and humour. Without his favour and support, she is by a universal consent, set down as a lonely and wandering mistake". �COCKTAIL LADIES 23 A woman, despite her false airs, still says to a man: '1 want m o n e y, buy me a . bangle-watch, a .fancy bag, a pair of shoes, dresses, a fancy hat, eggs, fish, pork meat, beverages and what not she may desire. A woman does not know it is hard to get money or . if she knows, she pretends not to bother. Our women, including the society ladiesandgirls, are too money-indeed. House-wives find clever reasons to 'leave their husbands simply to live. smart lives, to be driven about in cars and to attend big parties. Young girls take to. the streets merely to be glamorous society ladies. Marriage and child-bearing are yet things absent from their vocabulary of thought. They want to be on the move with the society elite all the time. The greatest surprise is that they have what they call cogent reasons .for all their way-ward behaviours. . I recently encountered one cocktail lady and simply pitied h-r plight. She.had upsuccessful1y;contested the "Miss Nigeria" competition on provincial basis for three years ,now running. She can't now. walk a yard because slie has been used to be driven about by big men. Her cslours are fastly fading away, indeed they hnv: faded out. She is now a "wash out"- aild yct does not. know. She will'be dying and yet' wili: not believe she is so doing. She ktill goes abo,ut'looking for jobs from one office to. another. Whcrevei s ! ~ goes, people fight to have a glance, a talk, a touch (starting with a haiid shake..first of ,all) an'd finally a "can I drive.you'home"' courtesy? And yet this lady is so stupid. She cannot .add up.ten blus.ten. She can't read correctly' nor understand .'simple English. . Beauty is her .only qulification. Today women hat2 .wonlen's duties. They hate to manage the homes, cook meals and rear up children. Sometimes the men ofthe house go hungry because the wives are 'on s t r i k e . :Some of them are women and some "Mi s s N i g e r i a..' maniacs �24 COCKTAIL LADIES As a matter of fact, the introducticn ofbeauty competition into this country has turned so many girls' h e a d s to directions not altogether praise-worthy. Women are made to help and not to nag, s a p or impoverish men. They should not be a burden, nor parasites, nor nuisance, nor articles of commerce. There is still plenty of time for our women to think twice. Mad rush for gold and fast living all the time will definitely not do. "Gold, gold, for ever! What will it not do? It will bring the proud, to their knees; it will force the obstinate to servile compliance, it will conquer aversion and prejudice. The world is a slave to its yellow glitter and the l o v e of women, that perishable article of commerce, is for ever at its command." I often think of what is to be the fate of some of our cocktail ladies in years ahead. Most of them are definitely deceiving themselves now. Do they ever remember that the greatest beauties h a v e withered and died? Rose flowers bloom only once and then fade away. The morning is surely to give way to the afternoon, and the noon to the evening. Health has no duplicate nor an alternative. How many society ladies have ended i n ignominous deaths, sickness, leprosy, epilepsy, tuberclosis or veneral diseases? Here is a story of a girl who got a sack from her job. Lucy is a cocktail lady, smashing and glamorous. In comportment, she is elegant and in feeling, very soft and delicate. She is a typical woman or what a woman should be. She knows all the 'rules of high society behaviours. Her boy-friend is a young man with a *great f u t u r e ahead. His post is even now enviable. He simply makes Lucy crazy because he keeps a date with her every day. Life therefore has no worries for Lucy. What does she need? The boy friend provides her with enough. Is it dresses? Even �COCKTAIL LADIS 25 those are abundant. Is it a fine car? Ope1 Capitan is just sufficient for two people who have determined to make life run smooth but very fast. Lucy's boy-friend has a wife who has for him three fine children, two boys and one girl. The wife is even now expecting a child, may be a female, to balance. the equation'of creation. Lucy knows of this, but is determined to get the "awufu money" or do you call it "chawuta"? Recently Lucy's services 'in her department were terminated. Every big man came to sympathise with her, except the boy friend. The reason is obvious. Lucy had been an expensive girl to maintain. He therefore feels relieved now. Previously, Lucy had been sacked from different posts she had held. The reason had always been the same. She is not serious in her job. She is always absent. She is always abusive and insulting when ever she is corrected. Now Lucy is terminated and she has. fallen sick. The nature of her sickness is dubious and' serious. I know that people are not allowed to go to see her. When ! interviewed her Doctor, I was told in confidence thaf: her trouble was a terrible misuse of her life. I wish her a speedy recovery, if she is lucky to recover. Our cocktail ladies are not sufficiently facing the true facts of their lives. Youth and beauty are not to last for ever. Make-ups will never be adequate substitues for the prime of life. Cars will not be always around to collect them. Old age will surely creep in and the realities of life will stand stark-naked before them. It will be too late to learn how to use the.lefi hand when the right hand had long been in use al: their lives. Servants may not be around to minister unto them. The free-money-allowance will cease one day. The worst will be that some day they will not even be welcomed to those parties that had spoilt their heacs �26 COCKTAIL LADIES in ,youfh. Now is the time for a second thqught and this.,is:their only time. Continued .false living is d8n gerous and has its own serious ~epeycussions.Nobody .can ever cheat nature, but i'f the cocktail ladies think that tlj.ey can, well, let them do. They should .boyever remember' that their betters, had, trieB ,and failed. . A word is now enough for the. w ~ i e . a 05 Finally 1 .am a d v i s i rig' those them that are youthful enough and still marriageabki:to go now and marry. They should now. in the words of a poet:: Gather ye rose-buds wfiile ye may Old time is still a-flying And this same flower that smiles today, Tomorrow will be dying. The glorious lamp of Heaven, the sun, The higher he's a-getting: The sooner will his race be run And nearer he's to setting That age is best, which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former. Then b e not coy, but use your ti&; And while you may. go marry; For having lost but once your prime You may for ever tarry. I can add nothing to thc above quotntion. It on!y remains for the cocktail ladies around us to re-esamine their lives. They should now face the facts around them and consider their life past, now and to come. May God give them the understanding and the grace t o change their vain ways. �Chapter Three L a s t week, I spoke to you about c&tqil ,ladies; tfiose wc$ii:en who have betbnie so s o p h i s t ic a t e d .with v c i t y that their presence is becomiirg,disgraceful to all of us. Today 1 am directing, your attention ,t6-'another group, ''those hypocrites arounij .us." 'live. in a world of realities .and unrealities. This life, which is a very g r e a t gift from God, is such ti curious business. N o doubt, many of us walk through it like ghosts as if we were in it .but not of it. We. look but d o not see: listen but do not hear, start but do not feel. Indeed "all the world's a stage and all men and women merely players". Have you -ever watched, from a vantage ground, the .hypocrisy of men, the vanity of women, the boundless ambition of youths o r the presunipt~o:lor claim to wisdom of the aged'? As we reach years of discretion, we naturally ask ourselves what should be the m a i n object of our existence. Some of us are therefore fascinated by an attempt to forcast something of the conditions of lifc a s they will be in centuries ahead. Some indulge in s p e c u 1 a t i o n and some in dreaming: For this reason. life has for us many troubles wh~ch are o!' many kinds. Our own problenx therefore are just like these troubles of life. Take a look at the faces thet kave a church on a Suliday, those that comc? out from a big rally or a foot-+all match held at z certain stadium o r the sayings or happenings of this world! How v a r i o u s the faces and how vario~z indeed the i n t e n t i o n s and natures they purport! �28 COCKTAIL LADIES To some extent, there is no honesty or reason for some of the things we do. Many of us say many things in this life that we never meant or believed t o be true. We act, speak, walk and behave at timos because it is the fashiori.of some peopre to-do so. Let us begin with our modern ladies. Some of them have become more sophisticated than those they imitate. They now Paint red their lips, finger and toe nails and retouch theii eye brows blue. In time, they will begin to paint their ears and all other parts of their body. Already the face has got its own layers of make-up. Why do they do these things? A red paint on a black lip! Your guess is as good as mine. But I think they want to be smart, elegant and charming: otherwise they want to impress all beholders. A woman is-a.vcty':good example of a human masquerade. Say what you may, I am of that o p i n io n. Tell her she is the most beautiful lady in town; then watch the turkey cock as she be&s to swell! She smiles d e e p l y and loses her head. Inform her "you are my love" and watch the airs. graces, elegance and satisfaction with which she reacts. But let her. turn the next corner .and meet another man (more "braining and eloquent") who can call her "h o n e y", "sweety" and what not romantic terms. She soon forgets the first man, with all the joys she ever had with him. Why do women do this? The truth is that women are by nature very cunning and full of falsehoods and pretences. They cherish flattery and appear to live well with it. The question is: can they live without equivocations? When a woman says she hates you, then know that she secretly admires you. When' she is stern in looks, of course she is s e c r e t l y darting amorous glences. Her q u a r r el is just the begining of her agreement and love. �THOSE HYPOCRITES IN OUR MIDST 29 If she scolds you, then know that she loves you. But if she says that she loves you, you can be sure she does not but is only interested in the things that she can get out of you. The trouble with our modem women is that they can never say what they mean and mean what they say. Love to them is a m a g i c word with which to trade. No wonder some of them have now become articles of commerce! Marriage is no more contracted because of real love but because of security and position. A man's person does not matter any more in love affairs except his prospect, his car, his building (if any) or his social standing. Is he a lawyer, a doctor, a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary? Is he "senior service," or a g r a d u a t e ? Why do they do these things? Why all these masquerading and counter-feiting of life? This stitution has led so many men to resort to a deceitful living. How many men have hired a taxi cab for a day (with the word taxi wiped off) just to pose that they are car owners before certain "tough ladies"? How many have feigned to be lawyers, doctors degree holders or "senior service", simply to impress? How many men have suddenly changed their manner of speaking simply to appear "I have been to" or walk with what gait the "been tosWcali "Univerthe sity Hunchback"? How many men haveindeed shed tears at the feet of the girls they want to convice they love and would die for? We've got to be honest with ourselves and face the facts around us. Why should we live false lives? Watch some of our ladies nowadays when the appear in some television programmes. They simply out-do their parts and b e c o m e such strangers to their true selves. Equivelent to these "show girls" are some "tough boys" who go by b o g u s names and under false �30 COCKTAIL LADIES pretences. These boys make it a fashion to telephone every lady telephone-operator on duty in o r d e.r t o conduct a telephone c o u r t s h i p They start .with introducing t h e m s e 1 v e s as a "sci-so and so" Honourable Member from Lagos o r a Barrister just a r r i v'e d from the United Kingdom. They disclose there names as one Mr. Obl~k, Gaby o r Mike. They are l o o k i n g for l o d g i n g and they are inquiring if the lady te1ephone;operatqr-. can help. "H-m-m, can I come to drive you-out td' the Catering Rest House for the evening?' they oftemask politely. If he lady i s cheap, of course the outing takes place and the rest can besettled then. If the lady. refuses, to be dc ceived, these tough boys threaten to report then1 to their managers o r who-ever ishcharge or at the highest post in the department. Of course they don't d o this. They. only want to intimidate the ladies. Sometimes these "tough guys" .demand the names of the ladie's they. are speaking lo. This t h'ey.: do with such assuining Su'peyi~rity air$.of.importance. and ' And. these, useless .talks g o on for t e n s ~ f ininutes,. a t times up to an'.hour: (For full confii'gation..of t h b information, intewiew any respxtable 1ad.y'telephorie. operator.) Sometimes. you can. take' up youChand'Lt,. .and unfoituli~tdy hear these uselkb talks going ~ri;''.~f you interfere ,to' a&' i h e young 'man t o alloy th'e lady' d o her job. h~ insults'you; Th? sGrprise is t h a t sonie qs'. mes i ~ c ~ ~ dha~vsno-shame at' all. Leaving men and womeo a 1o n e ,. let, mz delve. further into the hypocrisies of liiost of us. H&ve,you ever noticed how some people feign'to be..consta~le~ or messengers from some magistrates? The aim, is always to win money through false pretences. How 'many quack-doctors have we, around?. These .are. responsible for so many u n t i m e 1 y deaths. . Those ' �THOSE HYPOCRITES IN OUR MIDST 31 seeming friends around us, who are they? Ninetynine pertent of them are worse than distant enemies. According to the way of this world: they are summer friends who often come with the season of prosperity and depart with the anti-trade winds of adversity. Many are they that laugh with us today and at our littlest turn of our backs tomorrcw, scorn and mock, back-bite and slander us. What is then the need for friends? A cheerful friend should have been a sunny day that sheds brightness on all around: a beautiful flower of nature that should expand and make its colours grow more brighter by the warmth of the sunshine that stimulates it. Happiness indeed depends much more on what is within rather lhan what is with-out There is no need for our counterfeiting and God's Earth is wide enough for a forthright and honest living. This world is moved by the I o w e s t and pettiest motives. It works for the most trivial, ridiculous and perishable aims. Hollow things often appeal to our sentiments. The wicked appear to succeed more in life and their success and masked kindness make us forget awhile their wicked nature. We tolerate and even praise or be-friend them because we arc in need of their assistance. A recalcitrant criminal that can argue well his case in court, baptising his defence with lies that are seeming truths, often wins the day whilc the innocent suffer and often-times are imprisoned. The gloom within often reflects in the shadows without and the face becomes the index of the soul; yet human beings are so clever that they can counterfeir conscience and feign brightest when they are indeed darkest within. "No harm" or "don't menlion" they readilly ejaculate where there is every harm and a need to mention it. �32 COCKTAIL LADIES Do you know that people buy certificates nowadays? It could be the G. C. E. or the Cambridge. Do you know that people of about forty years of age now declare before Magistrates that they are only twenty, just half their true age? This they do to win an end; it could be a post or a scholarship. Do you know that every lady that competes for "Miss Nigeria" (no Mr. Nigeria yet) must be nineteen. Even my mother (and she is at least sixty now) can qualify for this competition if only she declares eighteen. You see, we are succeeding with our hypocrisies, but for how long can this counterfeit of life do? The Government of Eastern Nigeria passed a law that fixed bride price at £35; but how many parents today obey this law? Daughters are still sold away for upwards of £200 to £250, and a receipt of £35 officially and ostentatiously given in .manycases? Where do we go from here? In big offices, do you know that nobody should demand or receive bribery? Perhaps you do not know of the boss's satellites. These people do the yeoman's job and yet those big men in those big seats in the offices pretend they are incorruptible. Promotions are still with-held until palms are duly greased, sometimes strong drinks, a turkey or a sheep are offered through agents to appease the angry, and very often, a hungry boss. "Eye service" is the first lesson of any "Police R e c r u i t". " Condo" is a word every police man knows. There is an ulterior motive for most of the things we do. Students befriend their teachers and lap about their feet with a hope to pass their exaninations with distinctions, whether they study diligently or not. The things you buy in the market nowadays are somctimcs adultrated. Europeans are charged more thm thc usuel ccst of the articles in our markels or in trsi Pares. In the Ci~urchc;. thc �THOSE HYPOCRlTES I OUR MIDST N 33 best places are still reserved for those with costly clothes and commanding personality. Foundation members of many of our big Churches are still those who have.big money and not necessarily holy life which is expected by some Churches' Commandments and Laws. Let us look at the things around us very critically. Take the case of a man on a salary of E300 p.a. who has so many storey-buildin s in town. Did he win any football pools? If so; ow much? If he did not, where did he get the thousands of money to erect suchmagnificientbuildings? Some Civil Servants, politicians and parliamentarians are living beyond their income. They do things that are not commensurate with their salaries..Some. parliamentarians spend more - time in erecting buildings than in facing the duty of the state. And yet theseaare the people who, speak loudest about honesty in public life! What is more, they speak of economy measures which will cancel car advances and basic allowances. They talk of cutting down the salaries of some. people and support every measurc that will tighten up the benefits that can go to some workers. Are these people honest? 1 have my doubts.. You see, I am speaking about haman masquerade. Human hypocrisy is a world-wide cancer. Take a look around you nowadays. Human strivings and uprisings which bring about the crises of human history are nothing but the echoes of personalities who seek more and more freedom to express their innate longings. Just look at what is going on in Kuwait, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Angola, Congo, Loas, Tibet. Germany, to count a few! Recall to mind some past p r o n o u n c e m e n t s of some world powers and then try to reconcile them with their a c t i o n s. f �34 COCKTAIL LADIPS Great Britain condemns South Africa's apartheid policy but always abstains from voting against it in n international conferences. Portugal's l a s s a c r e of Africans in Angola is equally condemned by Britain but yet the same Britain sold her air-crafts to Portugal and promised her more military equipments and training. In ihe meantime, she (Britain) is doing a yeoman's job in maintaining peace and order in Kuwait; The same Britain pleaded foi' the retention of South Africa in the Commonwealth when every Commonwealth c o u n t r y (except Australia) wanted South African to quit the Organisation. Look at the almighty Russia! Their scientific prowess and i n v e n t i o n s not withstanding,.they are a people with a double face. Their cry, as far as Africa is concerned, is against imperialism. At the last session of the United Nations Assembly, Russia moved for an end of colonialism in Africa and Asia. This was a laudable note struck by Nikita Kruschev as far as the Afro-Asian block was concerned. Nevertkeless, Russia should let her c h a r i t y begin at home by liberating her Communist colony of Eastern Europe. We still remember the incidents of Hungary. How do we then reconcile Europzan imperialism or American r x e prejudice or Russian ruthless and goodless dictatorship or French high- haudedness and brutality or Portugal's atrocities in Angola or South Africn's inhuman policy of apartheid with their leaders' mere pronouncements,and vociferous utterences of equalitj, liberty and the brotherhood of nations? Don't you see that it is all a sham? There is no sincerity and honesty in the things we do nowadays. We simply play to the gallery and become i n our particular ways mere Pharisees and S c r i b s Is there any wonder .;herefore the unrest that now blows across the world? ,The trouble in' the world t o d a y is double-faced dealings. The powtr blocks are the money magnets. �THOSE HYPOCRITIES IN OUR MIDST 35 Quite liberally, they deal out largess to the beggar countries in the hope of buying over their affiliation. To this end, they will go any lenght in assisting the gigantic projects of under-developed countries. We should not be imposed by appearances and mere utterances. We should always check our impulses and moderate our desires. Let us keep reason in her own power and be not satisfied with superficial view of things. We should penetrate into the matter, form and end of everything. A little analysis will always show us the true nature of things or the perosons we eacounter. In Nigeria today, the posts we hold should not make us feel that the world is in our hands. We should be honest with ourselves. False-living cannot help. �Chapter Four ACCIDENTS ON OUR ROADS. oday I a m all taxi lorry Tpedestrains. appealing ttoall these andboys,todrivers, car owners, truck pushers, cattle cyclists I wan people please and lend me their ears. Every day our hospitals are full of cases of serious accidents. In. many cases limbs are maimed, legs fractured, heads broken, faces defaced. Besides, many are the unidentified bodies that lie in our mortuaries. The frequency of untimely deaths on our roads today is alarming. Who are responsible? Negligent and reckless drivers, self-styled expert taxi-drivers and bogus death-proof lorry-drivers. What a blessing it is to travel! What joy to leave our little comers, our smiling fields and rich woods, our hills and mountains that abound with sweet valleys, rivers, lakes and the peace of such places, just for a change of sight! What a happiness to leave our islands. heaths, churches, cathedrals, work places, friends and many a spot that has become immortalised in the history of our country, just for 2 travel to other places like these! But yet. what an uncertain venture this can prove nowadays? Many indeed have left their houses so happily for a little travel but never returned. They were trapped by death on account of the so many accidents on our roads nowadays. Many a time, a whole family is affected. Sometimes, a school team becomes the victim. Death waits for us everywhere on our roads today. Our taxi and lorry drilers have no feeling for other users of thz road. They have no manners a n d obey no �ACCIDENTS ON OUR ROADS 37 . traffic and high-way codes. "I can drive myself and my wife can drive too" they shout wherever they see one driving one's own car. With this nonsensical e'aculation they make it impossible for the car owner* driver to use the road peacefully with them For this reason they occupy the centre of the road some of which are very narrow) and expect the "I can drive myself" to enter the bush simply to overtake them or to be overtaken. As the edges of our roads are in many cases rugged, death is just around tho corner. i Much has been written about a c e i d e n t s on Nigerian roads. Much too has been spoken, but the position is still the same. No amount of writing or speaking can do without a change of heart on the part of the taxi and lorry drivers. Nothing can be achieved without a fellow-feeling for other use= of the road like us and the passengers in those "Gwongworo Buses" or Ranch wagon taxi cabs. How can a driver of a mammy wagon or a 403 Peugeot taxi cab ( a ranch wagcln of a type ) with three quarters ( 2 ) of his body outside the window and at a speed of 60 to 70 m.p.h. c o n t r.o 1 his car when. another one is just around the corner? The speed of our drivers is terrible. What are they after? To get rich quick? I wonder, because sometimes more haste is less speed. Make a trip from Enugu to Onitsha or to Aba, or to Port-Harcourt or to Oron. Alternatively cross the River Niger to Asaba and embark for Lagos or travel from the ninth mile corner at Enu u to Jos. After that trip, if you are lucky to return, o m your own opinion. Imagine a driver of a five ton mammy wagon from Jos to Onitsha, sitting above the wheels, with the wagon's body some eight to ten feet high and open, racing like a sputnik: B �38 ACCIDENT ON OUR ROADS Under full load, the speed is anything between 60 and 70 m.p.h. and to show how hardy, tough and deathproof these drivers are, they control steering with one of their body to hand and remove three quarters the window. With this train load and tens of human beings perched on top of the loads, t h e s e drivers speed day and night.-under rain and sun. At night there is nothing like dimming of light nor a lessening of speed for any other approaching vehicles. And yet in the event of any accident some of these calous beings escape unhurt. Good God! (a) Recently a gentleman went home for the week-end in his own car. As he was returning to Enugu, ~ f t e r Udi, anddescendinga hill, he met his fate. An oncoming mammy wagon with its light- undimmed was coming with such a terrific speed. To avoid the danger, the gentleman tried to slow down and negotiate an overtaking by the side. Unfortunately there was a ditch near by. The light had dazzled his eyes. He therefore could not see a foot ahead and down he went in a crash. The gentleman is still in the hospital. The sorrowful aspect of it was that the driver of that nlammy wagon steamed past like a train engine. He did not stop. He did not even care to know if. the young man died or lived. It might be that he had insured his life from God and will not die again. Yet one day presents us with a book of all our records and we-must give account of our s t e w a r d ~ h i ~ here on earth. If you go to Lagos by road, it is a hair-raising adveature. Timber lorries are just the counter-parts of mammy wagons from Jos to Onitsha. Thcsc timber lorries carry such loads that w o u 1 d m$ke a good cargo for any ship. Yet with these loads, the drivers speed to pass any small cars. There is never a journey �from Lagos to Asaba or vice versa in which you can fail to see these monstrous human beings at their worst speed. If you escape them, then you are lucky, indeed very lucky. Every day on our roads there is such a fantastic watage of human lives. The amount of human blood that has been shed on the altar of Nizerian roads should have by now been sufficient to appease the god of calousness which our lorry and taxi drivers worship. What is to be done? My suggestions are as follows:The issuing of licences should now be reviewed. Driving tests should now be made very strict. Age (say between 22-30 years) should count very much, not declared age but real or apparent. The senses of the body should be all correct. A school of driving should be immediately established like many other trade schools. The basic qualification should be Standard Six pass, so that every driver should know how to read and write and also know the parts of the devil (the machine) which he is manipulating. The penalty for reckless driving should be severe. Licences can be withdrawn indefinitely. The police should be more on their alert in their sacred duties to check recalcitrant drivers and bring them to the warm embrace of the law. Their Accident Prevention Vans should be more. The taxi drivers that prove so rude and insolent could be taught good m a n n e r s and fellow-feeling in the "cell" for at least a day. It is no c r i me to have a car and to drive it by oneself. It is a point to be proud of and emulated so as to practise economy and humility. There used to be too much bigmanism in the past. We can't now afford the luxury of a class d i s t i n c t i o n by employing a dtiver, a .car washer, a mechanic, a car packer and what not: simply to maintain a car that will take us to our offices. From where will all that money �came to pay the legicn of servants or. do you call them employees? The time of senior eervice false living is far past. Let taxi and lorry drivers understand this once and for all and stop the nonsense of those cat-calls "I can drive myself and my. wife can drive too". Another cause of frequent accidents on our roads are truck pushers. "Ugbarugba"1 These people declare themselves outlaws and occupy the centre of road with all their ears deaf to car horns., T h e slightest admonition you give them. they leave their trucks for you, making sure that you must- have damaged your car on then). These people are so unfeeling and to some extent very stupid. They appear disgruntled with everybody and yet nobody forced them to that brand of occupation. For how long must our government tolerate this danger on our roads? Can't the police go out now and remove those saucy fellows that appear incapablq of any good reasoning.? The p e d e s t r i a n s ' path is too wide for their trltcks. The plea that they have licence, like anybody else, is sheer nonsense. Surely they have not licenses to threaten the lives of other users of the road. Will the police look into this menace and bundle all of them to the normal pit in their. charge office for questioning and prosecution? here is yet another group. There are cow boys. I don't. mean American Cow boys or t h o s e who imitate them here in Nigerie. I mean those Hausa boys or men who drive around Nama Cows. Many a time, traffic c o m e s to a standstill because the animals have secured the right of the way, and that, the whole road. What can you do? Can you fight the cows? Can you collide them with your car? If you try the collision you will for ever regret your folly and that may .be in another .world. Have you ever seen the sight where a Nama Cow capsizes a car? It is .in awful sight. Many a time the animal goes �ACCIDEXTS ON OUR ROADS 4 1 unhurt. The'mischief or damage which the horns of that devil can do is shocking. Something should be done about these careless and carefree Hausa chaps who tend these cows. By all means these cows should not share the same road with man. Many a tinle one runs away from the fold and constitutes a danger to lives, especially children. Many people have run against a vehicle in an attempt to run away from the animals. It is like flying from the frying pan into the fire. Sheep can be such a menace too. But been sheep they remain and act like sheep. People should keep their sheep at home. Recently I had the misfortune to to wrestle with one while I was riding. I had reached the ground before I realised what had happened. To continue with my suggestions to limit the number of accidents on our roads, I suggest that taxi and lorry drivers should no more be fined in courts for reckless driving but imprisoned at least for upwards of three months, and with hard labour. In addition their licences should be withdrawn. They might become sober thereafter. Strict measures should be taken by our governments to chcck this newest threat to human life in Nigeria today. The roads should be widened and tarred too. Control posts should be established at every fifteen miles distance. I mean leaving police men on duty at these posts to check the speed of the lorries that pass. We are to face facts if we are to exist as an independent people. Threats to human life and property cannot do. We must eschew such impression that our lives are so unsafe on our roads. 'There is also the menace of tipper lorries that b carry sand. To this group can : added those foolish people who carry planks or wood acrcss roads without l~okingboth ways. �42 COCKTAIL LAblES In the passing, let me call attention to another way of checking accidents. Mothers should take care of their children and warn them from playing, walking, singing and dancing on the roads. 'I'hz worst practice of these kids nowadays is to stand at the side of the roads and throw stones at passing cars. Sometimes they gibber and mimic thedrivers of passing cars. School teachers can help too. Pastors can even use the pulpit to sound notes of warning. We have to help ourselves. The police cannot do all things for us. All possible avenues should be' explored to lower the rate of mortality on our roads. As for old people who find the main roads the best place to discuss their personal problems, I have no sympathy. Personally, I should suggest a little lowering of speed by drivers and then a registering of sound strokes of the cane and then push along. Old pcople shoud know better. . It was one of such foolish men that cost the llfe of a .Nigerian Barrister at Ogbaku, in Owerri Division. Some people may frown at this suggestion but we can't continue to suffer because of stupid people who turn the main roads into picnic grounds. There are sitll other road users I want to address. They are the gentlemen cyclists and pedestrians. Pedestrians shoukd keep to their paths, look both ways before crossing roads whether in big towns or in rural areas. Cyclists should not claim to be out-laws because they have no cars. All of us can't ride cars no matter our individual ambitions. As for the "1 can drive myself", 1 suggest that they continue to show good examples. They s h o u 1d give lifts liberally but not with any ulterior i.lotives as is the case with most of them when they see ladies. As a matter or fact our private car owner-drivers appear to give more lifts to girls, ladies afid women t.han to their fellow men. �Funny enough, 1 have not seen an owner-driven car (a woman) give a lift to a man. Why? Finally, I believe that the best.. suggestion is to appeal to our sense o f fellow-feeling, .respect and love. Afterwards, all of us are capable of death. Let us therefore be honest, fellow-feeling and respectful to one another. O r independence can mean more u that way. �V E ARE VERY SUPERSTI'IIOUS V INthis series of talks, attempts have been made to spotlight existing shortcomings in our community. The target has not been any partict?ly individual nor a group or class of people, but the society in which we live. The series are given in good faith, in the spirit of "if the cap fits you, then wear it". I make this explanatory note because many of us listen but do not hear; read but do not uilderstand. Some of us talk of decency when we don't even understand the true connotation of that word. Many a time, many of us rush to destructive criticisms because our sex or relations are concerned. We therefore fail to consider the matter at issue with unbiased minds. In the end, we succeed to make big fools of ourselves because truth, no matter how many times frowned upon, will 'nevertheless remain truth. Why therefore complain? The facts around us must be faced no matter how bitter or disagreeable to some people. If we fail to face these facts, we shall be deceiving ourselves. But time for deceit is past. We are now faced with the responsibility of nation building. How can we do that in the spirit of hypocrisy? My series of talks are therefore out to cater for how best to correct and amend those bad ways of living of our society. Today I direct your attention to some superstitious practices in our lives. "Fear is the bogy of the African. Fear causes the African to become superstitious. Fear causes the African to believe in ghosts, in witches, in wizards, in fairies, in evil spirits!! As a �result we live in a state of fear. 'Ti~is, the author of "Renascent Africa" thought made the African petty and small minded. But that was his opinion ~n 1937 and backwards. Whether, t h i s is still his opinion today is another question. Nevertheless, look around you for your own opinion. Evidences still abound. - What is superstition? It is a godless religion or a very devout impiety. To understand what superstition clearly means, a close study of a superstitious person is necessary. The person is always fond of observation. He is very servile in fear, worships God as he likes, giving Him what He asks not, or at times, more than God ever commands. Such a person does not move an inch further in his journey whenever a stump strikes against his left toe. That is a bad omen! ~f he continues his journzy, he will meet with bad luck. And that "bad luck", what is it? Superstition of its own class, no doubt. If he sneezes, he crosses his breast with the sign of the Cross and thinks that some loved one or relation has just remembered him. Already his mind is clicking that way. He listens to all sorts of cries of birds and knows those that mean imminent dreadful events. If his eye-lids begin to shiver continously, then he thinks someone to dear to him will die. Every dream consequently has a significance and he has r e a d y interpretation for all of t h e m. In his own, he believes himself a Joseph of the Old Testament. His life is so ruled by phenomena. A Yogi such as he is, he lives in constant fear of the unknown. Superstition portrays a man i g n o r a n t, timid, gullible, prude and stupid. In Nigeria today, superstition has become in many parts, a canker-worm that is eating far deep into the f a b r i c s of our people's way of life and beliefs. A c e r t a i n bird, �46 COCKTAIL LADIES black throughout, ("fairy bird") that cries at midnight is throught to bc a witch. If a person is sick and an owl cries on top of his housc. then the sick man must die. A boil on the eye-lid is supposed to be a sign of mis~rliness on the part ~f th: suffcrcr. If y o u have a slip w h i l e eating. then y o u r ancestors have required that morscl focd that fe!l off. But we :zIl know "therc is many a siip betweerr the cup and the mouth." Why therefore must oar ancestors interfere? Can they t e so hungry, bcing incorporeal? Ignor.~ncc i:, ihe father of mischief for when people do not know. inischief makers find thenl easy prey. There arz instances of healing by magic. People prefer dark mixtures and incantations to hospital treatment. There are still cases of dctermining truth by drinking from "a certain bowl". Caszs of "juju mei!accP arc still frequent. Nowadays they even reai their ugly heads in courts of law and interfere in the administration of justice. Baren women travel long d i s t a n c c s to drink from "certain waters" in certain dark woods.. These dark waters are capable of giving them children. At least that is their hope. Where that fails, a zertain religion that operates at midnight causes the baren women to be locked up (possibly with certain men members of that religious body) and prayers said for lheir productivity. Even now, in every big township, this religious body operates. The fun is that many educated people are staunch members and they b:lieve they see visions and dream dreams. God help us. That is all wc can say when our. govern~nentshave not thought of the advisability of looking irlto how all these late-conier religious bodies operate. May be that is freedoll1 of worship! are warned In some partsof the lbo-land, not to v~!listlc 3t night. Why? For ofcvil spirits. 1.f rear �WE ARE VERY SUPERSTmOUS 47 Why? For the fear of evil spirits. A snake is never called by its name at night because it will hear. It is rather called a string. If you are bitten by a snake at night you dare not say a snake has bitten you; rather, a string has stung you. If you dare say a snake has bitten you, then you become so ill with the bite that you cannot move an inch before falling down, and perhaps dead. In either case, whether you fall down dead or alive or walk away with the pain of the snake bite, the snake is sure to follow you that night to whereever you go: even if you climb a house-top or fly to the sky if possible. Why does the snake track your trails and dog your heels? Is it a Nemesis? Well, t o get a hair from your head. If it fails to get this hair, it dies. And this is a belief. Believe it or not, it is still some people's ardent belief. If you have not heard of "Ogbanje" (re-incarnation) then know now that there are people who will argue with you throughout a day, convinced that there is "Ogbanje". But what is "Ogbanje"? It is a belief that some wicked children are born; they die and enter their mothers' wombs to be born again, and continue this ever-lasting circle of birth and death. Some believe ihat thunder can be sent from one place to another by human beings to 'commit havoc.. Even "rain-m. kers" are said to have thepower tomake lightningor thunder during the process of rain making. They have only to strike something (perhaps a banana stump) on the face of the "rain-stone ' and the devil goes up to the sky as"Amadiora"-the god of thunder-ready for any mission of mischief. The belief that people change to a leopard or any olhq animal for that niatter is not new. You have Only to deny this belief .n Ib~bio land of Eastern Nigeria and stand your ground, if you cdn? ' �48 COC~CTAIL LADIES' There was indeed a time when this belief CEkpe Awo' or 'Man Lcopard 'Society') was such a menace. Many lives wcrc lost through the. fear of this Society's atroc7ties. But thanks to the Government's timely i n t e r v e n t i o n into that Society's devilish machinations. Superstition includes exorcism, witch-craft; the power of ghosts, spirits and fairies. If a s o u 1 departed begin; to wander in the like~ess a man of or woman by night, tormenting people; then someone must go to his tomb and stop him from coming out again. Some people even go to the length of exhuming the body and burning it. This is to make sure it will not disturb again. 'Yet a spirit has no body nor substance! It can therefore not be burnt. I t is just like taking arms against a ravaging flood; shooting guns at it, nlatcheting it and as a last resort, slapping it with both hands. Of-course the flood flows on and. if care is not taken, it will do worse damage. "Juju doctors", magicians, charmers, exorcists etc. help to promote superstition in our midst. This position has made the ground very fertile for ''rnmeydoublers", "wonder-men", "sevcn-sevens", "once a year" etc. to carry around their wares of cheat and fraud. The trouble is that we are too gullible. How many civil servants today still be:ieve that promotions can't be got without charms? How many students today still believe that examinations can't be passed without charms? Did you not hear recently of a school b o y a t Onitsha whose head was set on fire by a magician. The poor boy simply wanted to pass his examination the easy way. How many christians today still bclicve in 660do" or 'Ogbanje" and gird the waists of their children with supposcd antidotes? You have only to examine so many children, . �What is that small parccLaround their waists, necks or arms? What are those marks on their boZys fcr? Pcrhaps tribal 1r.m ks! Civilization and educaticn 51-ould by now havc endcwcd us with the power to makc thc dark places of our minds bright. Why must we remain so gullible? Why must a certain dye ("Uri") be uscd round the ankles, knees, elbows, necks, etc. to curc us from the attack of measles when we can go to the hospital to be treated? Wc have to fight and wage a lifelong battle against thc hrces of darkness. Anything that turns thc edge of our reason blunts thc surest and most pot:nt of our weapons. Simple psy&ology t( 1 s us 1I1;1.1 most of our stlpers1 tition is a direct resultof our fears. There are many certain events in life which must come to pass. Thes.: changes and events are ice~litoble. It is hopeless to fight against thtm or try lo avert them. Why must libatiiolls be liovrcd, drums tcaten and dances staged only to win a Coo:-ball ' match? Why must certain foot-ball playcrs eliter a stadiun~ with their backs or climb in over thc stadium walls? Why must innocent spectators be searched because they were suspectcri to be "charm-men"? Why nlust a case in court be adjourned bewusc of "'juju's" interference? Why must readers first look up what the stars say i n llic Newsplper? Why ~ u s t cvery death bc ascribcd to witch-cral't, poison or "Ogbanje"? Why do pcoplc still go lo -'juju dortors" for their future determination? Why must effciency not deteiminc pron:otions rather than charms? Why must 'girls nct love boys without the intervention of "pins of love" or low pnwders and mirrors'? Let us think on these things and slop fooling ourselves. Superstition is the biggest weakness of any man. It makes. us look so little, pdty, suspicious and fearful. �50 COCKTAIL LADIES Recently I had an argument with a certain "power." He claimed to know everything. I asked him toconsult his "powers" so that I would win £75,000 in the football pools. He did and said that his "power" showed him all the teams that would play "draw" but forbade him.from using them because they would be discovered in England when his coupon reached there. Poor ignorant man! He has not realised his folly yet. He still believes in his powers..It always needs knowledge and courege when you are faced with some of these obnoxious superstitions. Remember always that superstition, like lawyers' houses, is built on f m l s heads. Are you superstitious? Well, look around yourscll' in self examination. We all or nearly of us all :;\kt fair number of chances in life. Often we,do not know enough to be able to take them. We even some times pass them by, unconscious that they exist at all. But '"opportunity comes only once. If it is not utilised, no amount of superstitions will bring it back. 'Trying to bring back passed chances is like taking arms against the sea and trying to stop it from flowing. But the hand of time writers and passes on. In conclusion, let me draw your attention to possible things that often exaggerate the possibility of truth in superstition. Many people, through melancholy. imagine that they see visions, spirits, ghosts or hear strznge voices. Why mtist a widow not imagine that sl-c saw her beloved husband when she is left all alone in this world of woe and tears? After-words her minds is all wrapped in and consumed with thoughts of the drpnrted loved one. But then can her imagination be i reality? "Between the ideal and the reality lies i t.42 shadow." It is all a shadow and never once a stibstilnce of her loved husband. Some people too. �through some imperfection of sight, see doubles in everything. They are even afraid of their own shadows, Some people, again, through the weakness of their bodys have such imperfect imaginations. Take the case of a drunken man. He sees trees moving and men walking upside down. The world is a merry-goround in his brain. His images are circles for ever going round and round. How can such a man not see devils and swear that they were a legion? Once again, it is his imagination under that unkind treatment of Mr. "Bachus." Superstition however is not peculiar to Africa. It is a world wide malady. It dominated England of Shakespeare's time. This can be seen in some of that immortal's works like the witches in "Macbeth' ghosts in "Hamlet" and "Julius Caeser" and fairies in Mid summer Night's Dream. The Indians are heavily addicted too. They have charms and rings for every thing. Every irregular movement of the elements has a meaning. All phenomena have meanings. America is not even free "D Lawrence" affair and other Red Indians' wrong beliefs are still existing. The Irish had their "leprechons" (fairies). France, Spain, Portugal and Russia are not free. Superstition is inherent in mankind but appears more pronounced in Afrcia. This should not be. The African should not be petty and small minded because of his fear and gullibility. This is 20th Century; an age of science and outer space explorations. This is an age that cuts across aU barriers of superstition. �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Cocktail ladies Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nkwoh, Marius Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Nsukka, Nigeria ; Enugu ; Onitsha : M.U.E. Nkwoh Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Nigerian literature (English) Women Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3299 Description An account of the resource This pamphlet is compiled from broadcasts made by Nkwoh over the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation network. According to the introduction written by V. C. J. Mbah, these broadcasts, a combination of an editorial and a talk show, were deemed fairly controversial. Nkwoh's positions on these issues, however, were considered to be well informed. <br /><br />Each chapter is a separate broadcast and the pamphlet's title comes from the second chapter about "<em>cocktail ladies</em>." This broadcast discusses a group of women known as cocktail ladies, a class that Nkwoh purports to be career women who have abandoned the idea of marriage and live off of sugar daddies and big men. Nkwoh describes them as " human parasites, lazy drones, and good for nothings," (pg.19). Deceived by feminism and the promises of a fleeting beauty,these women "infest" every walk of life they now occupy, (pg.22). Nkwoh points to feminism as the main culprit, for it misleads "cocktail ladies" into thinking that women can and want to do everything that men do, (pg.18). As a result, these women have become "birds of passage or changelings to every big man,"according to the author, (pg.21).&nbsp;<br /><br />In pursuing their "radical" lifestyle, cocktail ladies contract diseases, lose husbands, serious boyfriends and jobs, and fail to play their true and proper role in society as dutiful assistants. Nkwoh explains, "Women are made to help and not to nag, sap or impoverish men. They should not be a burden, nor nuisance, nor articles of commerce. There is still plenty of time for our women to think twice," (pg.24). However, he continues "<em>they should now face the facts around them and consider their life past, now and to come [...] Nobody can ever cheat nature . . . I am advising those of them that are youthful enough and still marriageable to go now and marry,</em>" (pg.26). Other chapters include broadcasts about night marauders, hypocrites "in our midst," road accidents and superstitions. Originally presented in a series of talks called "Facing the facts around us" that were broadcast over the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource [1961] Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/3cfa4757fece0587dc023abab6c977e0.pdf e2b0bbcc0a18bb199fc3dae1afc021ed PDF Text Text BNIBERY AND CORRUPTION I (BANE OF OUR SOCIETY) BY I M#RIUS NKWOH, B A. (English) Nigeria, . (Information Officer] Publicity Division, Ministry of Information, CNUOU--NIOERrA �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION (BANE OF OUR SOCIETY) MARIUS NKWOH, B. A. (English) Nigeria, (Information Officer) Publicity Division, Ministry of Information, �Dedicated to :My Mother. �BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR Cocktail Ladies Talking About Love The Sorrows of Man The Voice of Umuchu Copyright Reserved First Impression 1965. Price 3/- �CONTENTS Chapters Pages Introduction . vii-xi Foreword v-vi . Prcfacc Corruption in the Police Department Corruption in the Railways . 12-28 . . 29-39 40-49 . . . 50-60 . 61-73 Official ~ o r r u ~ t i o n . . Official Corruption Continued . . 74-84 Corrupt Council . . . . . . BL-FL Corruption in Politics . . . . 96-108 Judicial Corruption . 109-1 17 . . . .. . . . 1l t L l 3 l Misccllancous Case of Corruption Conclusion �FOREWORD v Many who feel that they would like to know more about the social cancers that gnaw deep into the fabric of our social system find themselves unable to do so for the simple reason that adequate sources of information are not available. Relevant sources of information on this subject are not as easily available as the source materials for History, Geography, Literature or Law. The obvious reason for this is that the people who perpetrate these evils and know their mechanics, are not the people to cause their impressions and experiences to be recorded for future consultations. A man who desires to achieve posthumous greatness does everything under the sun to accumulate wealth which after his death will be distributed to a host of poor people who will attend his funeral, wearing caps of freedom and bearing evidences of his liberality. It is not for these people to question how the wealth thus distributed was accumulated. Theirs is to enjoy portions of that wealth. One of these social cankerworms is bribery with its twin brother corruption. The author, Mr. Marius Nkwoh, B.A. (Hons) English (Nigeria), has chosen this subject "Bribery and Corruption" as a compendious and imaginative headline under which he puts down his impressions and experiences gathered during a long period of research into the question of bribery and corruption, how they arose and how far they have putrefied our scoial system. What are the legal implications and what are the remedies? All these are described in the lucid language of this prolific writer on contemporary topics. I commend this book to all those who really want to know more of the causes of bribery and corruption, the various forms they could show their ugly heads, �and the methods of fighting against them. No amount of time spent in going through it over and over again could be regarded as time wasted. I congratulate the author for putting his views in prir~tfor public consumption. -F. 0 Zhenach6, Chairman, . Public Service Commission. �INTRODUCTION vii My concern so far in all my attempts at writing has always been to mirrior the social conscience of our age and to reform, where possible, certain ills of our society. I see into and through the conceits, hypocrises, weakness, selfishness and wickedness of mankind and laugh or weep. What can I do? I can't change the course of life were I even a Hercules. But I can comment and tell the truth as I see it; without hyprocrisy, without sentimentality, without any ulterior motive, without malice or bitterness. I have always thought that the business of writers is to commend the virtues as well as to expose the faults of their contemporaries; to confute as well as support a just accusation, to find out real crimes which are sufficiently grave and threatening to the social order and to caution people against same. There are certain social depravities which mankind has suffered through the ages and bribery and corruption are among these. Every Nigerian today agrees that bribery, corruption, injustice, jobbery, nepotism, favouritism, partiality, selfishness and other kindred social evils are wrong. Every Nigerian denounces these. evils publicly, in the Press, over the Radio, on the Altar, at the Pulpit and on a political soap-box. And we do this with the vehemence of the strongest terms! But does experience not show us that all these public denunciations effect little, if anything at all? How can we condemn these evils in the daylight when so many of us are arch-givers or receivers of bribes in the secret of darkness? Are we really sincere and do we really mean what we say? In many walks of life today, bribery and corruption are the order of the day. They are now accepted as a way of life at various levels. Service at times becomes self-centred. To get a job in many departments, it is �viii neither what one is nor one's fitness for the job that counts. It is rather the weight of one's enveloped purse that matters. One can be anything, yet one will get the job provided one knows the back-door. Those who can't pay, get nothing or if they get anything at all it is the worst that can be offered. I t is no wonder therefore that when one gets a job, one is not sufficiently interested in what one does but in what one earns. And this is why the generality of the public. meets with such inefficiency, incompetence and indifference in many offices and departments which are maintained with public money. What is'bribery? I t is the offering or acceptance of any undue value reward to do ro refrain from doing anything contrary to the values of honesty and integrity. Originally it meant alms, especially those given to beggars. Later on it meant living upon alms or professional begging and hence theft, plunder, spoil, which later on changed to blackmail. Bribery therefore means a gift received or given for corrupt purposes or a thing stolen or robbed. It is a reward given to pervert good judgment and by so doing corrupt the conduct of a person in a position of trust, for instance, an official or a voter. Bribery is always an undue reward for anything against justice. It is one of those unjust ways of taking another's property. I t is taking money or money equivalent from a man in order to do a service which we should do without remuneration from such individual. Gifts are sweet things and are capable of melting the hardest of hearts. Bribery and corruption are therefore sweet things to some people. But their effort does not endure. The cost of things may never bother us when another person is paying; yet the desire for many more beautiful and valuable things will continue. Who will �always pay for these desires for us? If there are no people to pay, of course the answer is that we shall have to steal such' things. And if we are caught, of course we will be tried and imprisoned. This is exactly the case with bribery and corruption. The indulgence is sweet; but one day is one day. The briber or the bribed will be caught, tried and imprisoned. We should therefore avoid these social evils and help raise the moral tone of our Nation. Bribery and corruption are things of the heart. One can avoid them by determination and selfwill. In this Republic* era, Nigeria needs youths who will rise above bribery, corruption, nepotism, favouritism,. jobbery, injustice, etc. Until each and everyone of us 1s determined to discipline ourselves and avoid these ills, all preaching and condemnation of bribery is sheer hypocrisy. And we need not deceive ourselves any more. Think how often you have seen the Police collecting two shillings from lony drivers! Think of the many times you have been refused promotion because you have not seen the "Oga"! Think of some allocation of land, some contract awards, some scholarship awards, some loading and offloading of goods in the Railway! Some Rigistry clerks of our Magistrate and High Courts are not too honest in the performance of their duties. There are thousand and one corrupt persons in this country, big and small, politicians or civil servants. Let's resolve now for a change of heart so as to fight this monster that is called bribery. That's the only way to avoid it. The fault of modem life is that sometimes thereis no honesty or sincerity in the things we do. We seldom love our work for work's sake:It is 'government work.' We perform it solely for what we can get out of it. 'Gwemment money is nobody's money.' The body is �our chief care. We make much o it; feed and pamper f it. We guard it from such little things as pinpriks. We flatter ourselves that all is well or must be well. Why not? We have plenty of money, (never mind how we got that money) plenty of nice robes, a chain of cars, buildings, fine girls (whether wives, friends or concubines) and the best that life can offer. But all these do not last because at times our honour has been rooted on dishonour and our wealth built on extractions from poor people. Even the dear body we caress so much is but clay and like its kind will surely split and crumble. And this is but Nature's way. Bribery and corruption are now a way of life. Should this be the case? Honesty is no more necessary for the effective performance of any task or achievement. We have cleverly discovered a short cut to richness - 'getrich-quick philosophy.' Honesty is no more necessary for any effective functioning of our moral selves. Even our body has been a thousand times prostituted to win certain ends. Some women cannot deny this because to some of them 'fair or foul is the strategm.' Honesty is no more necessary if we are to have and maintain pleasant relations with others. How can we when everybody suspects everybody? And this is the life we live today. The world is a slave to' gold. And the glitter of it has fooled people for long! I have been anxious, silent, pensive and sedentary. My days have been hours of care and my nights those of deep watchfulness. The things I see today! You too, I believe, see them. Our society is sick. Think of the crimes (highway robbery, murder, etc.) I hear of nowadays; the immoralities that have now become the fashion ('topless' fashion is even not my concern); the threat to human life and property by night marauders; bribery and corruption, nepotism and favouritism; un- �employment and dissatisfaction at every comer; uprisings and revolts throughout the world; assassinations and cold wars; tribal discriminations and hatred, political victimization, persecution and prosecution; the atrocities of thugs or what is now popularly called 'political stalwarts!' Where do we go from here? It is because of these ills of our society (and indeed the world's) that I choose 'Bribery and Corruption' as the province of my present investigation and discussion. I am not doing anything new. I am not even saying anything new. Many have written and spoken upon this subject. But I want to approach this topic from quite a different angle - how bribery and corruption really operate at different levels and places of our society. My investigation is conducted from place to place and not merely hearing reports and then rushing to make undue conclusions or generalizations. No, I will give in this book the exact descriptions of this public disease which is eating deep into our body system. And I implore all good citizens of this great Republic to raise their voices against this social disgrace. -M. U.E. NKWOH. �PREFACE PUBLIC OUT-CRY AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION Dr. Zik in his Renascent Africa (p. 165) has this to say:- 'As in the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, so too in the Gold Coast (now Ghana). Some leaders perch on alters defied with the stench of conuption, chicanery, egocentrism, tribal prejudice, cowardice, get-rich-quick philosophy.' Later on in the same book, he bitterly pointed out the sins of the blackman to the blackman. Said he:- 'The blackman is small-minded. He is petty. He is spiteful. He sees no good in the work of other blackmen. All he wants is for self, for family, for relatives, for immediate friends and for those who accept crumbs from him. Go to the public officers and you will see the blackman there. He damns; he curses; he swears, he orders; he threatens. - Go to the law making chambers and you will see him there. He will not co-operate. His task is to blacken the character of others and to paint them in sombre colours for his selfish delectation. Go to the make-believe homes of 'society folks' (do you call them contractors?). You will see the blackman there trying to live as a lord in a manor. Debts upon debts are piled upon his head. His very home is mortgaged. He will not scrupple to sacrifice his wife so as to keep with the Joneses.. . ' And Zik has not minced words at all. He understands the blackman, his weaknesses and ills. He has correctly described the type of blackman that is an easy prey to bribery and corruption. We know the truth he has spoken, but we pretend the situation is not as painted. Well, let's listen to another voice crying against the same thing. A certain young man, Mr. Ray 0. Nwaroh has C. �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 13 to say about bribery and corruption, which he described as 'a matter for us all.' According to him "these words are so constantly used that the actual impact on people, if any, seems negligible. They have become such a cancerous growth in the community that some never think of either the repercussion or the harm they do the community at large. Any nation which has a conscience must do anything to eschew bribery in every form. In its totality, bribery cannot be justified, no matter by what name we call it (a tip, freedrink, entertainment or kola.) When many things go wrong now; they are often attributed to the aftermath of colonial administration, but mind, many things were not as bad then as now. Britain for their part, never left any legacy of bribery and corruption take ascendency over achievements and proved endownments? I wonder if this is the new gospel of Independence. "But who is to blame for this moral depredation? Let us examine our consciences. The recent talk by Mr. F. Iheanacho, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, was quite encouraging. He asserted that the public often tries to tempt those in position of trust. Therefore, we are the accusers and the accused. Today an average Nigerian believes that nothing goes for nothing. Any favour granted on merit, even with good intentions, is looked upon with suspicion. Why shouldn't a person have something he should have freely? He too, on the other hand, must feel some compunction if he had it, because the conscience has been morally distorted and socially debased. "The public often looks on the 'police' as the worst offenders in this considered field. But I say no. The clerks at the counters the motor car and cycle licensing �14 PUBLIC OUT-CRY AGAINST 4RIBERY AND CORRUPTION agents, nurses, road overseers, masters, men in the upper sector of the public life are all cited as co-offenders. A school leaver is put in a dilemma; if you do not bibe, you have no job; if you bribe, you break the law of honesty. But to avoid being called unemployed, he reluctantly succumbs to the second alternative. The appointment of the "X-Squad" was welcomed as a release. Why does it operate very inactively? Has it been bribed out? Did the members vie for office3 by bribing themselves? We are back where we were having moved in a vicious circle. Let the Ministers of Social Welfare take note. If this country is genuinely serious about curbing the menace of bribery and corruption, what helps do the different governments give to prospective prosecutors of the victims of this act? "They can't present an attitude of just being ignorant, or to say the least, not being interested in the affairs of the electorate save a t the election time. If the govemments are nonchalant, nobody would risk his personal freedom to organise campaigns and clandestine attacks. Let the government come to the help of people prepared to waylay bribe givers and receivers. By this means, the country will be cleansed of the leprosy of bribery to which it has been subjected and by which it has been menaced. "We must need imitate what is good no matter from what country it comes. Let us look round and see how the salaries of the Ministers in other countries compare with those of the peasants there. Is the gap so wide as to cause mass dissatisfaction? I am not a professional economist but in my humble opinion, salaries of legislators should be slashed to bring their scale in line with that of people working independently for themselves. Any commission set up in this country will fail in its �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 15 duty if the sky-rocketed.salaries of this mentioned class are not cut, importation of luxury cars banned, allowances reduced, plurality of income from appointment stopped, and rents controlled. These legislators, having given so, much with the right hand to secure a senior post.or a ministerial appointment, so much will be taken back with the left to replenish the gap already created; thus bribery in this country is circuitous. If you cannot bribe your way to promotion,:you must be static and eventually redundant, worse still, if you have nobody to put,in an influential word for you, you suffer the same fate. "Why have'we to raise such a hue and cry against one expatriate who asserted t h a t many Nigerians including Ministers are corrupt? Perhaps, it was the right thing from the wrong mouth. Why also condemn the Editor of the West .African Pilot who also claimed that corruption comes from.the upper segments of the Public? May be, the Editor is talking too much. After all, was the bitter truth not spoken? If there is a preferment by and a lobby to any Minister or Premier, can we not safely describe this act as corruption?. Let us examine the dangers we face when the traffic meri'are such as are mainly concerned with collecting cursed shillings from drivers. (a) Lives of passengers are endangered by over loading; (b) Proper road worthies of vehicles is never insisted upon. "Imagine the optional and forced contributions these vehicle owners' make. But we must pity poor drivers who are not prepared to corrupt, but to avoid waste of time, they are corrupted to corrupt. "It may be useless to launch the Six-Year Development Plan when the economy so raised will slip into the pockets of Machiavellis. The peasants feed the cow and they milk it. Let us first launch Six Years of Anti �16 PUBLIC OUT-CRY AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION Bribery Campaign. If the governments of the Federation are worth their salt, severe and effective laws must be enacted for curbing the menace of this plague. I will suggest right away - punishing the offender by the Firing Squad. Why can't Ministers, who by long service have out-lived their useflness, be changed? Why can't a Premier be removed, having lost the confidence of his colleagues? Why offer them bribe to. retain office? If I were such a Premier, I must resign having lost their confidence. "The concept of bribery is deeply implanted in the minds of the peasants by legislators who spend every available penny to go in to share the poor taxpayers' money, ride four cars, live in overplus luxuried houses. Peasants have their weapons, history has proved it. Imagine a candidate spending £3000 for an election! He must recoup himself of his losses as soon as he succeeds. I wonder if Parliament is the way to make money anyhow. 'If the Scholarship Boards at the Regional and Federal and Council levels offer awards to the highest bidder and not to the best qualified, we shall be guilty of dishonesty. Scholarship and appointments are said in most cases to be offered or distributed before applications are invited. Why this back door business? Unless a man is recognised for his worth and achievements and unless only the best is regarded as good enough for this country, the nation is corrupt and has no conscience. Concluding therefore, those who may be touched by my article, I impore their grace of pardon and ask them to join me as vanguards in this crusade, but for those who think that nothing can be done without bribe, can the nation rightly call them HONEST PATRIOTS" �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 14 Mr. Nkwaroh is but one of the voices crying in the wilderness, praying for the reform of our society. But there are still many more; people in high places and Iheanacho, Chairwith bigger responsibilities. Mr. F. 0. man of the Eastern Nigeria Public Service Commission, has also joined these many voices crying against bribery and corruption. Below is a text of a lecture he gave sometime on the topic. Said he:- "Bribery and Corruption are so evident all around us today that to those who would like to see these evils chased away from aU ramifications of our national life the opportunity to discuss ways and means of doing so is one to be hailed with the greatest enthusiasm. "I propose to discuss this subject not with any air of sanctimoniousness, or any intention of pointing an accusing finger at any or all of you. The problem of bribery and corruption is, I think, the first problem of our national well-being today. After the great battle of independence which raged and went by but only yesterday, the most serious hreat to our nationhood and independence today comes, but from bribery and cor~ p t i o n .It behooves all of us, therefore, Christian and non-Christian alike, to ponder the problem of combating these evils in all the spheres of our public and private lives. "The occasion of this meeting offers us the opportunity of pondering the problem and in that spirit I should like us to consider the subject. In order to be certain that we are thinking about the same subject, I think our first step in this discussion is to seek clarity on precisely what we have in mind when we speak of bribery and corruption. I do not think this is a difficult first step. There are several dictionary meanings of these terms, but a careful analysis will show that the differences �18 PUBLIC OUT-CRY AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION are only apparent and a matter of word usage. Fundamentally, there is general agreement as to what the terns cannote. "Bribery in ordinary usage is the offering of gifts in money or in kind with a view to procuring action, legal or illegal, in favour of the giver. It includes the soliciting of gifts as a condition or reward for performing one's duties. Thus it is at law a crime not only to offer but to receive bribes, and both the giver and the receiver of bribes are equally culpable before the Law. "Bribery is not only an offence constituted by law; it is also a grave social evil which strikes at the root of social cochesion. Its social consequences will indeed form the major part of this address but before we delve into that, let us consider the other term, corruption. Corruption in public life involves a state of moral deterioration. In such a state, those placed in authority are willing to sell their honest judgment for illegitimate g'i. They perform or are made to perform their public duties in disregard of the rules of public conduct laid down for the performances of those duties, and in response to the undue influence of the bribe giver or favour evidence of the promise or transfer of money or other gifts between the office holder and the person or persons excerting influence of him. "When a man of high rank and status aproaches a lowly public official and induces him to give employment to his brother, sister, relative, friend, or other connection of his in defiance of the rules of procedures for staff recruitment, and as a favour against the claims of other candidates, such a man corrupts the public official although he may not have offered the official any material gift. The corruption in this case does not lie in the �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 19 promise or offer of any gift but in the undue influence which the man is able to exert by the mere fact of his elevated station which places the official under severe duress and inclines him more readily to oblige the man against his honest judgment than to incur the man's displeasure. "This goes for all of us, high and low. No matter what our position may be, whenever we bye-pass the rules laid down and seek to obtain treatment for ourselves, our blood relations or our friends, we are guilty of corrupting the official whom we induce to confer such favours on us. I t is otherwise when a man in such a position makes such approaches as a means of by-passing some corrupt surbordinate officers who will not like to unless they have been given something beforehand. I push forward applications to the Heads of Department personally make such approaches when it comes to my notice that a suitably qualified applicant has been asked to pay some money before getting a job. The pity of it is that these applicants usually refuse to disclose the name of the officer who makes such a demand for fear of what might happen to them later. "Corruption in the public life of any country may be obvious or concealed. In the former case, it is easy to combat and the law usually does not fail to catch up with it. In the latter case, however, it poses a difficult and well-nigh insoluble problem. Everybody knows it exists and most people feel its pernicious impact, but no one can pin it down or I prescribe for its effective cure. You will come across it in every conceivable aspect of a person's national life. You will find it in the public official who is weak-kneed and without character and who on account of these failings is willing and ready to respond favourably to the blandishments of those �2 0 PUBLIC OUT-CRY AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION who seek to purchase his judgment. You will find it in politics in the practice, now common in many countries, of converting public money into party funds by clever and devious procedures; in corrupt practices at elections; in the demand by men and women in the villages for monetary or other reward for going to the poll to vote for candidates for parliamentary seats; in the consequent and all too easy propensity of many a politician in high office to trade on his public position. "This last manifests itself in many forms, including a good deal of ostensibly innocent goodwill presents and favoured consideration at the hands of local and foreign nationals and companies. You will find it in the contractor who buys his way to the away of a Govenunent contract and purchases the conscience of the Inspector of Works to the extent that they are no longer able to detect any fault in his manner of execution of his contract, even when he supplied saw-dust for cement. You will find it in the teacher who either sells examination papers to candidates or juggles with the marks awarded to candidates in such a manner as to reflect not the actual performance of the candidates, but the order of merit which conduces most to his personal whims add caprices or satisfies with wishes of those who seek favoured treatment for themselves or for their relations and friends. "You will come across it in the Judicial Officer who will either not give jugment at all or will give unfair judgment if he is not paid handsomely by one or other of the parties to the case. You will find it in the lawyer who knowing fully that his client's case is hopeless, collects exorbitant or even moderate fees from him on the false assurance that the case will be won with ease, although all he intends to do is to put in apprearance �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 21 in court in order to earn his fees. You will find it in the doctor who trades on the fortunes of rich patients by subjecting them to prolonged treatment for imaginary ailments diagnosed by him from no other motive than that of creating an opportunity of collecting excessive fees from the patients. You will find it also in the doctor who being a public official will not give patients proper and honest professional attention in hospital, but will prefer that they report to him at his home where he can charge them heavy fees to his heart's content. You will find it in the businessman or trader who engages in the adultration of his ware or supplies to customers articles which he knows to be inferior to what he makes them believe they are paying their money for. "There is no need to go on with this catalogue of corruption in various aspects of national life. Whenever a person either of his own volition or under pressure does that which is not in strict conformity with the rules for discharging the responsibilities of his position, there you are likely to have corruption in all its notirety. "I have dwelt longer on corruption than on bribery, because it is the wider of the two terms. This is not, however, to say that bribery is a lesser evil, because it is not. From what has been said it will be obvious that bribery and corruption are twin evils and for all practical purposes synonymous terms, carrying the same weighty and disastrous consequences for every nation as for every individual. "Although they are widely condemned throughout the world they tend to retain surprising vitality in the social life of most countries of the world. Indeed there are some who would l i e to see these evils openly recognised as respecctable methods of doing public business. For- �22 PUBLIC OUTCRY AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTON - tunately these are a microscopic minority the greater generality of mankind heartily condemns bribery and corruption as social evils, and rightly so. To understand the attitude of this majority, let us consider what the position would be in a state ridden with bribery and corruption, or in a state in which bribery and corruption are openly accepted as a way of life. "Because bribery 'and corruption reign' supreme in such a state no citizen can hope to obtain the usual, services which government owes him until he has paid for such services at every point of control by the public officials. The derk in the post office will not sell a stamp or money order or postal order to the members of the public, or deliver their mails to them until he has received sufficient reward from every customer who i . il wishes to be served by hm The clerk in the office wl refuse to file the petitions received at his office or will fail to bring them up to his superior officers who will deal with them until the petitioners have sufficiently oiled his palm. "The policeman on beat duty will conveniently go to sleep and let burglars have the run of the banks, of the government safes and offices, and of the houses of rich and poor citizens, unless the owners of these are prepared to pay through the nose for his vigilance. He will even close his eyes.to open acts of murder, arson and other felonious deeds and may glandly lend the weight of his evidence in court to prove that the murderer or the incendiary is innocent of the crime, depending on which party is able to pay handsomely for his testimony. "The members of the Public Tenders Board will extdrt so much money from the contractors that to win a government contract will sooner or later come to be re- �BRIBERY AND C O R R U P ~ O N 23 garded as a fatuous plunge into the precipice of financial ruin. Justice will be sold to the highest bidder by some of the judges in the local tribunal. The far-reaching consequences which will result from this state of affairs are too obvious for comment. But perhaps these are not immediately obvious to some, and for this group we may pause to analyse one or two of the possible consequences. "When justice is put to public auction, we may be certain that the end of the state and of social cohesion is in sight. For when you come to think of it, you will iind that the basis of the state and of the society encompassing it is the property rights of the individuals and groups of which the society is composed. The law exists to secure these rights but where justice is sold, only the rich and well-to-do can have the law on their side. Property rights will change hands and will tend to accumulate in the hands of those who have more than to spare and less in the hands of those who have little to spare. "Your plot of land, your house, or even your wife and children today may not be yours tomorrow because your covetous neighbour can tomorrow secure these for himself by taking you to court in a trumped-up case and of purchasing the co~science some of the Court Judges who sit over the case. Thus the "haves" will more abundantly and the "have nots" will have less and less until they have nothing. In such a state, the road to social upheavals, to revolutions, coupe detats and civil wars is not a very long one. All this is as it should be in the internal life of the state. "How about'its external relations? We are here concerned with the conduct of those who wield the scepre �24 PUBLIC OUT-CRY AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION of supreme 'authority in the body politic. We are concerned with the political office holders who in virtue of their own position at the apex of the pyramid of authority in the state exercise responsibility for the state's relations with foreign nationals and foreign countries. We are considering the conduct of such politicians and the consequences of their conduct in a stage of legalised bribery and corruption. Their ruling motive in such a state is, of course, the enrichment of their personal and private fortunes by trading on their official positions. "In their bid to amass private wealth, they hold truck with firms reputable and disreputable; they will throw open the doors of their country to all who are able to ~ t i s f ytheir appetite for gain, and they will not be inhabited by any visitations of conscience in selling the dearest interests of their country to those foreigners who are able and willing to enrich their private bank accounts. AU these will be perfectly in order since, ex-hypothesis, the state we are considering is one in which bribery and corruption are legalised. But retribution waits at the door post for both such a state, and the political office holders who indulge in this orgy of acquisitiveness. "When the social fabric has been sufficiently soaked and weakened by the effect of bribery and corruption, the handful of the wealthy who know how to bribe their way to the top find the tide of social upheave1 too strong for weathering. I n the tumult that ensues, the cry of the hungry masses is heard and the wealthy hpresented with the choice of delivering their wealth ?d hkir necks or both together to the masses. "They generally seek aid from their foreign payf maate~cbctwhe story o their end is invaribly the same. it ~ ~ f s f l s c ? p & c ~is usually as captives to their foreign �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 25 protectors and often at the price of their country's independence. I n the long run all will be quiet again, there will be a new redistribution of the social product, and a new alignment of the "haves" and the "have nots." But what a price has been paid for this? "All this is true of our hypothetical state of legaliised corruption. But no one who is alive to what goes on below the surface in most modem states will fail to recognise the close parallel in actual life to these pictures we have painted. Bribery and corruption need not be openly recognised or legalised to produce the consequences we have outlined. Where the attitude of the people to their evils is one of condonement rather than of unequivocal condemnation, the state is tantamount to one ~f legalised bribery and corruption. The consequences to be expected in such a state are neither more nor less than those we have sketched. Corruption in public life is another word for moral decay. "It is the kind of decay which once it sets in goes to the heart of the social fabric and shatters, deprives, and sweeps away the society in which it is permitted to grow. It has been the ruin of nations great and small, of empires which the clanger of steel and the assaults of armies could not subdue, of people now forgotten but once dominant and triuphant. Is it any wonder that from the first time man trod this earth and learnt to live in amity and fellowship with the members of his species, bribery and corruption have been condemned as social evils? Those who would condone these evils today do not stop to ponder their grave social effocts. If they did they would have no difficulty in seeing the urgency of the need to eradicate them from human society. "Indeed the major problem of bribery and corruption is not one of being able to see the disintegrating and �26 PUBLIC OUT-CRY AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION grave consequences of these evils. The problem lies in fact that although the greater majority of mankind fully appreciate the evil consequences.of bribery and corrup tion, the temptation to employ them as a method of securing personal advantage is almost always irresistable and not always sufficiently resisted by me. "What is the explanation of this state of affairs? It is simply that under the pressure of immediate necessity most of us are often prepared to sacrifice our long-term interests to our immediate advantage. But if we are not too far-sighted to recognise the self-defeating nature of our advantage, our consciences will sooner take up arms against bribery and corruption than use them as a weapon for fighting the battle of life. "As Christians, what attitude should we adopt to bribery and corruption? We have seen that these are evils which have a disintegrating effect on society because they involve the deprivation of the rights of honest and poor citizens by the wealthy. This is the exact antithesis of the golden rule, "Love thy neighbour as thyself." For whoever loves his neighbour will not wish to take his property or right from him. The attitude of all Christians should therefore be one of emphatic condemnation of bribery and corruption in every shape or form. To offer or take bribes or to condone the offering or taking of bribes is to be less than a Christian. Whoever practises these twin evils cannot claim to be a true Christian. "Is all this an altogether abstract discussion of bribery and corruption, unrelated to what goes on around us in this country? This is no place to wash our dirty linen in the public and I do not propose to use this occasion as an opportunity to proclaim to the world that our �BRIBERY AND C O R R U P T I ~ 27 public life is more ridden with bribery and corruption than that of other countries. "On balance it is probably true that we are neither better nor worse than other countries in this matter. Yet the admission must be made that the canker-worn of bribery and corruption does take its toll of our private and public life to an extent that must be alarming to those who love Nigeria. An all-out war on these evils is urgently needed to stamp them out. That war, if it is to succeed, must be fought in the hearts of the people of this country. The battle is not one to be fought by inserting a few neatly turned legal phrases in the State Book outlawing bribery and corruption. It cannot be won by smelling out and penalising one or two offenders whose distinguishing offence is not that they offered or received bribes but that after offering or receiving bribes they were too unlucky to escape detection. The battle will be won only when there is a change in the attitude of the entire people or of an overwhelming majority of the people, making briberly and corruption not only boo words but also practices that can be indulged in only at the serious risk of social ostracism. So long as we persist in the attitude which supports or condones the use of bribery when our personal interests are concerned and condemns it only when others use it, so long will bribery and corruption persist. "Next to a change of heart in society is a change of outlook and attitude in the individual. The one and only injunction given the individual was, and always has been, "eschew bribery and corrupt methods." This is an prescription and one which is gladly accepted and light-heartedly rejected. �' 28 PUBLIC OUT-CRY AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION "With Nigeria now an independent country matched against the normal excellencies of other countries, now is the time to take a firm and irrevocable stand against bribery and corruption. These evils once revaged most of the present day advanced countries of the world, including Britain, the United States of America, France, Germany, Russia and a host of others. But most of these can stand akimbo today and face debates on bribery and corruption with an almost sanctimonious, betterthan-thou smile on their faces. If they have been able to fight these evils to a halt in their society, we too can do the same in this country. "It is said that the battle of freedom is fought not in the history of a nation but in the hearts of its free people. Freedom from the evil effects of bribery and corruption offers us the challenge of the most gruelling battle after that of independence which we have just won. This battle must be fought not only in the law court but in the hearts of our people. I t will be won the day we reach the decision in our individual and collective minds that bribery and cor'ruption are evils, and resolve in our hearts to sets our faces against them." Many more people have spoken or written on Bribery and Corruption. I t is not possible to make extracts from all these and incorporate into this analysis of the evil. Suffice it to say that everybody who has spoken or written about this public disease is adding more weight and strength to the force of argument which will surely minimize the practice if not entirely pull down the superstructure of this plague. �CHAPTER ONE CORRUPTION IN T H E POLICE DEPARTMENT "Any person, who being employed in the public service, receives any property or benefit of any kind for himself, on the understanding, express or implied, that he shall favour the person giving the property or conferring the benefit, or any one in whom that person is interested, in any transaction then pending, or likely to take place, between the person giving the property or conferring the, benefit, or any one in whom he is interested, and any person employed in the public service, is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment." Every society has its own ills; those cankerworms that fastly eat down the fabric of a community. Bribery and corruption are among these. Here in Nigeria, bribery and corruption are almost synonymous with the Police. Everybody believes the police are the greatest offenders in this respect. I shall however show that while some members of the Police Force are corrupt, they are nevertheless the worst offenders. Proverty, greediness or what may be described as economic and social imbalance have been the major causes of bribery in some societies. Added to these are low salaries, ignorance, prejudice, lust for offices, lack of moral conscience, feeling of insecurity resulting from poor or no education. In the Police Force, bribery and corruption are practised during recruitment, in the Investigation Branch, Traffic Branch, Water Police section, Immigration section and Township and Wayside police stations. �30 CORRUPTTON IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT The initial stage of selecting a police man requires no corruption because physical requirements have to be fulfilled; e.g. the chest must measure 36 inches and height not less than five feet six inches. What happens is that the selecting officer sees a man physically all right and asks him oral questions. From how the candidate answers these oral question shows the officer how intelligent or otherwise the constable-to-be is. The selecting officer then repeats this process with a number of possible candidates and having decided who are the clever ones, calls them together, collectively or individually, and tells them that the big man would like to see them. This seeing of the big man ('Oga') is in fact an understood from each affair. The big man wants £2&£30 and every one of the possibles and it is the selecting officer who is the middleman. The big man's share may eventually turn out to be £10 for every possible candidate whiie the rest goes down the pockets of the selecting officer. The possible constables-to-be however pay this required amount and then are permitted to sit for the written examination with oher qualified candidates but who did not pay anything. This is really the first stage of the corruption. After the examination, of course all those who paid will pass with distinctions and the list of passes ostensibly published. It may be that only five people are required and only those who paid of course turn out to be the five. They are asked to prepare to go to the Ikeja Police Training School for the real training to become police constables. These people are therefore going as corrupted persons who believe that everything in the Polic Force depends on corruption. One has only to pay through one's way. Naturally as soon as they come out of the training, they want to recover all the money they spent before entering and �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 31 to add some profits into the bargain. This is why many of them (Recruits) go to Prison immediately they are out of Ikeja Training School. In big stations (townships) these recruits will not be posted on beat duty as is required of them at least for a year so as to get themselves acclimatised to their localities and environments. What normally happens is that having known the game, they canvas for lucrative sections of the Force; e.g. the Investigation Branch or the Traffic Duties. The person in the 'I' Branch (Investigation Branch) is not naturally corrupt. What happens is that circumstances corrupt him. A complainant, for instance, may want a certain person who has offended him (seriously or trifflingly) to be arrested. To get a policeman to satisfy his pet desire, he tips the constable and the police man proceeds immediately to justify that gift of money. After the arrest, the complianant may desire to pursue the case further by offering the policeman more money to lock up his offender in the cell or to register a stupefying slap on his cheeks before his wife, children or girl-friend. The idea is to show the offender that the complainant is a big man. And many big men in our society do this! For all these obligations, the constable is of course thanked handsomely. You can see now that money is offered to and taken by constables for diverse reasons. Sometimes policemen threaten to arrest and charge people to Court purely or civil matters. This often happens in Rural Areas where people are very ignorant. There the policemen are 'terror' and what the natives do is to collect money and offer to them so as to avert taking them to Court. And the amount is always a handsome one. �32 CORRUPTION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT How do you know corrupt constables? Go to their houses or to their bankers or Post Office Savings Account. The furniture in their homes are all out of proportion to their slender earnings. Some of them have many landed property while others have a fleet of taxi cabs or lorries bearing names not their own. Alternatively, go to the Hotels and see how some Policemen (in plain dress) consume endless bottles of beer which wash down the sweet morsels of roasted chickens. And to round up, they branch off to their 'lodger-customers.' Do you blame them? Money is intoxicating and pushes those who have it to diverse directions. The Traffic Duties are the most lucrative side of the Police Force. A constable has only to be in this section for a year and then "commands thousands of pounds." Don't tell me "Traffic is no more lucrative." It is even more today. Many a time a passenger is travelling in a lorry which is stopped at certain points by Traffic Policemen. What did he see? The next he noticed was a little 'hush-hush' busines! He understood and money (the normal toll tax) passed from one hand to another and the vehicle passed as all right, despite the overloading and leaking tyres. This toll tax could be 21- to 51- or £1 to £5 as the case may be. Much depends on how serious or otherwise the offence is. Sometimes a passenger wonders why the driver of his lorry should pay anything at all even when the vehicle has complied with all the t r d c regulations - no overloading, the driving and vehicle licences being all up-to-day. Well, let me tell you why wise drivers always provide for a future rainy day and pay the normal toll tax (bribe) to the Traffic Police, even when their lorries are brand new. In every vehicle, no matter how new, �there are at least two traffic'6ffences if properly checked. As a matter of fact there are at least fifty traffic offences,, twenty-three of them for vehicles, 'seven for oninibuses or buses and the others for other 'types of vehicles. Let me give some of these.offences below:- ' Vehicle Offences Permitting a vehicle to be driven without-identification number (Dealer's Number in, front .and behind. Permitting a.vehicle to be drive without a vehicle 1 ' lcence. Failiig to give notice of chaxige of owneiship. Failing to provide proper sitting.accomodation. Permitting a vehicle to'be driven without efficient brake. Driving after sunset without the headlight. Sleeping whiie in charge' of a vehicle.. . Drunk while in charge of a vehicle. Failing to stop on demand by a Police Officer i n uniform. Failing to'stop aft& an accident. Driving recklessly or negligently. . Driving furiously to the terror of the public. Refusing to give name and address. Givinc false information. ~ o a d G g an insedure manner. in Overloading: Sitting on the tailboard. Distracting the attention of the driver. Causing discomfort tb uasserigers. 20. Failhito wear condukor's bidge: 21. Failing toexhibit tab1es':of fare. �COilRUPTION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT Selling goods or printed matter inside buses Damaging any part of the omnibus. Spitting on any part of the omnibus. Refusing to pay fare. Sinokiig in an omnibus where a notice prohibiting it is pested. Causing discomfort to other passcngen'; e.g. vomitting. There are many more traffic offences. Supposing a car is running on an untamed road during the rainy season and collects some quantity of mud which obscures the plate number; this car has already committed an offence. Although the offence is not intentional yet that's the law. To avert such trouble, the driver gives money to the Traffic Police. Somebody inside a bus may spit out from the window unknown to the driver. But this is an offence whether done inside (on the floor) or outside (through the window). The offence is not against the person who spat nor the owner of the lorry but against f the driver, even though he does not know o the incident. To avert such trouble, of course the driver tips the Police. Selling newspapers, printed matter or goods in a bus is an offence. Smoking is prohibited. Causing discomfort to passengers e.g. vomitting or adulterating the air is an offence. So many other offences compel the driver to give bribe to the Police so as to avert prosecution. There are, as I said earlier, over fifty traffic offences found in every vehicle. A driver finds it convenient to give 2/- to 5/- or any amount asked of him. It is more convenient for h i that way and the reason is simple. Failing to 'wntribute' or pay 2/- to 5/- or more when �BRIBERY AND GORRUPnON 35 demanded of him means wasting days at the Police Station and finally going to Court. But these days are of immense value to every driver and if eventually he is charged to court, he wastes more days there too. There are many adjournments to be faced. There are lawyers to be briefed and money goes in each case. This waste of time and money will teach the driver a lesson to pay up his dues on demand the next time he is stopped by a Traffic Police man. The Court might have fined him upwards of £20 to £30 when he could have paid only 21- to 51- to have averted this waste. This is a police man's logic for receiving bribe and drivers see the reasonableness. What is to be done? The police is as corrupt as the drivers who give him bribe. Why does a particular constable remain in the Traffic duties all his years in the Police Force or at least for the greater part of his stay there? Why does a particular constable stay a year or two in the Traffic duties and change to General duties only to return to Traffic again? Is it because he controls traffic more than any other constable? No. I t is because he can give out a huge part of his booty to his senior officer who is responsible for posting. And despite this huge part of his daily collections which is paid to his senior officer, the Traffic Policeman still has enough to spare. Even his immediate Sergeant can. get a share! A police man on 'beat duty' has no £50 to £100 to give to his senior officer after his normal eight hours shift simply to be posted to the Traffic Section. He will therefore remain in General Duties until he can pay through his way. This situation even induces him to demand and receive bribes so that he can bribe his senior officer whose duty is to post h i to the Traffic Section. Sometimes the senior officer likes to change the �36 CORRUPTION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT duties of some Traffic policemen and revert them to General Duties because some of them are not paying up their dues regularly. The officer wants obedient constables who will pay up regularly. He may have unfinished buildings at home. He may be contemplating to buy a transport lorry or plots of land. But he may have no This is the normal "hush-hush" business while checking transport lorries on the road. Is the Traffic Police Officer in front of the lorry checking or standing attention? This at the back of the s lorry, i he examining the soil or picking u p something? constables with sufficient money ready to pay before they are posted on Traffic Duties. Here "a bird in hand is worth two in the bush." And so the old ones are called and warned that they are not paying up handsomely and regularly. They are however allowed to continue �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 37 in their Traffic Duties and to bringback proceeds handsomely, to the tune of £50 to £100 a month. And so the trouble continues and bribery and corruption become a way of life. The Water Police are charged with the responsibility to look after goods in ships. Part' of their qualification is that "you must be a swimmer." But not all of them are swimmers. Anybody from the Ship is to be questioned by the Water Police. Oftentimes this questioning takes the shape of a fiftylfifty business or failing which an arrest is ostensibly made. Anybody who is familiar with the activities of some members of the 'Waterguard' and 'smugglers' know what I am talking about. Supposing a person from a ship has 40 costly watches. An understanding can be reached where the Police on duty has 20 and the person 20. This is why Water Police men wear very costly watches, some costing as high as £50. There are also gold, diamond, jewelries etc. These are contraband goods which nevertheless find their ways, in good quantities, into our society. How did they manage? And there is the strong drink (brandy, whisky, etc) palaver. These can be found in many homes. How did they manage to reach so many homes in such quantities? Simply this: Some members of the Water Police are very corrupt. Nothing more. An Immigration Officer is expected to check credentials, whether they are genuine or not. If genuine, few pounds are added to the passport forms to speed up action. If ungenuine, many more pounds are added and of course, you obtain your passport or visa all the same. So many custom officers are like these and there is always an understanding with policemen on duty. �38 CORRUPTION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT Some constables are eternally posted to wayside stations or rural sub-stations. They are never posted to the township stations. Not that it is difficult to transfer them to the big stations in the towns but because they generally pay, like Traffic policemen, handsomely to remain in their lucrative stations. In this way bribery and corruption are perpetuarted. Bribery is a two edge-sword, for it harms some people and elevates others. For instance, if two people go in for an interview and it happens that one is more qualified than the other, and if the less qualified candidate bribes the officer conducting the interview, he is likely to get the post. Here, bribery does good to mediocres to the deriment of qualifid candidates. Many people have through bribery risen to positions of trust, positions they would not have reached were it not for bribery. Some people have escaped dangers through bribery and thereby live longer than they should. Bribery had saved many people innumerable inconveniences. But though bribery has some merits, shall we because many people have survived through it encourage this social menace? As an elevator, it is also a deterrant to social justice and equity and therefore impedes progress. From time immemorial bribery has caused the downfall of many nations. For instance, if a citizen is bribed to reveal the secrets of his country, the entire nation will be doomed as a result of the bribe which is taken by one of its citizens to achieve his diabolical ends. From this also will result a national disgrace and an ultimate downfall of the country concerned. This is why I think that Policemen, on whom much hope and faith is built, should not disappoint their fellow citizens' expectations. �BRIBBRY AND COBRWnON 39 Theirs is the charge to see that law and order are maintained. Their duty is to protect life and property. They are to see that justice is done. How can they do this if some of their members are so corrupt? Nothing is free in the Police, I am told. To be promoted you have to bribe. To be lucratively posted, you have'to bribe. To be rccruited at all into the Force, you have to bribe. To avoid constant 'Orderly Room,' (the normal Civil Sentice query) you have to bribe and always be a favourite of senior officers. There is 'eyeservice,' 'condo' and allied ways of seeking favour from people on top. There is the 'oga sent me' falsehood to receive money. There is 'your file case is receiving attention' until doomsday. There is 'come to the Charge Office.' There is change of vital statements and clever loss of vital exhibits in a serious case. There is everything that militates against fair play when corrupt policemen want bribe and it is not given. And they make things l difficult. In a l that is good, we implore these officers to help our society by resisting the temptations to ask and receive bribes. �CHAPTER TWO C O R R U P T I O N I N T H E RAILWAYS "Any Person Who:- being an agent corruptly accepts or obtains or agrees to accept or attempts to obtain, from person, any gifts or consideration as an any person, for himself or for any other inducement or reward for doing or for forebearing to do or to be done or forborne to do, any act in relation to his principal's affairs or business, or for showing or forbearing to show favours or favour to any person in relation to his principal's affair or business; or corruptly gives or agrees to give or offers any gift or consideration to any agent as an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do any act in relation to his principal's affairs or business, or for showing or forbearing to show favour or difavour to any person in relation to his principal,'~ affairs or business; or knowingly gives to any agent, or being agent knowingly uses with intent to give his principal any recipt, account or other document in act of which the principal is interested and which contains any statement which is false or erroneous or defective in any material particular, and which, to his knowledge, is intended to mislead his principal; is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for two years or to a fine of five hundred pounds. . ." �(For the purpose of this section the expression "consideration" includes valuable consideration of any kind; the expression "agent" includes any person employed by or acting for another; and the expression "principal" includes any employer). Bribery cuts across our social, economic, political, educational, religious and culturd life. There are many causes of bribery when it is critically surveyed. One of these is sheer poverty. When an officer on a salary of £30 a month spends nearly all or more than his salary, the alternative of course is to find means of getting extra money to balance his budget. This is why some Railway Officers take bribe from traders to load or offload their goods into or from Railway wagons. But besides poverty, another possible cause of bribery among some Railway staff is grediness or an attempt to get rich quick. So many of them are jealous of each other simply because some of them have no buildings, lorries, costly clothes, plots of land, stores or plenty of money which is used to train children in the Colleges or Universities. Because of this, a young man who has just come out from School is employed as Station Staff wants to be a millionere over night. How does he do it? I will tell you. At the "Goodshed," collected money is shared every week-end. The Stationmaster always receives his share even though he does not know how the money is got. His weekly share is sometimes between £30 and £40, depending on how heavy or otherwise the proceeds are. The process is like this. There is what is called "sealing of wagons' for which 2/- is collected from traders for every wagons sealed. The same 2/- is collected for the opening of wagons before goods are offloaded. Even money is paid for the offloading trouble. . �42 CORRUP~ON IN TR& RAILWAYS In the "Booking Office," a passenger's load may weigh about 2 cwts, but the Booking Clerk makes it less, say 2 qrts. The cost of the less weight o course goes to f the Booking Clerk. And then there are train porters to convey goods to the wagons. They are employed by the Railways to carry goods for those passengers entraining. But except you tip them, they may ,well leave your loads behind. The result of course is -that many passengers have travelled without their loads in the train. What happens to these loads left behind is anybody's guess. Loading Clerks at the Goodshed may refuse to load customers' goods, bcause their palms have not been properly greased. 'No room in the wagons' is the usual reply. At the 'Delievery Section,' if customers fail to claim their goods in time, 'storage charged are often collected for the Railways. But if affected persons sufficiently tip the Deliery Clerk, the Railways may get none of these charges again. The same thing happens at the 'Luggage and Parcels Office.' Failure to claim your goods in time means incurring "cloak room charges." But the process is the same and you will not pay the charge if you properly grease the palms of the clerk on duty. The attachment of loaded wagons also requires bribe. Sometimes a customer is lucky to have his wagon loaded. He has paid the correct charge to the Railways; yet unless he tips the shunter, his wagon will be delayed and of course his goods will perish. The same thing happens with Cattle wagons. Shunting of these to the Cattle Shed requires bribe. Hausa people (cattle dealers) are generous and so play well their cards, but failure to do this exposes the animals to starvation and of course to consequent deaths. �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTlON There is intriguing red-tape in the Railways. So many officers do the same job. The difference is only in name. When a trader in Northern Nigeria once loaded his wagon with yams and consigned same to his counterpart in Eastern Nigeria, it was noticed that the wagon arrived Enugu and stayed there for three weeks. The owner came down to Enugu to inquire about the cause of the delay. He met the D.S. (District Superintendent) who referred him to the S.T.C.O. (Senior Traffic Commercial Officer). This officer referred the trader to the T. 0. (Y). (Traffic Officer, Yard) from where he was referred again to the Y. M. (Yard Master). The last mentioned officer referred the trader to the Shunter who nonchalantly explained the 'delay was due to much work.' He however assured the trader that his wagon would be despatched to its destination without further delay. This angry man departed to his destination and hoped his wagon would reach there before him. But how could it? He had come to Enugu to inquire about the delay officially, through the biggest boss to the smallest Shunter, his humble self. He should have known better and done the only thing expected of him. A week had passed after the inquiry. Two weeks also passed. There was still no sight of the wagon at its destination. The trader was still waiting. But he decided to make another trip to Enugu. This time he was properly advised and having done the expected thing, he went away. Two days after, his wagon load of yams arrived. I t was unloaded and to his greatest sorrow, more than four hundred y a m had got rotten. This was the penalty for his honesty. I a trader fails to bribe, his punishment is this type f of experience. His goods would perish and he would lose so many hundreds of pounds. His life may be ruined �44 CORRUPTION IN THE RAILWAYS as a result. The fun of this experience is that sometimes f mere official referring o customers to other officers suggests that the customer should play his card. This is so because both big and small in the Railways know of the existence of these corrupt practices. And none of them cares to eradicate them. May be they are beginning now. Nowadays, traders have formed a union. This trade union functions in this way. Membership enrolment is anything from £20 to £50. Any loading which does not pass through this union means trouble for the Chief Booking Clerk. It is these traders who say whose gmds will be loaded or not. And by this method they control the C.B.C. (Chief Booking Clerk) who sometimes works for the Union (mark you for the Union and not the Railways) even on public holidays. Bribery and corruption are safely entrenched in many Departments or sections of the Railways. Take the Staff section (Establishment) for instance. This section employs clerks or station staff. They are charged with the responsibility to promote staff. They handle leave matters and transfers. Relief Clerks often tip some members of this Section to get transferred to some money-making stations for relief duties. 'Sleeping and relief allowances' are often collected when staff stay long on relief duty. Because of this, station st& elect often to be transferred to good stations where they can make quick money. And much money is paid for these arrangements. In the past, money was taken from applicants who wanted to go to the Railway Training School at Yaba, Lagos. After training and posting many Station Staff become rich people with a lot of landed property, so many lorries and buildings. So many of them go Overseas �BRIBERY AWI) CORRUPTlON 46 for further studies especially in law. What is to be done? Bribery and corruption have got tap roots in the Railways as well as in other Departments. No one section is free. The Accounts Section is even involved when some of its members go on line to pay wayside staff their salaries. Much cheating and stealing is done. Even Clerks are not so keen on preparing the usual mileage 'voucher' except the drivers and guards tip them. At every comer you meet with a demand for bribe or your case will not be treated timely. Have we forgotten the Stores Clerks? Some of them are wonderful people. Much of the Stationery is sold. Have we forgotten the Train Guards? They are wonderful people too. Some of them bargain and convert Railways money (ticket collections) into their personal accounts. Have we forgotten T. T. Cs? They are like the Guards. Their van is used for purposes otherwise intended by the Railway Authorities. Sometimes female passengers, who are travelling free of charge, hibernate there. Have we forgotten the Enginerring section? Their activities with Contractors are well known. Sometimes it takes fortune to register as a contractor, to award him a contract and to pay him the necessary fees. It can therefore be seen that bribery and corruption are serious social evils. They threaten all senses of justice and fair play. It mortgages people's conscience. Where it exists, people find it hard to speak the truth. Justice is not allowed to take its cause and people are usually found in the wrongplaces. Things do not take their normal shapes in the society. The painful result is that where bribery is the order of the day, people do not find it interesting to make honest effort to improve their ends. Instead they depend on bribery and corruption to achieve their ends. �46 CORRUPTION IN TRB RAILWAYS If bribery does not exist, people will be interested to work hard and struggle honestly for something. They will be proud of such struggles. Economically, bribery kills the incentive to work, reducing productivity and lowering both individual and national incomes. To free the society from the evils of bribery, something must be done. Employers of labour should devise a means whereby candidates should compete for ' vacancies in open examinations and the markers should be men of high integrity. To check bribery, everybody in the State should declare his property. When this is done, there should then be a general evaluation of people's property and their yearly income. This will actually reveal that some people have defrauded others in order to build for themselves financial empires. People should be promoted on the basis of their skill, productivity and educational qualification. I t is bribery that has given rise to promoting unqualified people to various posts thereby creating difficulties in the way of honest labour. In certain sections of the Railways, promotion is are not encouraged. SF 94 (query) is sometimes issued to people with malice to deter their progress. Secret visits are made by some sectional heads to the 'Officer' or 'Boss' to paint the names of certain junior staff in sombre colours. The intention is always definite. Until such junior staff bribe some of their immediate sectional heads, there is no recommendation for them and consequently no promotion. This is why you can see in the Railways today so many people on First Class or Assistant Chief Clerk maximum. So many Clerks are Clerk Grade I1 while few lucky ones are Clerk Grade I where they mark �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 47 time till God knows how long. The situation gives the impression that the Railways is sick. What is the cause of this sickness? Part of it comes from a deep rooted corruption in the Corporation. Another cause comes from the general indifference of certain Officers to the affairs of their Junior Staff. The result sometimes is hatred, malice and all manner of injustices. This is why some of the Junior Staff are This is a typical Court Official in the Registry's Office. He is e very busy man; receiving telephone calls and writing at .the same time. He has no time evn to know that a person standing by his side is dropping down an "envelope". �48 CORRUPTION IN THE RAILWAYS corrupt. They do not do their work properly. They believe they have no future in the Railways and because of this they grab money from whichever person that offers same. Their logic is always the same - 'make hay while the sun shines' or 'prepare always for a rainy day.' Some of the younger clerks spend their office time more on their tuition lessons than on Railways duties. They pass their G.C.E. (Advanced Level) and enter the Universities, leaving the Railways to carry along with its policy of no promotions to the Junior Staff. What is necessary in the Railways today is a change of heart as well as that of policy. The junior staff must be encouraged so that they can take more interest in their work. There should be a prospect for which they work. New extensions can be provided to retain old hands, even though they are now graduates. Real checks should be made to eradicate bribery and ,corruption among the rank and file. Anybody caught should be tried and imprisoned so as to set an example. But those caught should not bribe those who caught them and by so doing free themselves and thus perpetuate the practice the more,This will defeat all honest attempts to eradicate the disease. Everybody's care, indeed everyman's care, should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart. Next to this, he should try to escape the censures of the world and do those things which win the approbation and applause of the public. A man is more sure of his conduct when the verdict he passes upon his behaviour is confirmed by the opinion of all that know him. This is the time to examine our conscience and to give honest verdict of our lives. The Railways today harbours so many corrupt officers. Some of these officers are expatriates. Some of them are Nigerians. Some too are Junior Staff and some Senior. �BRtBERY AND CORRUPTION 49 A 'holier-than-thou' attitude will not do. Pointing accusing fingers form above to below or vice versa will not do. All that is required is an admittance of guilt and a resolution to live a better life in future. 'Man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong; which is but saying in other words that he is wiser today than he was yesterday' (Alexander Pope). �CHAPTER THREE JUDICIAL CORRUPTION "Any Person who:(a) being a judicial officer, corruptly asks, receives or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain, any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything ommitted to be done, by him in his judicial capacity; or (b) corruptly gives, confers, or procures, or promises or offers to give or confer, or to procure or attempts to procure, to, upon, or for any judicial officer, or to, upon, or for, any other person, any property, or benefit of any kind on account of any such act or omission on the part of such judicial officer; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years." (The term "judicial officer" in this section includes a member of Native Tribunal, an Arbitrator or umpire, and any person appointed to act as a Commissioner under the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance, or before whom, under the provisions of any Ordinance, proceedings are held in which evidence may be taken on oath). "Any Person who:(a) gives, confers, or procures, or promises or offers to give or confer, or to procure or attempt to procure, any property or benefit of any kind to, upon, or for, any person, upon any agreement �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 51 or understanding that any person called or to be called as a witness in any judicial proceeding shall give false testimony or withhold true tcstimony; or (b) attempts by any other means to induce a person called or to be called as a witness in any judicial proceedings to give false testimony or to withhold true testimony; or (%) ,Any , (a) asks, receives or obtains, or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, upon any agreement or understanding that any person shall as a witness in any judicial proceeding give false testimony or withhold true testimony; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for seven years." Person who:being.a peace officer not acting judicially, or being a perscn employed in the public service in any capacity not judicial for the prosecution or detection or punishment of offenders, corruptly asks, receives, or obtains, or agrees or attempts to receive or other person, on account of anything already done or ommitted to be done, or to be afterwards done or ommitted to be done, by him, with a view to corrupt or improper interference with the due administration of justice, or the procurement of facilitation of the commission of any offence, or the protection of any offender or intending offender from detection or punishment; or �52 JUDICIAL CORRUPTION ( b ) corruptly gives, confers, or procures, or promises or offers to give or confer, or to procure to attempt to procure, to, upon, or for, any such person, or to, upon, or for any other person, any property or benefit of any k i d on account of any such act or ommission on the part of the peace officer or other person so employed; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years." William Hazilit in one of his essays - Advice to a School boy - said inter alia :- "Do not begin to quarrel with the world too soon, for bad as it may be, it is the best we have to live in. If railing would have made it better, it would have been reformed long ago. But as it is not to be hoped for the present, the best way is to slide through it as contentedly and inocently as we may. . . We may laugh or weep at the madness of mankind." Mr. Hazilit is entitled to his own opinion. For my own part, I like to "laugh or weep at mankind" and to think that the business of our life is indeed not to see what lies dimly at a distance of us, but to do what lies clearly at hand before us. Bribery and corruption, more than any present social evils, shake the foundations of our society. Mere lip service can't do. Mere condemnation won't help. Mere speaking and writing about them, will not do. What is necessary is an acceptance by all that bribery and corruption are now a national disgrace. And we fmd these evils in every walk of life. All is not well in certain arms of our Judicial Department. The irony of justice is that behind every High or Magistrate or Customary Court, there is the Registry's Office where bribery and corruption are practised ex- �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 53 tensively. Whenever a case is to be tried, certain preiiminaries are to be fulfilled. Every Plaintiff wants his case to be heard immediately and to achieve this, he "co-operates" with the Registry's Office. If it is "a claim of money against somebody," he meets the Registrar to decide the summons fee and other things relevant to the case. To fix the date of hearing to suit the Plaintiff, money is sometimes taken, to do this. But sometimes the Defendant comes too. He also wants the case to be deferred so as to enable him get money to pay the claims. To achieve this aim, he has to pay, but much higher than what the Plant8 paid. Already the case is the balance, tilting to the side of the highest bidder. The Judge or Magistrates is not yet aware that such a case has come to his Court. In the case of a writ of "fi-fa" (fieri facias) the Creditor normally wants everything to be fininshed immediately so that he can sell the property of his debtor to meet up the debts he owes him. The procedure is thus:After judpent, the debtor files "leave to pay." This may expire and the creditor bribes his way for a "fi-fa." If this is granted, the Bailii usually serves the debtor a "court order" to take inventory of his property on a stipulated date. During this period or in the process, the debtor can bribe him to exclude some of his valuable property which are usually taken away at night. Sometimes too the Bailiff bargains with the debtor to dudge receipt of summons. If this happens, he ostensibly returns to the Court to report "Debtor not in town." If however the Plaintiff gives him more money, the Bailii usually lies in wait at the door of the debtor long before 4 a.m. in the morning. Sometimes the debtor bargains with the Bailiff to have his things back through selling them at a very cheap �54 JUDICIAL CORRUPTION price. To achieve this end, certain people are called (bribed) to buy back his property at very cheap prices. But very often too, some members of the public or even some staff of the Court are interested in the sale. They can bargain with the Bailiff to "hammer down" whenever they prize valuable articles. It is therefore "going, going, going, gone!" for such people. On the other hand, the Creditor can see the Bail8 so as to ensure his debtor's things are sold at a very high price. This is to enable him recover his debts. But he has to pay the Bailiff dearly for this favour. And so when anybody prizes an article and it does not reach the amount the Creditor would like, the Bail8 often puts down such article and takes up another; saying that the "offer is too poor." Later on, he will take it up again and fresh offers will be made. These offers may be higher than the previous ones because much "behind the audience" canvassing has been made. Money works wonders and many money-lenders (they are the majority in this type of case) are adepts in the business of bribing their way through. Many money-lenders influence so many people, some Court Officials not excluded. They can, for instance, undertake to pay the Bailiff's transport to the Debtor's place so as to see that the "writ of fi-fa" is served on their Debtors. But the Government pays for the Bailiff's transport; yet this does not matter neither to the Bailiff nor to the Plaintiff (Creditor). The paying of his transport or the giving of drinks on the way are merely an inducement. And this is bribers' logic. Sometimes, some Court Registrars act as Deputy Sheriff. This officer, Chief Registrar by convention, advertises that a Debtor's property are sealed up. Money �BRIBERY AND CORRUPnON 55 lenders often meet him to do this for them. Sometimes the Government is acquiring land and dispossessed peopled are entitled to compensation. The Government often deposits this money with Courts to dispose of. In paying this amount to eligible claimants, some Registrars take their own share of "thanks for early payments" from the payees. Crown witnesses are entitled to some allowances. These claims are approved and paid by Registrars. To speed up matters when the reply of "no fund yet" is made, bribe is offered to some Registry's official and fund becomes available for immediate payment for the transport which was made through a round-about land or water route. Travel by land is always preferred for obvious reasons I t is easier to cheat that way because travel by rail or air is a fixed rate for which "warrant" will be issued. Corruption in the Judicial Departmeat spreads like the heads of a hydra. The Clerk of Court prepares bail bonds for Magistrates or Judges to sign. A Lawyex may plead for bail and the Magistrate or Judge agrees But the Magistrate or Judge will go after the closing of his Court. Unless the person granted bail sees to it that necessary documents are prepared and signed, he will sleep in the cell that night or be remanded in cumdy in the Prisons. In the case of appeals, the Magistrate or Judge reads his judgement and hands over to the Clerk for typing out for record purposes. In doing this, the Clerk types out more copies knowing that the affected people will meet him aftenvards for same. A person can of course get the copy of judgment from the Registrar, but as the Registrar is a Senior Civil Servant, it sometimes costs �56 JUDIOIAL CORRUPTION very much to meet some Registrtrs. Because the Clerk of Court is junior staff, it is cheaper to get (buy) copies from him. This copy helps the affected person to get necessary facts before the normal time allowed for his appeal to be made expires. A Clerk of Court in outside stations is a big man. He is virtually the Registrar too. He fixes cases and grants bail. For performing these functions, money is given to some Clerks of Court. The idea is to induce some of them to help even where can't be of any use. A Clerk of Court in outside stations works in co-operation with the f Magistrate and Police. But some Clerks o Court can hide vital "exhibits" which can decide technical cases. This fetches a huge money because exhibits decide a lot in difficult cases. Mistakes about them always favour the accused because there are some cases in which people have travelled a long distance to hear. This happens very often in out stations and such cases can't be adjourned because an exhibit is not evailable. Even some lawyers often induce some clerks of court to sell certain exhibits for destroyal. And we know that some lawyers are really mean. Such are the type that will stop at nothing to win their cases. The end is always the same. The pursuit of wealth leads many people (even professionals) to resort to mean tactics. There is another official who works directly under the Registrar. He is the "Process Clerk". He fixes cases, writes out summons and opens case files with their appropriate numbers. He also writes out 'fi-fa' notices, etc. He is indeed a very busy man. There is always congestion on his table and he takes this excuse to be corrupt. Some Process Clerks purposely leave most of their work on their tables under the plea of being very busy. Delay �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 57 often results and to speed up matters, people who have cases must see some of them and then there will be no more delays. Things will then move faster. As said above, the Process Clerk handles all documents e. g. affidates, 'fi-fa' writs, summons, etc. He opens the files and fixes dates for first hearings of cases. On these dates, fillings are made and it is the Piocess Clerk who will quicken or delay matters. This is why so many Process Clerks are well known by people who have business in Courts. They are lavishly entertained in Hotels. They are sufficiently tipped outside their Office hours. The reason is simple. They hold the balance of many cases in the court. They say which case should come up immediately or adjourned siie die in their section. There is another aspect of corruption in the Judicial Department. This happens in claiming 'claims.' A Lawyer, for instance, can bring his claims and the Registrar assesses this and passes on to the Cashier for attention. This amount may not be paid in time and it is up to the Claimants to 'co-operate' or leave it to receive attention till doomsday. Messengers in the Courts have wonderful influence just as Interpreters have. Before a Messenger brings a case file, you have to grease his palms, failing which your file can be missing suddenly among a heap of files in the rack. Litigants can only do the normal thing and their case files will be traced out immediately. Indeed, going to Court is such a waste of time and money ! Bribery and corruption also obtain in cases of appeals. You have to pay or your appeal will not be heard �even in a year. It is impossible to get copies of the proceedings of any case free of change. Once money is offered, the Clerks will sit up and even do overtime to type out the Court proceedings of the case at issue. They work to finish the work in time when the money has reached the hands of some Registrars. The language or sign is always understood and typists always work like mad to ensure they collect their own share of the booty. What can Magistrates or Judges do when some members of their Courts are so corrupt? Nothing, except that if the public brings up one of the corrupt ones before them and then we can see whether their punishment will not be a sufficient warning to other erring officials. A Magistrate or Judge cannot go to the Registry to list up cases or write bail bonds, etc. Somebody must do these duties. I t can be the Process Clerk or Clerk of Court or another person working in the Registry's Office. But these Court Officials must be honest as so many of them are today. It is believed that bribery and corruption are hard to eradicate. But I believe that if the society and all the arms of the Law help to clamp down this evil, that devastating engine of social degradation, all will be well in God's own time. Education too can help in reducing the spread of bribery and corruption. Our youths should be trained for the right jobs. Honest men should handle such delicate issues as are involved in the Registry's Office. People should be encouraged to live within their means by making them see the evil in living about their means. Certain Registrars and Court Clerks are wealthier than some Magistrates or Judges. How did they manage? When are we having a commission of inquiry to assess people's property and income in the light of the salaries �BRlBERY AND CORRUPTION 59 they have received? In some Customary Courts where, even if the case is in your favour, you are nevertless required to bring the agreed money, shows still the miscarriage of justice. And this can lead to "action being struck off" or divided judgement given. The idea is to beg an appeal. What is to be done? The Court Clerk might not have recorded all your question if he is already biased through bribery. What of the goats, welcome money, drinks in a lands case, which requires going to the site? The thing to be done is the advisability of having our Customary Laws coded for different prcrvinces which can be quoted. Lawyers should be encouraged to be Customary Court Presidents or Advisers or Judges. Alternatively some experienced retired police officials or other government retired senior officials should be encouraged to take appointments in the Customary Courts. We are not helping ourselves if we prostitute our justice. Look at even a Lawyer's Clerk! Some of them are so corrupt. They even collect bribes before ever admitting clients to be interviewed by their masters. They also take bribes before even taking down clients' statements. While it is the duty of the Chief Clerk of a Lawyer's Chambers to give clients professionals charges, he demands money to make the charges moderate. Failure to do this means making things difficult for the client. Where do we go from here? Let us make the fight against bribery and wrruption our idividual and collective responsibility. We owe this duty to ourselves. Tendencies towards bribery and corruption have always existed and probably will always. They are human weakness. But when the voice of conscience becomes weak or still, the way is left wide open for endless abuses of honesty. If we do not check bribery and corruption �M) JUDICIAL CORRUPTION now they may well check us in future. Let us appeal to all Court Officials, Messengers, Typists, File Clerks, Guards, Interpreters etc. to work for the best interests of everybody. There is a tendency on the part of most of us now to get rid of inefficient and corrupt people everywhere. But important as this may be, it is far from being enough. To win a game of any k i d , much more has to be done to throw out the poor players. It is of far more consequence to keep adding more good players to the team and putting heart into those who are already there. This is my message. But in considering the ever-present need for additional workers of ability and high purpose, it is most important not to overlook the fact that there are large numbers now in the judicial department as well as in other departments who are fulfilling their responsibility to the Nigerian public in an efficient and honest manner. If it were not for them, the situation would have been hopeless. Thy need our gratitude and constant help. I t is because of such people that our Judicial Department is today rated so high everywhere in the world. �CHAPTER FOUR OFFICIAL CORRUPTION "Any Person who:(a) being employed in the public service, and being charged with the performance of any duty by virtue of such employment, not being a duty touching the administration of justice, corruptly asks, receives, or obtains, or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain, any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything already done or omitted to be done or to be afterwards done or omitted to be done, by him in the discharge of the duties of his office; or (b) corruptly gives, confers, or procures, or promises or offers to give or confer, or to procure or attempt to procure, to, upon, or for, any person employed in the public service, or to, upon, or for, any other person, any property or benefit, of any kind on account of any such act or omission on the part of the person so employed.. ." or "Any Person who:being employed in the public service, takes, or accepts from any person, for the performance of his duty as such officer, any reward beyond his proper pay and employments, or any promise of such reward, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.. " or . �62 OFFICIAL CORRUPTION "Any Person who:being employed in the public service in such capacity as to require hi or to enable him to furnish returns or statements touching any sum payable or claimed to be payable to himself or to any other person, or touching any other matter required to be certified for the purpose of any payment of money or delivery of goods to be made to any person, makes a return or statement touching any such matter is, to his knowledge, false in any material particular, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three ..." "Any Person who:being employed in the public service, knowingly acquires or holds, directly or indirectly, otherwise than as a member of a registered joint stock company consisting of more than twenty persons, a private interest in any contract or agreement which is made on account of the public service with respect to any matter concerning the Department of service in which he is employed, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years, and to be fined at the discretion of the Court. . " . Ms writers are fascinated by the attempt to forecast ot something of the conditions of life and social activities as they will be in centuries ahead. For my own part, I am of the opinion that for a man to be greatly good, he must imagine intensely and comprehensively. He must place himself in the place of another and many others. Their pains and pleasures must become his own because �since people exist only in life, they must devote their time to being alive. Life is motion and motion is concerned with what makes man move, which is ambition, power, pleasure, wealth and health. But in pursuing these ends, man should not be corrupt. Bribery is one of these unjust ways of taking m w or money-equivalent from a man in ordei to do a duty or service which we should do without any remuneration from such individual. Some sections of our Ministry of Education suffer from the disease of bribery and corruption. In the Scholarship section, whether Provincial or Urban, it is alleged that @me candidates offer 50 per cent of the worth of these scholarships. Failing to do this means no scholarship for such candidates. The cleverness of the candidates in these regards in immaterial because they are not the only clever ones. Corrupt persons are not fools and so they know how to logic out their case. A Secondary School Scholarship may be £50 a year or £250 for five years. To win this, upwards of £100 may be offered to be shared by some Members of the Scholarship Board. Post Secondary Scholarship may be about £200 a year. But I am reliable informed that £150 if some candidates fail to grease the palms of some members of the Scholarship Board, they may never win the award. The contest for Scholarships is so, keen nowadays when one remembers these awards are made on Divisional and Provisional basis. But what of a Division which has five Scholarships alloted to it but which has up to a hundred applicants? And these people l are a l qualified ! - In Corporation or Depaments, Scholarships for Overseas training are won not always on merit. So many unqulified people are doing their technical training over- �62 OFFICIAL CORRUPTION seas today. Take a look at their qualifications. Some are big men's wives or girl-friends or relatives. And then there is recent fashion of foreign Scholarship award to I'. certain political V P s Who judges who are qualified for these awards? Your answer is as good or bad as mine. Admission to Secondary Schools is another instance where corruption rears up its ugly head. This starts with collecting pounds of money for Entrance Examinations that never took place. There is the 'late entry' concession. From the so many candidates that took a genuine Entrance Examination, of course only a few( (about 30 to 60) will be taken. But about 200 are called for interview and out of these the required number is taken; yet not all those who passed the Examination turn up for admission next January. Bigmen, VIP's and influenntial women have taken their sons and daughters to the Principal and persuade some of them to admit them, even without any Entrance Examination. And so many Principals grant this request! Are they hoest? These are the type of students who turn out to be the dunces of their classes. Admission into Primary Schools is even a problem nowadays especially when transfers have necessitated removing of one's children to another town. Until some Headmasters' palms are properly greased, such children may never get any admission for a year, even though they have their transfer certificates with the necessary report cards. Sometimes children who had been in a particular school are driven away because they have not paid the school fees in time. A day can be the only difference and yet tomorrow, a child with the school fees, finds a strange person occupying his seat in �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION \ 65 class. He is told "you have lost your position because you couldn't pay your fees in time". The fun of it is that the Headmaster knows the father too well but may h a w disagreed with him over a matter. The punishment of course is to sack his son or daughter and replaced hurl or her with another child. What a revenge1 Coming back to Entrance and ~ C . E Examinations. many things happen there. So many people pass thest: examinations without ever sitting for them. Other people are bought to do them on their behalf. There are even cases where men impersonate women (girls) and sit for their girl-friends. Some of them are usually caught. There is also the revealing of question papers to get money. There is the Students Advissory Board, wherc money is paid sometimes to speed up matters. Them. are many nasty things that are done in the name c a education. I n some sections of the Ministry of Works, all is not well there too. Contractors, whether big or petty, depend on Inspector of Works. Any award of contract is on percentage basis, 50150. 'Work order' is prepared for work not done. Registration of contractors even costs pounds of money. Girls are sometimes offered to those who will award these contracts. Sometimes men's wives are dragged into the bargain. Then there is the free-drink offer to the 'Boss.' Inspite of all these, collection of the money after the work is done is not easy. What? with so many 'come tomorrow, come tomorrow' until the contractor does the required thing. A controactor has to bribe to get his due. He bribes to claim the amount from the Sub-Treasury. He bribes to know when next there will be another opportunity. I think bribery is second nature of many contractors. So many of them �66 OFFICIAL. CORUUPTION do not believe any Clerk in the Office who is connected with their work can ever do that without their first bribing him. This money is always enveloped and dropped on the table of the clerk. Of course the clerk understands. He becomes active and alive to his job. Things move fast and all the relevant things are done and the contractor of course collects his money. Sometimes some of these contractors go to the houses of some of these clerks. There, a real bargaining can be made. The following day, some of these clerks still go to the Office with sanctionious faces. But that doesn't matter. This is in a Cocktail Party. An influential Contractor is throwing this Party for his friends, some of when are members of the Tenders Board. In major contracts, there is a real business. T o register as a major contractor is not sufficient. You have to be attached to some high government official or a politiciaq who will inflqence some people in the Tenders Board. Direct negotiation begins in which about 10 per cept �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 67 is conceded to the awarding party. In this case, there is no tender. Some Government Architects might have worked out the total cost, making sure that the surplus is there. The person helping the Contractor might take about 5 to 7+ per cent. Sometimes in Council's Tender Board, about 21- per £1 is paid to some members of the Tenders Board through their agents. This depends upon the correct amount required for the tender (which amount has been revealed to a Contractor). In the Foreign Contracting Firms, wonders happen there too. Some of their workers pay about £10 to £15 to the foreman before being employed. Here, some engineers and foremen are wonderful people indeed. Some of their employers work for about five months and then are sacked. After a month or so, some of these sacked employpees are notified that work is now available. This means coming back again and paying again for uncertain and insecure work. This is why foremen of some Foreign Contracting firms have such landed property,%xi cabs, lorries, etc. And their time-keppers are equally wonderful people. So many of them are really big men Why shouldn't they? They mark 'present' and 'absent' for all the employees. And so many people are marked 'present' when they were really 'absent' and vice-versa, To get on well in the Company means being in the good books of these time-keepers. Even the c a w to sack some employees can emanate from them. Contracting firms, some of them any how, erect mighty buildings for some VIP's or Politicians who helped them ta secure big contracts. If this were not w, how c w a Politician have so many storeyed buildings? Even �68 OFFICIAL CORRUPTION some Politicians are reported to have sky-scrappers nowadays. How did they manage? Which takes me to the harm some foreign firms are doing. These people are capitalists or sons capitalists. The only language they understand is money and always big money. They stop at nothing to win heavy contracts. They agree to any terms. And so what they lost with their right hands, they always recover with their left. They are wonderful people and so many of them still regard Africans as slaves or at least people money can always buy their conscience. They are corrupt and corrupt Africans with their big money. For how long should they be allowed to wield their money influence? The system of awarding contracts nowadays is still corrupt. But what is to be done? Is there any better method? The Tenders Board method would have been excellent but for the corruption therein. Why do some of its members reveal the required figures? Why do some VIP's and Politicians influence the award of contracts and collect thousands ~f pounds from the bargain? Why do fianace clerks require tips before preparing the 'voucher claims?' Why do contractors themselves cheat the nation by exaggerating the cost their finished work? Why is money taken at all to register the name of a man as a contractor? The Tak Assessment Section of the Internal Revenue is another source of headache to all. The job of this is to assess and collect taxes. The work is done like this: The Tax Assessment Clerk assesses farmers, traders, petty traders and small businessmen in rural areas. These are the people living in the areas alloted to them. They have, in these places, agents whose duty it is to give them the �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 69 names of new arrivals as well as old residents of the area. Old men's names are also given with a view to exempt them from paying taxes. The names of people who are old enough to pay tax are given. But before somebody is exempted, the concession must be an agreed bargaining. Sometimes there are School children who couldn't continue their studies because their parents are unable to pay their school fees again. These tax agents purposely include their names with a view to attract their parents visits. This visit to beg for the removal of their names from paying tax means paying money. Very often a youngman has just established an Industry. One of these Tax Agents will quickly send him a notice of the category he belongs e.g. the £2000 to £5000 category. The owner is naturally surprised. He hasn't even begun to operate. He has not even got a mite as a profit. And so, worried, he runs to the Agent to explain. But he explains with money and then the Agent takes him to the Tax Assessment Clerk who considers his case in the light of the money he receives from his Agent. There is usually a flat rate for taxable adults in every area. But there is also the Income Grade. To give the names of this grade is at the discretion of the Tax Agent. If therefore, a man who barely manages to live from the sweat of his brow is given an income assessment, he of course runs to the Tax Assessment Clerk to explain. An understanding will be reached and matters are corrected. Failure to do this means going to Court to explain why you failed to pay your tax. Tax Assessment Clerk, some of them at least are regarded as very rich people. To stop their corrupt life, they rotate duties. Some of them stay about two months �70 OFFICIAL CORRUPTION at a place and then are ransferred. But they always come with the fore-warning "make the much you can in so small a time and then get away." Some however render correct accounts and are allowed t c stay even up to a year or more at one place. These people may not be too honest but at least are comparatively speaking less corrupt. I am of the opinion that few tax assessment clerks or their agents are honest. They may be trickish in the game and so appear honest outwardly. These may be the older hands at the trade. There is the Urban Tax Assessment Board. Normally when notices are sent out to individuals to declare their income, many people declare falsely. The Board in turn assumes the responsibility and assesses everybody. Disagreement with their assessment entitles you to the Board. But failing to do this you must pay. No court can excuse you from paying your tax. What happens therefore is that the person over-assessed appeals. This means canvassing through members of the Board before the day the appeal will be heard comes round. And this canvassing takes the form of offering bribe. Sometimes the correct amount realized from the collection of taxes is not rendered and very often false tax receipts are issued out. The intention is always to defraud. What is to be done? Everybody must pay his tax, although nobody should be asked to pay more than he earns. Everybody must play his part in raising the standard of our living. For that reason, everybody must accept just taxation as a normal way of governments to raise money. Taxes go to pay for administration, for social services and for economic development. What a citizen pays returns to him in the form of real benefits. But those entrusted with the sacred duty to collect these taxes should not trade from it. This will'only be a negative step. �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 71 We must adopt personal and social attitudes which are geared to change our society from impersonal service and lure of money. We are faced with twin evils of bribery and corruption. Unless we take strong measures and mobilise public opinion, we shall never stamp out these evils. We are faced nowadays with a widespread 'dash-bribe' system. Because of this, the pace of our administration and economy is impeded. We urge our govrnrnents to take decisive action on this grave issue. Those in official posts must remember that men who take bribe betray the trust of the nation. Bribery as a sin is a big injury to the poor. Think of a vacant post which exists in an office! Somebody pays to get it at the expense of a more qualified man. Or don't we see around us in the offices people who are worse than useless? They can't put up a simple letter (correspondence). They can't understand simple English. They are so ignorant of many things and so do things upside down. Some of them are typists who cannot type a simple draft. And if such typists are girls, well don't ask how they were employed. These are the people that shame our Civil Service. But for how long must we keep quiet over these issues? Things are degenerating. They are indeed going from bad to worse. All concerned, the State, employers and the employed, should combine to see that the obligations of social justice are fulfilled. As a minimum, employers must deal justly with their workers, both as regards wages and conditions of work. On the other hand, workers must deal fairly with their employers, and give honest return for just wages. Time for 'government or whiteman's work is past. We are now independent. �72 OFFICIAL CORRUPTION Employers should take a personal interest in their workers and sympathize with their difficulties - high cost of living, high rentage etc. The workers in turn should endeavour to understand the problems of their employers (indeed the Nation's). Both employers and workers should always keep in their mind their duty to promote, as far as possible, the good of their community. This is in a man's parlour. T h e young visitor is an applicant for a scholarship award. And "paper message." What can be those sheets of paper? Money? Social justice should permeate the institutions and the entire life of the people because it is of the very essence of social justice to demand from each individual �BRIBERY AND COREUPTION 73 all that is necessary for the common good. In this way, that is if everyone's heart is filled with the above considerations, bribery and corruption wiU be minimised. What is necessary now is for everybody to begin to think on the badness and injustice of these twin social evils. �CHAPTER FIVE OFFICIAL CORRUPTION (Contd.) "Any Person who:(a) corruptly asks, receives, or obtains, or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain, any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything already done or omitted to be done, or to be afterwards done or omitted to be done, by him or any other person, with regard to the appointment or contemplated appointment of any person to any office or employment in the public service, or with regard to any application by any person for employment in the public service; or (b) corruptly gives, confers, or procures, or promises or offers to give or confer, or to procure or attempt to procure, to, upon, or for, any person any property or benefit of any kind or account of any such act or omission is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years.. " or , . "Any Person who:being employed in the public service, does or directs to be done, in abuse of the authority of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of another is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for two years. If the act is done or directed to be done for purposes of gain he is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years.. ." �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 75 I t is always the aim of the Christian Churches to so form men's characters that they will conform to the spirit of Christian teaching in their dealings with one another and not necessarily to seek always their own advantage but the common good. "Love thy neighbour as thyself" is a Christian maxim. This is why I am taking this medium to ask big and wealthy people to help build this Nation and eschew all such influences they weild which have helped to corrupt the society for so long now. While the right to one's property is unassailable, its use is circumscribed by the needs of social life. Owners must not merely consider their own advantage, but the good of the community. The rich should regard themselves as the stewards of their Earthly possessions, as God's dispensers and providers of this world's good which are to be used not merely to perfect their own nature, but for the benefit of others. They should employ their surplus wealth to help their needy brethren in a positive way and not necessarily corrupt them. All I am trying to say is that many rich people are very corrupt and carry this stigma to wherever they go. The Land Department is not very innocent of bribery and corruption. Most of the Lands Officials are corrupted by these rich men I have been talking about all this time. They carry their load of money about to get plots allocations and approvals of the different stages of their building plans. The whole thing works like this. An announcement is usually made in the Press about a new layout to be leased out. Applications are invited from interested members of the public. Definitely there will 'be a limited number of plots to be leased out. But a 'hush-hush' business is already set in motion. Fake application forms are circulated. People are deceived to buy these so as to get plots. And there is always a scramble �76 OPFICIAL CORRUPTION for thse because everybody wants to own a plot. Eventually applications are made, some with the geniune forms, some with the false. So many Land Officials work overtime, secretly during this period. But it is the Land Officer who will recommend applications to the Principal Land Officer for approval and allocation. Any failure to see some Land Officers this time means a reluctance on their part to recommend such applications. The fun of this gamble is that mere application to get land does not entitle one to get it. There are con&ions to fulfill; e.g. evidence of the means to develop the land when allocated. Granting many of the applicants satisfy these conditions and their applications are recommended for approval and allocation; yet they may not still get land. There is the possibility that the Principal Land Officer must .have been over-stepped by politicians or other Senior Government Officials. After all, so many people are interested in land allocation and some senior officials in the Administration may even take over the work, thereby leaving the Land Officer and his Principal mere figure heads. The reason for this take over is ostensibly to avoid bribery and corruption. But some senior officials in the Personnel Departments influence Land Officers because they will help to promote or employ their own people. This reduces the work of land allocation to merely "help me to help you." Talking about Land Officers, mention must be made about their Inspectors. These people, whether Council Building Inspectors or Government Land Inspectors are wonderful people. Some of them are so corrupt and operate like this. Their job is to inspect the site of building and approve or disapprove same from stage to stage. This is according to whether "they have been seen" properly or not. Land Inspectors (not Council) in- �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 77 spect the land (plot) to determine its suitability for allocation to people. But there are odd portions of land here and there on which people want to put up buildings. These are not among the regular layouts. To inspect these odd portions of land and recommend same for allocation to desiring applicants means money. And still after allocation, the Inspectors continue to inspect the site, whether building is in progress or not; whether building conforms with the building plan or not; whether after the two years covenant the place is not developed. Where there is a brench or failure to build within the time allocated, the nomal thing is for the Land Inspectors to inquire. The reason may be that the applicant or leasee is yet financially incapable to erect building on the plot or that he is not yet prepared to begin developing the plot because of other buildings he is putting up in every big township. In this case, 'penal rent' and 'extension' are given him. If after the third time he still fails to' build, the land will of course be taken back from him. In all these processes of concession, money is sometimes the sole determinant. There is the compensation side of Land's work. Very often the Government acquires land from natives for Crown use. Compensation is paid after the necessary legal and charting processes. Many lawyers feed fat this time on some ignorant natives. But it is still some Land Officers who have the final say in everything. They will say when compensation will be paid or not and to facilitate matters, an understanding is usually reached between some Land Officers and some lawyers. The poor prey is of course the ignorant natives whose money (compensation) is shared proportionally. �78 OFFICIAL COIlRUPnON Traders; Contractors and Big men corrupt some Land Officials. Some of these people don't believe anything can ever be done for them free of charge. They therefore carry around their load of gold, jingle it sufficiently loud to the hearing of some of these poor officials and consequently succeed in corrupting them. When some of these poor fellows have tasted these free gifts once, they begin to desire more and more of them. I t is only natural and soon the desire becomes a habit and a way of life. Consequently it is a condition that you must bribe before you get anything from the Land Office. This is why I started this Chapter by blaming the rich men who corrupt these officials. But mere sight of money or the free dash of it should not be an excuse for Land Officials to be corrupt. The Health Office is another place where bribery and corruption rears up its ugly head. There are officials of this office called "Public Health Inspectors' or what was formerly known as 'Sanitry Inspectors'. T o help my readesrs understand them properly, I will enumerate some of their duties and show why and how of these officers are corrupt. Public Health Inspectors carry out house to house inspection for the purpose of discovering nuisances and with a view to eradicating them. This is a holy assignment; but what are these nuisances? They are house-hold rubbish, filthy drains, stagnant drains, accumulation of refuge, unswept compounds, mosquito breeding receptacles, etc. In the performance of this duty therefore, some public health inspectors are overzealous and find trouble where there is none. The idea is to 'co-operate' or go to Court. As many do not like going to Court, they prefer to 'co-operate.' Public Health Inspectrs inspect food preparing establishments, eating houses, like the Hotels, meat (animal �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 79 killing) that is to be sold in the market, liquor licensed premises, etc. (The Police and the Health Office cooperate to grant these licences). Vaccination against small pox and the control of the spread of other infectious diseases are done by public Health Inspectors; although they do not yet restrict the movement of lepers all over the place. Which begs the question when is the Govemment going to pass a legislation to restrict the movement of lepers all over the place? Health Inspectors inspect open spaces, frains, small streams or pools, rivalets, etc. for the purpose of discovering if they contain mosquito larvae or certain bad worms. The idea ii always to find effective methods or eradicating them. The inspection of bildings which are in progress is also the work of Public Health Inspectors. They check the ,proposed building plans for approval and then watch the progress of the building under construction especially the "damp-proof course" side which must satisfy that there is no moisture rising from the ground around the foundation base. (Architects say that this moisture can cause the wreck of a building if not properly checked or provided for). Also the Inspectors look for ventilation, whether rooms are properly ventilated or not; whether the "free air-space" around the building is adequate or not. (There must be at least five feet space around the building and the area occupied by the building must not exceed the required percentage of 33i per cent or 50 per cent at most). In Ports areas, the public health inspectors help to control the spread of infectious-diseases. To achieve this, they examine all the Passengers coming in or going out of such Ports. We all know that ships are notorious for conveying infectious dieases. In the performance of these �80 OPFICIAL CORRUPTION duties however, some public health inspectors make much money. In the case of inspecting buildings, either the landlord 'co-operates' or faults will be found. These faults can deter the progress of his building and the approval may wait till doomsday if nothing tangible is offered. And so many landlords spend a sizeable income Here i the boy who uirited Mr. X in hir parlour. And he is now s in arr Interuiew Room. No doubt the applicant is answering quertions, quite confidently, althouph standing attention. some of these Inspectors. And it saves them much trouble. But is it good? Must Inspectors not tell the truth when and where there is truth? Why should landlords spend their money on bribe when they are 01 1 �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 81 complying with every inch o the proposed building f plan? Why should the Inspectors not agree or disagree, approve or disapprove, when there is a just cause for so doing? Some Personnel Departments of our Civil Service are sick. There is nepotism, favouritism, jobbery, bribery and corruption in these places in the employment and promotion of staff. The Corruptions are more guilty of these sins; which is not saying that personnel sections of the Ministries or Departments are less corrupt. All over the place we see so many incompetent hands at work! How did they manage? There are so many typists who can't type a simple draft. There are many Clerks who cannot put up a simple correspondence. There are many Managers who can't manage anything. There are many Directors who can't direct the simplest affairs. Some Secretaries of certain Corporations are somply figure heads. They are merely agents of "his master's voice". And yet all these people are experts or types of experts who give no expert service or advice. And these type of people can be found right now all over the place. What is nepotism? The Dictionary Defines it as an "undue favour from holder of patronage to relatives; the advantages or opportunities for advancement, pertaining to Pope's nephew; the practice on the part of the Popes or their ecclesiastics (and hnce other persons) of showing special favour to nephews or other relatives in conferring offices; unfair preferment of nephews or relatives to other qualified persons; fondness of one's nephew". The above is th dictionary definition of nepotism. May I add that nepotism is the required qualifiation of any applicant who has a tribal, political, Regional, religious, linguistic or geographical relationship with the �82 OFFICIAL CORRUPTION boss of any Corporation, Department or Ministry. Any other DaDer aualification is unnecessaw. Applicant must have &ke form of blood relationship o; ma;iiage connection with the 'Oga' of the Office. Alternatively, he may belong to the same secret society, tribal organisation or religious association with the 'bigman' of the office. This is nepotism. This is why many Offices are filled with people from the same area or people of the same dialect. And this is one of the worst facets of bribery and corruption. What is favouritism? The Dictionary again has it as the "manifestation of partiality to the interest of one person or family or one class of men, to the neglect of others". This is a twin brother (or sister if you choose) of nepotism. I t also emanates from bribery and conuption because when you have received some material benefit from somone, you are always inclined to favour him or her. Favouritism is "a disposition to show or the practice of showing favour or partiality to an individual or class, to the neglect of others having equal or superior claims". I t is always an undue preference and this is why we see in our country today, certain top posts being the monopoly of certain tribes. The Chairmen of most of the Corporations are from the same tribe. The General Managers of most of our young industries come from the same division. All the Messengers of certain Ministries or Departments speak the same dialect. And this we live all in the name of Natioin unity and development plans. What is jobbery? The Dictionary defines it again as "the practice of corruptly turning a public office, trust, etc. to private gain or advantage." I t is the pepetration of jobs. Certian Corruptions or Departments have been turned into some division's or tribe's vineyards, because �BRIBERY AND OORRUPTION 83 Abraham and Isaac are the God fathers there. Admission to these reserved vineyards is strickly limited. But if you are admitted, (having bribed your way through) your oath of office is "thou must not say what you see and know." And so in many walks of life today, bribery and corruption are the order of the day. In fact they are accepted as a way of life at various levels. Because some Personnel Departments are not 50 per cent honest, people bribe to be employed and when they are so employed, their service to the Nation becomes selfcentred. To get a job in many Departments nowadays is an ordeal. It is not what one is that matters or counts. I t is not one's fitness for the job either. The thing that counts is the weight of the purse (enveloped money) that is given. One can be anything, but he will get the job provided he knows the back-door. Those who can't pay get nothing or the worst that can be offered. Is it any wonder that when one does get a job, one is not interested in what one does, but in what one earns, by fair or foul means? And this is why the generality of the public meets with such inefficiency, incompetence and indifference in many offices and Departments run and maintained with public money. What is partiality? The Dictionary defines it thus:"unequal state of the judgment and favour of one above the other, without just reason; prejudical or undue favouring of one person or party, or one side of a question; prejudice, bias, unfairness. . ; excessive or especial preference for a prepossession in favour of a particular person or thing; hence favourable disposition, prediiection, fondness, or affection, for someone or something; party spirit, rivalry, factiousness; one-sided, relation to . �84 OFFICIAL CORRUPTION a section as opposed to univeral . . . " Why is it that some people are continually recommended for promotions in certian offices inspite of their general incomeptence? Why is it that girls or women have edge over their men counterparts in some considerations in certain Ministries or Departments? Is is because of their proved ability or integrity in matters of office work? Why are some efficient clerks so hated and are never recommended by those above them? In fact why do the good suffer and the bad apparently prosper? These are the questions 'partiality' or apostles of it must answer. Social justice should permeate all our institutions and the entire life of the people. Its efficacy should be equally manifest in the creation of juridical and social order which informs the whole economic life. But justice is far from exhausting the whole of one's duty towards others. Over and above its requirements, there is a limitless field for that brotherly love which men owe to each other as sons of the same Heavenly Father and descendants of the same first parents. The Personnel sections of our Ministries or Departmens should be fields of initiative, service and personal sacrifice for the common good. Charity thus finds a most important part to play in our economic life. It is this brotherly love that I recommend to some of the officials in the Personnel Departments whose duty it is to employ and promote people. The same I pray for some officials of Public Health Office and Lands Department. �CHAPTER SIX CORRUPT COUNCILS "Any Person who:accepts, or obtains, or agrees to accept or attempts to obtain, from any person for himself, or for any other person, any gratification or reward whatever, whether in money or in kind, for inducing by corrupt or illegal means, or by .personalinfluence, any Local Coucil or any member thereof, to do or forbear to do any act which such Local Council is authorized to do in the excerse of its jurisidiction or to show favour or disfavour to any person is guilty of a misdemeanour; and is liable to imprisonment for two years". (Local Council is author's insertion) or "Any Person who:being authorized or required by law to give any certificate touching any matter by virtue whereof the rights of any person may be prejudicially affected, gives a certificate which is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years". Wordly sucess, measured by the accumulation of money, is no doubt a dazzling thiig. Old men are naturally more or less the admires of wordly sucess; but though men of persevering, sharp dexterious, and unscrupulous habits, ever on the watch to push opportunities may and do "get on" in the warld, yet it is quite possible that may �86 CORRUPT COUNCIL not possess the slightest elevation of character nor a particle of real greatness. He who recognizes no higher logic than that of the shilling, may become a very rich l man, and yet remain a l while an exceedingly poor creature. Riches are no proof whatever of moral worth and their glitter often serves only to draw attention to the worthlessness of their possessor. All I want to say in this Chapter is that money is good but that there are things money can never buy for us. We may get plenty of money through bribery and corruption but the worth of such money may be cheap in the eyes of the public who understands we are not entitled to some of our achievements. This is why I want to treat in this Chapter corruption in our Local Councils. Let me begin by telling my readers something about the working of Local Government in our country, and I presume in other countries. Local Government is that arm of the Government of a nation or state which deals mainly with such matters as concern the inhabitants of a particular district or place. It also deals with those matters which the Parliament of the State has deemed desirable should be administered by Local Authorities. Local Government therefore has no powers except those defined by Parliament. This is why the powers of Local Authorities are, in general, limited to those conferred by Parliament. Because of this situation, some of the statutory powers are adoptive (by Local Authorities) and statutes themselves are often directory and not mandatory. In Nigeria, Local Government takes the forms of Municipal, Urban, County, District and Town Councils. Their functions are mainly to cleanse and collect refuse, �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 87 build bridges, plan houses,. give street lights, provide public transport (buses), gwe education and provide public parks. Besides, Councils protect people's life and property through the instrumentality of their Police. They also provide institutions for social betterment, (e.g. Hospitals, Health Centres, Schools, etc.) construction and hs maintenance of works of national benefit. It is in ti way that the work of Local Councils or Authorities is legislative, administrative, executive and financial. The legislative side is concerned with the making of byelaws, while the administrative is concerned with the maintenance of works of public convenience and utility within discretionary limits e.g. streets and bridges, lighting and cleansing, swers and sewage disposal, collection of household or trade refuse, etc. The executive side in charge of enforcing, through Council officials, the above measures. The public safety side is concerned with the provision of the Polic, Customary Courts, inspection of buildings, regulation of traffic and dangerous trades. The institutions of social betterment provide education, library, parks, gardens, museums, art galleries, etc. while the financial slde raises money through rates, licences, etc. The principal of Local Councils is mainly co-ordination with the Government, but up to certain limitations. This is why the work of Local Authorities is transacted principally by means of committees. Local Authorities have a general power to appoint committees and to determine the numbers and their terms of office. A member of Local Council is usually appointed to two committees m d he will find that these committees have sub-committees. This endless committees is of course to find jobs for every Councillor. �88 CORRUPT C O U N C ~ Having gone so far to explain the system and working of Local GovemmentJ proceed now to show how and why all is not well in the Councils. Many Councils are very corrupt. Some are consequently bankrupt and unable to discharge their sacred duties to their citizens. So many of them are so inefficient and badly administered with the result that Councillors go to Council Meetings to feather their nest instead of serving the citizens they are supposed to serve. Let's take a look at some of the Council's committees and their members. The Finance Committee approves all budgets for capital works of development e.g. postal agency, schools, water supply, health centre, bridges, etc. What normally happens is that the town which wants any of these developments first notifies the Council. The Council in turn assesses the cost of the project and informs the town. The cost is usually thousands of money and an agent of the Council will go out to meed representatives of that town and tell them how many other towns are in need of the same project. The people should bring some hundreds of pounds so as to put their project "first on the list." Bribe is then offered and received by the Council and work starts on the project with the required money already deposited with the Council before the bribe was ever asked. Work is soon completed and bribe is asked again for the "official opening." This is again given and the opening is made, sometimes by a Minister or his Parliamentary Secretary. The Government promises to contribute 50 per cent of the capital cost and this amount is remitted to the town through the Council. But the Council will not pass this amount to the town until the town agrees on a percentage sharing. This is done and �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 89 the town gets half of the amount, while Councilors divide the other half among themselves. This is a typical operation of some councils. It is bribe, bribe, bribe! It is money, money, money, all the time ! The Councillors are more concerned with this aspect of their work than any other. And then there are drinks and food offers, goats and sheep gifts. Many Councils are very corrupt and help no person except themselves. There is always "business" in Councils. Land is got for relatives, for Councilors themselvts or their associates. Opening of new markets, Industrial markets, parks, whether for motor or pleasure, means bribe and bribe before approval of the scheme. Building of Schools, Hospitals, Rural Halth Centres, Post Offices, Maternities, Postal Agencies, etc. requires bribe and bribe and bribe. The Welfare, Halth and Building Committe can quickly demolish buildings not built according to the so-called councils building bye-Laws except those affected bribe and bribe Councillors. Council Building Inspectors will not approve any stage of a building except their palms are properly greased. The result is that Landlords spend a lot of money on these people to approve their buildings, sometimes not built according to plan. There is hardly anything you get from the Councils without first of all bribing. Will you get their Scholarship without bribing? Will you be employed as their teacher without bribin Will you be the Council's Treasurer, Secretary or C airman without bribing? Will you be a Councilor at all without bribing? There is hardly anything you get from the Councils that is free of charge. If it is water, you have to pay. If it is postal agency, you still have to pay. Rural Health Centre, Hospitals, Schools, Maternities, etc. are never approved for the asking even %' �90 CORRUPT OOUNCIL though your town has contributed all the money in the world towards the project. A typical Prison House. Notice the warder and the Prisoners. This 1 a place for all corrupt people as well as criminals. Do s you want to be there ? If not, why not stop bribery and corruption ? May we look at the Councils Customary Courts? These �BRIBERY ANI) CORRUPTION 91 ate not clean either. Sometimes justice is not done or appear to be done in the majority or cases before them. Winning of cases depends on how much people have seen some members of th Customary Courts. Losing of cases depends on how much people have failed to see members of the Customary Courts. And in this way, th business of justice is carried out. Money is such a determinant of where the swing of justice will move. But should this be so? Law is of its very essende a mandate of right reason, proclaimed by a properly constituted authority, for the common good. It is therefore of the very essence of social justice to demand from each individual all that is necessary for the common good. But just as in the living organism it is impossible to provide for the good of the whole unless each single part and each individual member is given what it needs for the exercise of its proper functions, so it is impossible to care for the social organism and the good of the society as a whle unless each single part and each individual member that is each individual man in the dignity of his human personality-is supplied with all that is necessary for the excercise of his social functions. How can a man run to the Customary Courts to seek redress and justice and return with revenge and injustice because he has not been able to bribe for a just judgment? Where then lies the salvation of the common man, the poor farmer, the small trader? Local Co(,ncils and their Customary Courts should help us. Some of their actions cry to Heaven for reveance. Their inffuence and power are not only notoriously great but also dangerous. This we can see from the officials who work for them. �From the point of view of administration, the influence of the Permanent Officials in Local Councils is important. The Local Government service is generally speaking, efficiently and adequately staffed. Many of the officials are persons who by experience and training, are capable f of exercising great assistance in the formation o the policies of the Local Authorities, with which they are connected. This has been shown in areas where the Local Councils, under wise and public-spirited leadership, have been able to secure the services of officials of high attainment who have been the means of infusiig a more progressive spirit in the local administration. The professional servant gives the Councillors expert advice, giving advice on matters as they arise; controlling the routine work, suggesting the inauguration of experimental schemes and performing other duties. But some of these officials and professionals, before long, are corrupted and consequently fail to give the much desired expert advice they are supposed to give. Sometimes, some of these officials and professionals are so bought over by the Councils that they are made to do the work as the Council direct - and want. Failure to do means plenty of trouble for such officials. False reports can be made against them. Vote of no-confidence can be passed on them. Everything calculated to injure one's character is done simply to cow such officials down. Eventually most of these officials give in and dance to the tune of the Councillors. They have no alternative. But the fun of it is that having known the game, some of these officials are worse than some Councillors in askiig and receiving bribes. And they take these bribes in a grand and big way! Local Authorities cherish their right to appoint their own staff. Why not? There is busiiess in it. Although \ �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 93 subject to general requirements, academic standards, experience and character, they are n e v e r t h e 1e s s given considerable latitude in this connection. But there is no set procedure for the making of appointments by Councils. Although vacancies are advertised, it is usually known that some people have been ear-marked long before the interview and appointment. The Council's Secretaries, Treasurers, Medical Officers of Health, Engineer, Town Clerk, etc. have always passed through this process. Failure to play up one's card before the interview means non-acceptance by the Councils concerned. What is to be done? In everything you want to do with the Councils, it is money, money, money. The world may be going to blazes, the Councillors cbuldn't careless. All they want is money and this they get through many ways - from settling land disputes, civil cases, providing amenities, employment and so forth. Their Police also help to bring in booty and anybody who does not co-operate with them is victimized, persecuted and prosecuted. The rates the Councils raise are not always used for the best ends. Licences are collected from anything and the money goes down the pockets of some Councillors. Many a time, a particular area does not see any visible signs of their rates. They complain, but the Councillors couldn't care less. They are Councillors for a term of office and must make big money before their time expires. This is the aim of all Councillors and yet no system of Local Government can be complete which does not secure the whole-hearted support of each individual citizen. What is to be done? In everything you want to do with the Councils, it is money, money, money. The world �94 COPRUPT COUNCIL may be going to blazes, the Councillors couldn't care less. All they want is money and this they get through many ways - from settling land disputes, civil cases, providing amenities, employment and so forth. Their Police also help to bring in booty and anybody who does not co-operate with them is victimized, persecuted and prosecuted. The rates the Councils raise are not always used for the best ends. Licences are collected from anything and the money goes down the pockets of some Councillors. Many a time, a particular area does not see any visible signs of their rates. They complain, but the CCouncillors couldn't care less. They are Councillors for a term of office and must make big money before their titheir expires. This is the aim of all Councillors and yet no system of Local Governmnt can be complete which does not secure the whole-hearted support of each individual citizen. # What then is to be done to stop Councillors from being corrupt? Not much except appealing to individual sense of patriotism or taking corrupt ones to Court to set the example. Alternatively it might be necessary to educate some of these corrupt Councillors on the rudimentary facts about man and the society (which are their main 'obligations). Man's natural instinct moves him to live in civil socety because he cannot, if he lives apart, provide himself with the necessary requirements of life, nor procure the means of developing his mental and moral faculties. Hence it is divinely ordained he should lead his life - be it family, social or civil - with his fellow men, amongst whom alone his several wants can be adequately supplied. This is why we have Councils and Councillors. This is why we want them to help procure �BR18ERY AND CORRUPTION 95 those means of our development both for ourselves and the State. They are servants and not masters. They are few among many and should not ever dream to lord it over those who sent them to represent them. Theirs is the duty to serve not to be served. Society is for man and not man for society. In the same way, Councils are for man and not man for Councils. Every town can do without a Council if worse comes to worst. And Councillors should know this. Every Councillor who does not understand his mission in the Council is a fool and should be removed by the town that sent him there. Every Councillor who betrays his town by demanding and receiving bribes should be recalled immediately and substituted with another person Every Councillor or Chairman of a Council who thinks he is too big, can be told the plain truth by reducing and humbling him and finally showing him the exit from the Council's premises. A part can never be greater than the whole, although we are seeing all around us nowadays individual boasts that tend to justify this unnatural situation. A tree can never make a forest. Let all our Councillors undestand this once and for all and know that the original and essential purpose of social life is to preserve, develop and perfect human person, by facilating the due fufilment and realisation of the religious and cultural laws and values which the Creator has assigned to wry man and to the human race, both as a whole and in its natural groupings. Verbum sap. �CHAPTER SEVEN CORRUPTION IN POLITICS "Today the phrase "playing politics" has degenerated into such base usage as to stand for everything ignoble, everything dishonest and everything crooked. When a man tells deliberate lies now, people say he is playing politics. Pilfering, stealing, embezzlement, brazen, armed robbery all go in for playing politics. Chicanery, duplicity, libel, sedition, treason, castration of truth, deliberate strangulation of justice and fairplay are now baptised "playing politics." When one tribe dispossesses another tribe of their hard earned property, liberty, and rights; it is called playing politics. Even when men of "honour," men of "integrity" - Lawyers of renown, Doctors, Chiefs and leaders in their own right - meet together purposely to evolve very clever and subtle methods of mass dishonesty (have you ever heard of toe-print?) - all this is called playing politics. . Even clannishness is politics.. ."Thou should not be caught is the eleventh commandment (of politicians and criminals). Blessed is the man whose sins are covered; and so in this of pretences, the vilest criminal may have a f "stainless reputation" i he is clever enough not to be " found out (J.R. Nruachukwu, Assistant Editor, 'Nation Magazine'). - . . .. What does politics mean? Simply it means the science or art of government which engenders a condition of civil order, organized society or state. Throughout the world, politics has been described in diverse terms-ungentleman's game, dirty game, tough game, expensive game, and a l that. One thing however is evident - that l �BRIBERY AND CORRUFTION 97 politics is a game and a very paying one indeed. Let us see how politics is a game. We know that for a game to be good it must have universally accepted rules which govern the actions of the players. Can we say that there are any such universally accepted rules in politics? If we cannot, who tells me that politics is a game? The fun of politics is that the actors in the game are generally capable of appointing themselves umpires but incapable of delivering universally accepted verdict. Recall to mind the Profumo sex scandal, the countless N.C.N.C. crisis, the Action Group crisis that led to the declaration of Emergency and all that! I think that it is better to call politics "a gamble" or "game of chance" in which the players are in the main opportunists and careerists. Don't get me wrong. I t is only in this sense that we can say that politics is expensive, dirty, ungentlemanly, Machiavellian, lucrative and what else have you. Politics can't be anything else because the means by which we surrender our votes should have justified the ends for which they are handed out. But what have we? During election times our politicians promise us heaven and earth - better roads, good water supply (taps), electricity, post offices, colleges, hospitals, scholarships, employment, increased salaries, all forms of social amenities and life more abundant. After elections, what do we normally have? No sight again of those we voted to help u s Taxes are increased; custom duties are increased; austerity measures are introduced and provident fund is created for compulsory saving. The next we hear of our politicians is in the House where they amuse themselves in the business of Government. It is �98 CORRUPTION IN POLITICS "hear, hear" all around. We have new models of cars, flowing robes, photographs all over our dailies. Sometimes we hear that such and such Honourable has crossed carpet and joined this -or that party. And the pity of it all is that the Constituency is never consulted. The Politicians couldn't care less. There is no honesty in our politics, Perhaps you may think this is sweeping. There are thugs, persecution, victimization and unlawful prosecution as a means of achieving political ends. There is bribery and corruption. There is nepotism and jobbery. There is favouritism and partiality. There is regionalism and tribalism. And al these are means to achieve political eminence. l When we begin to give offices to people not on the basis of ability and make injustice the comer-stone of our public life, then, we can say that our politics is a gamble. As long as our present rulers, some of whom chance alone gave the opportunity of leadership, continue to think in terms of preserving little empires of their own, empires where thugs, loafers and all manner of crooks abound, so long will there be no hope that Nigeria can ever make any sustained contribution to her internal unity or the peace of Africa or that of the world. The cold war between the regions now is becoming apparent day by day inspite of the hypocritical addresses of our leaders. What do our Politicians promise during Republican life of this country? Our brand of politics is very corrupt. Much of this corruption in the political parties originates from the outside as well as from within. But one of the best ways to keep politics clean is not to seek privileges or favours from politicians. Those who are loudest in condemning �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 99 'dirty politics' are more to blame than a l others because l they seek special privileges. More often ndt it has been found that a corrupt worker in politics got that way because someone in politics corrupted him. To exert any force, political parties must have workers who will become politically active and strive in various legitimate ways for what they consider the best interests of all concerned. Voting is not enough. Party workers, while conforming as far as possible to the worthy objectives of the organisation, must be ever alert not to put party advantage above the best interests of the country or the locality. Moreover, for every person who takes up a career in politics there are five hundred who could assist on a part-time basis. How about you? One who engages in politics must be prepared to follow a positive approach and not be content to play a negative role on the side lines. Theodore Roosevelt gave a strong recommendation on this when he said: "The prime thing every man who takes an active interest in politics must remember is that he must act, and not merely criticize the actions of others. It is not the man who sits by his fireside reading his evening papers and saying how bad our politics and Politicians are who will ever do anything to save us; it is the men who goes out into the rough hurly-burly of the caucus, the primary, the political meeting, and there faces his fellows on equal terms. The real service is rendered not by the critic who stands aloof from the contest but by the man who enters it and bears his part as a man should." Our brand of politics is dirty and corrupt. Take a typical election for an instance. There is much intrigue, much double-dealing, much disloyalty. The root cause of all these is of course bribery. People's conscience are �bought to vote for people who are not their choice; People are bought to cross-carpet to swell majority to entitle a particular political party ro rule. Victimization is used against opposing candidates and their supporters. Acts of arson and hooliganism are committed against opponents and people are bribed to do all these. The electoral college system brought with it large scale bribery and corruption. All over the place now are money-mongers, the commercial Politicians who parade in gorgeous robes. Political posts and privileges have gone to the highest bidders.. Election nominations are as high as you can.pay. Voting is even corrupt. Large scale voting papers are somehow managed into a candidate's box to ensure his victory while acid is somehow managed into the voting boxes of opponents to bum up the whole lot. Good politics'has gone to the dogs.,The lust for office and the ambition to rule are now the dominant features of our brand.of politics. Many thousands of pounds are put into an election campaign and the position is such now that men and women, who by their very nature and u p bringing, were not suited for politics now parade the whole place as "honourables." And'this is why politics has become plain business of nothing else but hard cash. All "spirit of sincerity, conviction, loyalty, devotion and dedication has become supplanted by mercenary motives and the desire to amass wealth." And so, '.'today, if as a politician you do not build plots at. .you have not started. As a politician, if all your children are not trained Overseas, you do not know what you are doing. As a politician, if yo,u do not send your girlifriend Overseas, you have not made your mark. Your wife must be a Contractor and your brother must become . �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 101 the Chairman of a well-paying Board." (J. R. Nwachukwu on 'Our Kind of Politics'). Bribery and corruption have eaten deep into our body politics. To be nominated you have to bribe. To be promoted, you have to bribe. T o win contracts, you have to bribe. To be Chariman, Secretary, General Manager of Corporations, you have to bribe. To win amenities, for your Constituencies, you have to bribe. T o win Scholarships, you have to bribe. There is no end to bribery and corruption in our own brand of poltitics. Today Politicians have introduced thugs, what they call "political stalwarts." These people are paid to burn houses, break the wind screens of cars, beat up opponents and cause trouble during campaigns. They are thickly set, muscle men who live at political parties' secretariats. They are tough, healthy looking men, whose job is to protect Politicians when they are on tour or campaigning. And they are heavily paid to do this job--from lo/- to 1 a day, excluding incidental inducements and tips from the big Politicians. Their chief food is drink and cigarettes. This is a common feature of our own brand of politics. What are we to do? Our politics is becoming very dirty. I t is even becoming more corrupt. Merely complaining about "dirty politics" accomplishes little, if anything, except perhaps to allow it to become more "dirty." Those who could make it better are discouraged from having any part in it. But if the average good citizens refuses or otherwise fails to take an interest in politics, then there .are no two ways about it - things are bound to go from bad to worse. Those who criticize and do nothing are probably more responsible for any �resultant disaster than those who actually promote it. Politics will never be any better than the people in it. The only way to improve its quality is to encourage more persons with high ideals to take an active part in everything that comes under legitimate politics. The more willing people are to start at the bottom, to serve in the ranks and generally play an insignificant role, the more valuable they will be in the long run because of their experience and hard knocks. 3 y fulfilling an earnest desire to serve the public in getting the best type of voters to the polls, people may well prepare the way for a political career for themselves in which they can render even greater service to the public. T o stop bribery and corruption in politics, let all of us act in this way: - Try to think of yourself as a "commitee of one" encouraging more high-quality persons to take up purposeful careers i govemment. You can do it at n any place - in the home, in a letter, in a conversation, in a business conference, in a clagsroom, in a park, or on a street comer. Stimulate others to be one-man recruiters. You will find most people disposed toward such a positive approach. The man in the street, the woman in her home, the student looking forward to the future, are for the most part sincere and of good will. Whatever their lack of technical or political knowledge, they can usually improve themselves by study and training. As , someone put it, "If the majority of men were not upright seekers after the common good, no govemment, regardless of how powerful, could ever exist. The police force would have to outnumber the citizenry." Stress the necessity of getting as. many young people as possible to take up govemment work as a lifetime cereer with the sole objective of providing efficient, honest, �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 103 and economical government for the benefit of all: In times of emergency it is necssary to supplement a regular staff with specialists who can serve only on a short-time basis. But even special assistance like this depends on those who are dedicated to government on a continuing basis. A supply of new blood is constantly needed. Many of our Politicians have long outlined their usefulness. They should be,changed now. Encourage little government workers - Messengers, Typists, File Clerks, Guards, and similar public servants - to work for the best interest of everybody. Every one of them counts. In their hearts they want to do the right thing. Most of them now think nobody cares. Yet each one doing one good stroke, speaking one good word, can start a trend that may have mlghty effect. Politicians are not the only people who love our country. The more interest the majority of the citizens take in seeing to it that every branch of their government, from top to bottom, is staffed by the best available career workers, the better government is bound to be. The home, the Church and the School are in a unique position of advantage to foster such a trend. There will always be a tendency on the part of most of us to limit our interests to getting rid of inefficient or corrupt people in government. Important as this maybe it is far from enough. To win a game of any kind, much more has to be done than "throw out" the poor players. I t is of far more consequknce to keep adding more good players to the team and putting heart into those who are already there. This is what we need today in our own brand of politics. �104 CORRUPTION IN POLITICS In considering the ever-present need for additional workers of ability and high purpose, it is most important not to overlook the fact that there are large numbers now government who are fulfilling their responsibility to the Nigerian public in an honest and efficient manner. I it were not for them, the situation would be well-nigh f hopeless. They rate your gratitude and your constant help. The downfall of a country is usually attributed to circumstances that are well known to all. More often than not, however, the root of the trouble is to be found in countless little instances of negligence, carelessness, or oversight on the part of the average citizen in the performance of his duties. 'One of the best indications that the ordinary citizen is doing very little in an effective way to save his country is evident in his oft-repeated phrase: "What can I do?" First of all, it is an open confession that, while sharing in the fruits of democracy, he is failing to contribute to the preservation of the roots that make the fruit possible. "What can I do?" clearly reveals that one is doing very little. Those who are dedicated to a ciuse, whether good or bad, are fired with ideas that they individually can put into effect. One never hears a man devoted to destruction say, "What can I do?" He is already doing it! Finally we should not expect God to clean up our politics. Let u s encourage a more respectful attitude. As I said earlier the tendency to criticize government is growing even among those who are ordinarily very loyal. Consequantly there has developed among many a lack of sympathy - an aversion toward public service and anybody connected with it. A bad situation, therefore, has become steadily worse. A man with a weak heart is only hurting himself if he does no more than �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 105 make fun of the heart and neglects to protect it. If his heart stops, everything of course stops. Loyalty to government begins in the home. Children pick up most of their prejudices in the home. If an everincreasing number of young people show a reluctance to undertake a career in government, it may be due to the fact that they frequently hear derogatory remarks about all phases of government from the lips of their father or mother. If ever they should express a desire to devote themselves to a life of public service, their parents' reaction is frequently a chilly one. "Don't be foolish. Don't stick your neck out too much: You'll never get anywhere in politics. You'll only get hurt." Thus children are conditioned over a period of years to do nothing but take care of themselves. How long can we allow this situation to exist? Now is the time for corrections and change of heart as well as that of the head. Good citizens should make it a matter of conscience to be honest in their thoughts, words and actions in all that affects their private lives as well as State affairs. They can make contributions to the betterment of the government and help arrest the decays that sometimes eat its vitals. Even better, citizens should help restore that condition of elementary justice which is absolutely essential if we are to survive as a free nation. We should be grateful to God that many in government service are faithful public servants, giving their best for the common good or we would have been wrecked by now. They labour hard and conscientiously at their tasks because they are people of high purpose. Their sense of duty and dication to the role that involves the destiny of everybody removes a note of drudgery �106 CORRVPTION IN POLITICS from the hardest tasks and makes each one instead a labour of love. Those who believe that honesty and integrity are indispensable factors in Nigerian Government must follow the example of these devoted public servants. They must do more than bemoan the shocking disregard for truth and justice that they observe so often. If their love for God and country is deep and genuine enough, they will take action. They will engage as best they can in local, state and national affairs. If we are to bequeath to future generations of Nigerians the precious advantage of God-given liberty that it is our privilege to possess, more of us will have to roll up our sleeves and put in the hard work that will guarantee continuance of that freedom for ourselves and for those who look to us to protect it for them. Pray for someone in government. Pray that more persons nf character and competence take up careers in govem- ment. The possibilities for good are enormous in this sphere. In one sense one can be a real apostolate. "The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest". (Luke 10:2) You can also accomplish much by praying for someone already in government service, praying that he will live up to the high responsibility of his office. This type of assistance is appreciated more than you realize. Anyone in a position of authority, as well-intentioned and as wellequiped as he maybe, feels his inadequacy a t times and looks for more than human guidance and support. Make your voice heard throngh letters. A means at the disposal of all, and one overlooked by most, is the influence for good that can be achieved at the cost ofa little time and a three-pence stamp. A simple, spontaneous, constructive �BPIBEPY AND CORRUPTION 107 letter, whether it is sent to the local concilman or to your representative in Parliament or to your Premier or his Ministies, makes much more of an impression than you think. Interest yourselves in our newspapers. Messages to the public opinion in our newspapers should not be overlooked. They are another means of stirring up interest in good government. If your local newspapers do not already include it, you may see fit to request that they adopt the custom of carrying a daily column showing how legislators, in both Regional and Federal Governments behaved, voted and carried out their functions. At election time, encouraging the newspapers to present information that will familiarize voters the background and principles of those who are running for office. -Every means, private and public, used to develop intelligent public opinion gives much-needed support in securing the type of government that the great majority of our people desire. You, whoever you may be, can render some service in this way. Yes, everybody can do something. If we do our best and not necessarily magnify trifling troubles; if we look resolutely at things as they are; if we avail ourselves of the manifold blessing which surround us; we cannot but feel that life is indeed a glorious inheritance and that government of the people for the people and,by the people is yet the best experiment in man's attempt to rule himself. The more you delve into and discover the true meaning, the true significance of politics, the better citizen you are likely to be and be, by the same token, the better politics will be. While you will not be blind to the influences that are ever at work trying to corrupt the �political system, yet you will not exaggerate them either. You will not shun politics and over emphasize the failures of those who participate ia it. You will regard this as a sickness to be cured rather than avoided. The very detecting of any ilness in the body politics will spur you to look for a remedy rather than to take a furtile attitude and abandon all hope. The price of playing a part in politics, if it is done well, not be a small one. There are bound to be heartaches and heartbreaks But in the midst of it all there will be that deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that you have served the high cause of God and country. And your reward will be eternal. �CHAPTER EIGHT MISCELLANEOUS CASES OF CORRUPTION "The peace of mind and the inner satk,faction that is felt by those who known that they always do whatever they can, either to know what is good or to ucquire what is good, is a plemre without comparison sweeter, more lasting, and more substantial than any derived from other sources"; and "To the question, What is the true object of human life, whether looked at collectively or individual? the simplest and most precise answer would be: The perfection of our own moral nature, since it has a more immediate and certain influence on our well-being than perfection of any other kind"; so that "In truth, the men who have done most for the world have taken very little heed of influence. They have sought light, and left their influence, to fare as it might list. Can we not imagine the mingled mystification and disdain with which a Spinoza or a Descrates, a Luther or a Pascal would have listened to an exhortain in our persuasive modern manner on the niceties of the politic and the social obligation of pious fraud? It is not given to many to perform the achievements of such giants as these, but every one may help to keep the standard of intellectual honesty at a lofty pitch, and what better service can a man do than to furnish the world with an example of faithful dealing with his own conscience and with his fellows? This at least is the one talent that is placed in the hands of the obscurest of us all." �110. MISCELXANEOUS CASES O F CORRUPTION There is a growing clan of people in Nigeria today wh~sk: suivival;.depends largely an their. "coxinections" and "contacts" and very little on their personal merits. They :got :or..:hope :to get their.'posts. and. pernotions not. .by .their merit but as a . result of. their birth or their ability to intrigue;back-bite; blackmail, book-lick, flatter: or. play. contact-man for bribes a n d girl-friend hunting. Alternatively they can mortage, theif.conscience, assasinate characters, carry smear ~ampai~gns .against certain individuals or cross carpets for mere political lucre. &cause of :this situation, .you.find the idlers, the never'd&wells,.the nicompwps, the unqualified and the misfits th,ese .days getting on better .in .life, than their .hardworking colleagues. And,this is..only because they have Abraham and Isaac as their .fathers. They .are god-sons or god-daughters ,of .god:fathers. on the.,throne. today. But one puestion these god-sons and god-daughters never ask.is "what happens to us when.our god-father is topped out of hi$ throne?'.And this poss.ibility . i s natural i n t h e life of min. The apwer 'would frighten. them, no doubt, but yetthe truth must be'faccd. If th.eir god-fathers are tojjpled:out 'of their throne of nepotic' Supremacy,, dowri surely will go:all,the god-sons and god-datigliters also, And a';new' set of god-fathers, .god-vn? .and . god-daugthers would fake their places and like dogs have their o w days. Which: is still the .wax of the corrupt world; This is the ineviiabiliti; which always attends ,all societies. whose siifvival .depends 'inore on filthjr'.'lconiacts" and'".tonnectio.ns'I than'on indivi'dual.merit.'.Now,.iS time for. all . . . the of us to think. Some big men do not like to go to.Prison although they like to do those things which often send men to Prison. They get small men, some jobless or poor folk, to serve their sentences. All they.have to do is simply pay such �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 111 folk a handsome money; say some £100 to £500. Some Prison officials give preferential treatment to a type of prisoners, although they know a prisoner is a prisoner for all that. There is no superiority or minority, seniority or juniority at the White College. It is equality for all or the contrary smacks of injustice. Howbeit, some Prison officials receive money to give some prisoners better treatment, better feeding, liberty, chance of meeting relatives, wives or concubines or girl-friends or permission to leave the Prison House at night to pass same in the Prisoner's house. Some Prisoners do not serve the "with hard labour sentence" because some Prison Officials have been properly tipped. More and more people are becoming more qnd more frustrated with bribery and corruption in our society. What really is wrong? Everybody, including workers, businessmen, traders (big and petty), students (High School or University), market women and even politicians are grumbling that events, trends and tendencies in our politics, trade and general life, are frustrating them all. There is a wholesale acquisition and accumulation of wealth by certain members of our society. The result is that the poor are still writhing in their abject poverty and the gap between the haves and have-nots is widening further every day. Unemployment gathers nomentum and yet there is no realistic solution advanced to stay the inroads of this hydra-hqaded monster. Many students have, out of penury, been disilluioned and stranded. Some of them might not have adopted the correct approach to win scholarships which are but niggardly doles. Our labour force has even fallen apart because some workers and their leaders have sacrificed their rightful reward and meat. There is still corruption, inspite of the X-Squad, if this has not been bribed out. �112 MISCELLANEOUS CASES O F CORRUPTION There is nepotism in high quarters. Tribalism still l k m s larger than before. And we don't seem to be worried about these things! We have found it difficult to change our hearts. Our leaders have the record of being the most widely travelled globe-trotters in the world. And also into the bargain are some of our leaders who are the greatest beggars of foreign aid! But now is the time to put it to the present generation of our leaders that anyone who is interested in leading Nigeria must make more sacrifices for the country. It does not require an opinion poll to show that many people are not impressed by the sacrifices some of our leaders may claim they have made. What? with some many luxurious cars, free quarters, free light, free water, free labour, fantastic salaries and allowances all into the bargain! The whole thing is frustrating. How long shall we continue to deceive ourselves? How long must we continue to shout austerity when those who should go austere never budgc an inch? Some doctors still receive bribes to conduct: medical examinations for Overseas trip and employment. Some of them still receive bribes to perform operations or treatment, even during government time and within government premises. Ring a doctor and a nurse or ward servant answers. The reply is "the doctor is not in" even though the good old medical officer is just there busy with patients or arranging for private consultations afterwards. Even some nurses attached to some Doctors receive tips to allow patients to go and see the Doctor for the diagnosis of their diseases. Sometimes a in" even though the good old medical officer is just person who undergoes a major operation should tip some Nurses or his wound will develop pus. That's why �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 113 Mission Hospitals are still more popular today because this practice is hardly prepetuated there. The fun of the corruption in Hospitals is that even bribe is paid before sometimes you remove a corpse from the Public Mortuary. The thing always starts like this: the person who has the key will be suddenly missing and attempts are generally made to find him to come and open the Mortuary. But he is paid for the trouble all the same. There is what is called 10 per cent deal for the party. But this is also seen in a different light. Often you hear well founded rumours that certain contracts have been awarded for the highest tenders. Sometimes also you hear gossips that some well-known building contractors and contracting firms are agents of political parties. And this is how public funds are diverted to the benefit of certain political parties. Very often you hear the names of some well known continental firms mentioned in connection with some scandalous deals. Who has not heard of these before? But who haq been able to say them? Are all of us cowards? We are still hearing them and we do nothing. Except we get down to the very heart of political corruption in our country today, we may one day wake up to notice that a traitor has sold all of us the mere love of lucre. I t is a publicly known secret today that in this country there are some political organizations use their positions to help their party finances and in many cases quite unscrupulously. Some political parties do this covertly and turn to condemn it openly. A Politician who has the power to approve or disapprove some million pounds of a deal, say £2,000,000 may find after a part's secret meeting that he has a duty to donate some £2,000 to his party. How can he do it? Of course he has to act �114 MISCELLANEOUS CASES OF CORRUPTION corruptly. Oftentimes, this big deal is organised fraud, sponsored and directed from party headquarters. In this way political corruption continues. Have you ever asked where the thousands of pounds are got to finance gigatic election operations and campaigns? To stop political corruption we must be able to trace its cause from its offshort to its taproot and then pull it out , from there. Almost every Ferry has the normal passage where the machine counts passengers that have passed through the gate. But there is another .gate through which lorries or gwds pass. People who pass through this gate pay their normal fare. But where does this go? To the Ferry's account or to some individual's pockets? Charges of vehicles in every Ferry is according to their capacities. But the weighing man determines the weight of these vehicles and issues receipts. I t has been known however that some of these official receipts are stolen from the safe and the money realized from them converted into personal ends. Corruption is rife in this country. We have been condemning it. But who will bell the cat? An M.P. quite recently made serious allegations concerning corruption at high quarters. What happened? Nothing. There was not even as a public inquiry. Produce Inspectors grade produce but on many occasions ungraded ones pass as graded because money has been offered to some Produce Officials. They can degrade your produce if you do not grease their palms. Sometimes a trader calls them to come and grade his produce and they seem not to hear. They are "very busy" but the secret is that the more they delay produce buyers or sellers, the more they suffer and their produce also. �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 115 In some mining industries, the tally system is used. Tally numbers are used to determine the number of miners who are actually working. But absent miners give their friends their tally numbers to present at the office so that they can be marked present when they are not. Even this is not the only evil practice. There is the bribe of some £15 to £20 before some miners are employed at all. And there are regular offers of drinks (strong) to the 'oga' of the office to advertise that some miners are "good boys". The thing works like this: The hewers put their numbers on the tubes while the tubmen put theirs too and push along t~ check points. But some miners' numbers have been known to have missed at this point because they are not in the good books of the clerks at the entrance to the Mines. Adulteration of goods is rife in our markets today. Cheating is the order of the day. Half measures are sold for whole. Getting of markets stalls is still a game of "lucky dip". Some many people have so many stalls which they sublet to others who could have got the stalls were it not for the blocking of the way by bribers. And this is bad enough. At the Motor Park the people who collect money from vehicles that enter and leave the park may not have rendererd honest and correct accounts of these. There should be locked up machine so that if you drop a shilling or six-pence, for instance, the receipt for that will be brought out by the machine. The previous system of hand-giving out receipts led to corruption of reprinting these receipts and using them over and over again. We are not safe. Bribery and corruption are the twin dangers of our age. Let's all unite and fight this common . �116 MISCELLANEOUS CASES OF CORRUPTION danger. Politicians make sure that some vacancies are filled by their supporters and they call this 'reward for political patronage'. But this should stop. Members of Boards receive no less than £50 a month, merely for attending meetings perhaps once in three months. This is revolting; but does it worry the people concerned? And they are some Corporation Chairmen who are employed on part-time basis. They receive some £3,000 a year for this inconvenience and add to the gain free quarters free transport and free drinks (or do you call it entertainment allowance?) Not satisfied, they present a host of their relations and friends for employment. Can this continue? Should anybody who has no bigman "brother" then suffer indefinitely? Appointment to Boards or Corporation should not be made on political basis or at least as a form of political compensation. Rather it should be done or pure merit, bearing in mind the quali-fication and experience of individuals concerned. - T o be honest; to be Our resolution must be this: kind; to earn a little, and to spend a little less; to make upon the whole a family happier for his presence; to renounce when that shall be necessary, and not to be embittered; to keep a few friends, but these without capitulation. Above all, on the same grim condition, to keep friends with himself: here is a task for all that a man has of fortitude and delicacy. With this resolution, let your life be as happy sunshine as you can make it. Have the good sense to find a joy in as well as in play. Hurt no man - especially no girl or child. Be sober. Do not invite headaches on the morrow. Resent injustice and lying for the good of all. Smite humbugs and sordid and sefish people joyfully, until the brood is extinct. Be honourable, truthful, and kind; for honour, truth, and kindness are basic conditions of a healthy and happy �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 117 time for the human family. Cultivate refinement, for it doubles one's capacity for happiness. Cherish wisdom and dread illusion, for the paths of life are slippery with the blood and tears of the unwise. Beware of verbiage. Keep a strong and self-conscious personality, for there are too many people ready to exploit it. Fear neither God nor devil nor priest, but help to make youk fellows such that you can walk cheerfully and helpfully with them to the end of the road. Do unto others as you would that they would do unto you. �CHAPTER NINE CONCLUSION "Man cuts himself off from God by irreligion; from his brethren by indifference, hatred and war; from. his soul by pursuing fugitive and unreal goods. Having separated himself from all else, he reflects his inner discord upon the universe at large; he separates everything about him, lays sacrilegious hands on the humblest tracts of divine unity; crumbles up the entrails and matter ; itself . . . " and "Our life on earth is a constant warfare; a warfare, not against creatures of flesh and blood, but against spiritual principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places . . ."; so that " A spirit of pride and rebellion embitters individuals and stirs up the masses. Urged on by the powers of hell, men strive to enjoy pleasure in all its forms; they seek to please their bodies, hearts and minds. T h e y wish to enjoy life, and beyond this they have no further aim, but for the sake of enjoyment they are breaking down the old barriers of respect for authority, of self-control and dignity, of uprightness and honesty, of faith and loyalty. All the old beliefs and customs, traditions and habits, even family and social life, are in danger of being swallowed up in a great cataclysm of foulness, bloodshed and sin." I am rounding up my discussion so far on bribery and corruption and their allied evils. I have not, in my dis- �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 119 cussion so far, posed as the Saint of our society. All I have done is to point the most serious evils of our present age and tried to give suggestions for their eradication. You may have had the same feeling with me, but why not let us pull together and eradicate these social evils? You will agree with me that these evils have not helped us at all. Rather, they have brought other evils like injustice, victimization, fraud and dishonesty. But must we allow this situation to linger further? Things now are assuming unproportional dimensions and the situation already is becoming alarming. What really is the matter with all of us? It looks as if everything is at a standstill. Take, for instance, the much talked about six-year development plan. It seems to me that a great many of us simply pay lip service to this vital programme. One should have thought that this is the time to really go austere. But what do we find? Waste, unnecessary waste, mostly in high places, bribery and conuption, nepotism and favouritism, fraud and dishonesty, injustice and jobbery. Honestly, I think the time has now come to curb, rather drastically, some overseas tours by our public men, some corrupt practices in high and low places, some contract deals of this country which based on "help me to help you" or on a percentage basis. For instance, it is publicly known nowadays that some political organizations in this country use their positions to help their party finances. Most political parties do this corvertly although they condemn it publicly. It always happens like this. A political party is accused and its members merely shrug their shoulders and say "it is politics and every party is doing it". If another party is guilty, some politicians try to cry down the heavens and urge for the �crucifixion of the offenders. They would want the Press to overstep its bounds by showing up such offenders for public contempt and ridicule. But whether this or hs that political party is guilty, the fact remains that t i practice drains our meagre resources and such should be stopped immediately. Our public men are fabulously paid: Who does not h o w this? But who speaks out? Parliamentariam on an emolument of £1,500 excluding transport expenses, attend meetings for a period of about three months in a year! If our British overlords had ruled this country in that manner, by now our Treasury would have been empty. But now we are doing things ourselves. Whom do we blame? Our brand of politics is very corrupt. It is political jobbery all the way. Politicians make sure that vacancies are filled by their supporters, and this they call "reward for party patronage". This is sweet nonsense.. And then there is another class of privileged Nigerians known as Chairmen of Boards and Corporations. Their assignments are supposed to be part-time although the remunerations attached to such posts range from £1,500 to £3,000 a year, with expensively furnished quarters free of rents and free transport also pushed into the bargain. But some of these Corporations don't meet for more than 12 times in a year and yet the fantastic salaries to their Secretaries, Directors, General Managers and Chairmen. You also know of their landed property, buildings, fleet of lorries, stores, etc. etc. etc. etc. Members of Boards receive no less than £50 a month merely for attending meetings perhaps once in 3 months. This is revolting. Has the time not really come for our leaders to reconsider these things? We are begging �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 121 about so that a few can enjoy life abundantly. Think of the many glob-trotters we have sent all over the world to seek foreign aids! Surely if the thousands of pounds paid out monthly to the HAVES of our society are invested in some type of industries, the country will have undoubtedly been the better for it. Corruption exists too much in our country today. We have been condemning it. All of us have; but the question is: "who will bell the cat?" Only recently an MP made a very serious allegation concerning the corrupt practices of some high officials and politicians. What has been done about this? Nothing, except that the MP later turned to amend the allegaion. One would have excepted an immediate invstigation. But this wasn't done. When do we hope to eradicate this evil? Let's start now. An attempt at eradication is the only important thing now. First of all appointments to Boards or Corporations should not be made as political compensation. Rather it should be done on pure merit, that is, qualification and experience of the individuals concerned. Let us also reduce the fees or remunerations of all Board, Corporation and Parliament Members to maximum of £50 per month. This exclude transport of members coming from for off places. Members should also be compelled to make use of either the Railway or the Airways; in which case, government warrants should be used. All Board and Corporation Chairmen, occupying free quarters and using free transport, should be ejected from such quarters and stopped from using free transport. We have to step into these problems now. Presently, "the reactions of the populace to the current wave of political corruption vary with the mentality of the individual. There are many among us who resignedly �122 CONCLUSION believe that politicking and plundering are synonymous; that a man, when he assumes the office of a politician, automatically assumes the role of a night-marauder, having for his daily thoughts no other motive than to rob the public treasury. "Don't mind even the critics. If you put them in power tomorrow, they would do worse", a friend once summed up a heated argument on the subject of corruption. And this friend typefies the many who today have lost faith and confidence in the fellow man inside and outside politics. They can no more trust, even their own self, with the task of mnning this country honestly. "There is the other group of critics. In this are people who religiously believe that our problem is in the hands of characters and personalities of the people in politics today. Many in this group believe that a change of faces and minds could change the trend. There is yet another. Members of this group are by their developed intellect not prone to hero-worship. They see things in terms of factors, and systems. Form this school come suggestions that a change of the political and economic system and setting alone can alter the present situation. "To my mind, the third group expresses what is nearest to the solution of political corruption. Close your eyes to the faces of the characters and personalities. Think more deeply of the factors, principles and policies and you would be coming on fine to the goal. The questions we must ask ourselves and answer are q a n y and multiform. What makes a politician use his poiition to cross the carpet for money? What motivating impulses drive a politician to give contracts to firms for money? Is it that his salary is not enough? O r that his sinecure post whets his appetite for more and more wealth? Or are the people so daft �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 123 and passive in their attitude to corruption that the polotician feels safe and secure and so goes on plundering regardless of the temptation among fereigners in our midst to lay the blame of corruption on the political unconsciousness of the people and the poverty of the politicians generally? I would also lay some of the blame on the extended family demands of our soceity on the man at the top. Full employment for all, a Welfare state for the aged and for students, may be one solution. "The battle against corrupt practices in politics must be waged vigorously along several fronts. First, the people must be less passive and more vocal in their condemnation of the evil. Second, a systematic diminution of the,politiciansl income must be pursued in practice. The aim is to make politics attractive only to those with devotion and to obviate that motivating impulse of profit - seeking. Third is to evolve a system by which correction, whether at local, regional or federal govemment level can be detected, and when detected, can be brought before the court. I am informed by my lawyer friends that a private citizen, armed with his tax-receipt, has the right to sue a politician - be he a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary for misappropriating his tax, if he can prove that to the court. "Last time, I suggested ruthless cuts in salaries, transport amenities, and I may here add, rents and even business rights. Should the people condone the practice by some politicians borrowing money (loans) from Government agencies for private businesses? I now begin to think that it is immoral. The loan-relationship between Governments and Government financial agencies on one hand and constituency representatives on the other has been largely responsible for the wanton movements of party loyalties across the carpet. �124 CONCLUSION "Carpet-crossing and loan-guided consciences are two related evils. The fellow who owes the Finance Corporation or Government-sponsored bank ceases to be a straight thinker the moment he gets himself into the obligatory position of pandering to the political dictates of the man who holds the purse string. That fellow has toppled governments without a coup. He has cheated the voters and sold the electorate to political slavery. The scene at present looks to me like a babel of money-grabbers, hurrying to make a life-long keep within the span of five years. And the scramble is too obvious an eyesore. "What then would I suggest as the best line of action for the people as a whole? First, the people should re-assure themselves that they are masters and not servants of politicians. There is so much fear of and respect for politicians in this country'that the people have almost come to accept the inferior but mistaken status of worshippers. This explains why some politicians can afford to defy the wishes and will of the people to the extent of audaciously breaking their standing contract with their electorate. They can across the carpet as many times as they are bribe-guided, leaving their crosses and their obligations to the voters behind. The people must square up to their servants - the politicians - and make enough effort to control their political behavious. There are many ways of doing this. One, and this is the time to plan for it, is to get every politician who wants to be nominated for the next elections to si*gn a contract or an agreement with the people of his constituency. The agreement should contain commitals to this effect :(a) That the candidate shall declare the state of his (and his wife's and children's) wealth on �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 125 winning the election, and shall declare this annually while he is in office as member of the House; (b) That the candidate, after winning an election on one party platform, shall not change to another political party without causing a plebisi cite to be held in hs constituency; Postscript: Some people have suggested bye-elections, I don't accept this because it would tax the purse of the government concerned. The plebiscite should place the financial liability on the party that woos a member. If a man fancies a woman, he has to pay the wooing and wedding expenses. The same argument should hold for wooing and wedding in politics. I hear that a party has in the past spent as much as £15,000 in the dark of night to buy members from across the carpet. My suggestion is that this money should be spent on the open business of consultation with the electorate concerned and with an individual member in the dark of night. This particular clave in the contract should commit the candidate or member to an agreement that he, autoi s matically renders h seat vacant by any single act of crossing the carpet without the consent of the people, via plebiscite. (c) That the candidate shall conduct his election , campaigns without the use of bribes. The people must resist all atempts by politicians to buy votes. It's often the very begging of political coruption. A politician who borrows, say three thousand pounds for the purpose of buying votes, goes into Parliament, a heavy debtor. If he is a debtor, what hope is there for you and �CONCLUSION me to stop him fom recovering that money by hook or crok? He must pay back what he borrowed, mustn't he? And from there starts the whole tale. From bribery for debt-paying to bribery for consolidating my constituency for the next election" and for re-imbursing party purse. So, we must be honest with ourselves by sending only solvent people to represent us 1n Parliament or Houses. (d) That a candidate when elected shall never involve himself in any loans transactions with the government or government finance agencies or party-influenced banks. Any politician who breaches this clause should regard his tenure of office as automatically breached. These are only a few clauses for the suggested contract. All candidates, no matter of which political persuasion, must be ~rwailed uuon to sien the contract if thev must get the ieople's voies. If th& refuse to sign it, VOTE THEM OUT, they are thieves. The situation in this country has gone so bad that the people must come together to combat corruption. I would be the first citizen to applaud anyone outside politics to form a movement dedicated to the massive task of putting politicians in their moral place. Statesmen, Churchmen, Students Unions, Market women, Trade unions, etc. cap form a common anti-corruption front. And if they can enlist the patronage of cleanminded and respectable leaders in other walks of life, they would beamassing up the greatest anti-corruption force on the land. People have made effects in the past to form anti-corruption leagues, e.g. "The League of �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 127 Bribe Scorners." The leagues are doing wonderful work in their own ways. But to my mind, the task ahead is greater than the support they now receive. Besides, they don't seem able to reach the high places where political corruption is now the vogue. "The battle against top-floor cormption demands the use of life, a social lift. As I see it, the League of Bribe Scorners operates mainly among the ground-floor residents as the Police X-Squad -operating mainly among two bob a go the underpaid junior policemen collecti~g from lorry drivers2 My respect for the X-Squad will triple the day they grab a senior Police Officer for collecting £50 to £100 bribe to promote a lance corporal. The movement of my imagination should be a socially powerful one. Such a movement, if powerful enough, can move the government to take steps that they are now afraid to take. The movement can set up its own CID (Corruption Investigation Department) and pursue specific rumours and allegations secretly with vigour and nationalist verve. It should grow large enough to encourage a Prime Minister or Premier to sack a Minister or discipline a guilty politician." (Don Nugotaf, Sunday Express April 26, 1964, Page Seven). Recently one of our newspapers carried the reports of various acts of stealing which involved the very citizens of this Republic whose duty, among others, is to check stealing. I mean our peace keepers - the Police. This is very disappointing and disgraceful. and shows a gross betrayal of trust on the part of the 'policemen involved. I am not convinced that the good old sayingUexamples are better than precepts" has lost its value. Almost every �128 CONCLUSION day the police issue out appeals to the members of the public to help them in reducing to the lowekt degree possible the rate of staling, bribery, corruption, nepotism and allied social evils in the country. And I think members of the public are co-operating wonderfully in this respec%. When the dreadful sin of 'theft' is committed in a place, the police are called upon to dig out the offenders. Now that some of shameless and malcontented members of the Force are themselves thieves, I wonder to whom the ordinary citizen should shout for help when he is at the mercy of a 'thief-man' since nothing could be more foolish than setting a thief to catch a thief. This is not all. Bribery and corruption are rife in the rank and file of the Force. Is it true that in the Police Force today some juniors are sometimes asked by some senior officers to pay bribes of between fifty and hundred pounds before getting good recommendations for promotion? Is it true that some of the juniors in so-called "lucrative" units (Motor Traffic, for instance) collect bribes which are not for themselves alone but also for some higher bosses who threaten them with disfavour if they don't "report" with part of their "takings" each day? If these allegations are true, what do we do to eradicate bribery and corruption in the Force? Presently the Inspector General of Police has taken up the matter in hand. We wish him a speedy success, but abolition of Traffic Police in the Rural Areas still will not stop bribery and corruption. What I will suggest is allowing some C.I.D. or X-Squad men to rover around such areas where the Traffic Men stop transport vehicles. T o avoid bribery and corruption in Land Department, there should be a prepared layout and development for �BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 129 an area which is intended to be leased to the public. And due information should always be given to the public concerning all the requirements for application. This will obviate unnecessary trafficking in "stereotypted forms of application for land." This is an Honourable Memeber. He promises to get job for the daughter of his Jriend or type of friend. And she is not looking badly at all ! But the boys appear suspicious. About contracts, detailed check by an Examiner of Accounts should always be made of all payments, especially those alleged extra work on contracts, and surcharge those responsible for such payments. This will help eradicate the habit of "helping contractors to help some officials." T o a v i d bribery and corruption in employment and the consequent deliberate defiance of all Regulations, Rules, Instructions and Advice in the belief that 'fait accompli" will be accepted, stricter discipline should �130 CONCLUSION be taken against offenders, especially in the cases of retrospective approvals for appointments, whether of teachers in Council Schools or officials in Corporations or other Departments. In Councils, there should be a complete review of the allocation of functions of Committees with a clear-cut division. The members of some important Committees should be men of high integrity, men whose actions should be above suspicion. The present set up is not a good one. Most of them are presently very poor and this proverty adds to their being corrupt. There should be no dual responsibility for the staff and each committee should be responsible for its own staff, subject to overall control of establishments and general conditions of service by the Finance Committee. Finally, in the words of Sir Francis Iibiam, Governor of Eastern Nigeria "Nigeria needs leaders who will rise above corruption, avarice, nepotism and envy in our body politic. Indeed, Nigeria requires men and women whom the lust of office will not seduce to betray the confidence reposed on them. Let us take inspiration from our past achievements and learn thereby to appreciate that no sacrifice is too great for the unity of our people and for the unliftment of our great country. The cause of unity must not only be paramount in our minds, but we must be prepared to make the sacrifice needed to sustain it, and all our people must make that sacrifice not in pretentious protestations of affection, but in the deep knowledge that without it our nation cannot become truly great nor our people know true happiness. The adege, "Do unto us as you would have them do to you," is a saying we must assiduously learn to practise. Our Republican status is for the benefit of all its citizens. �131 BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION If you are in a place of authority, I implore you to use your authority and power wisely and impartially. The authority was.not given to you for your personal advantage and aggrandizement. It is the undisputed right of any citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to get to the highest goal of achievement of which he or she is capable. No one, therefore, because he or she is on top has any right to put any kind of illegitimate stumbling-block in the way of another. Let us ever remember that "what is sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose." ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am grateful to the following:- Mr. C. Osi-Iweh, Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, who typed the manuscript; F. 0.Ihenacho, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Eastern Nigeria, for a copy of his excellent lecture on Bribery and Corruption; many friends who gave me useful information, especially in the Police Force, Railways, Judicial Department, etc.; my legal adviser, . . who read the script fromlegal point of view. . �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bribery and corruption : bane of our society Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nkwoh, Marius Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Aba : International Press Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Nigerian literature (English) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3555 Description An account of the resource This serious political tract catalogues and analyzes many types of bribery and corruption. The author states that he has compiled a "compendious and imaginative headline under which he puts down his impressions and experiences gathered during a long period of research into the question of bribery and corruption, how they arose and how far they have putrefied our social system," (pg.v).&nbsp; The introductory chapter surveys what others have written about bribery and corruption, and the remaining chapters discuss the types of bribery and corruption that exist in different sectors of Nigerian society. Areas covered include: police and traffic, railroad and shipping, civil and criminal courts, and public officials. <br /><br />Each chapter develops Nkwoh's ideas about how greed and poverty serve as the two root causes of bribery and corruption. The author also argues that even though all would condemn bribery, few actually oppose it. He asks,<em>. . . but does experience not show us that all these public denunciations effect little, if anything at all? How can we condemn these evils in the daylight when so many of us are arch-givers or receivers of bribes in the secret of darkness?</em> (pg.vii).&nbsp;<br /><br />Nkwoh also deals with the possible consequences: the rich succeed, while poor do not; the incompetence of public officials; the loss of constituents' trust and the loss of self worth; smuggling; and the breakdown of the court system, the rule of law and the social contract.<br /><br />The author fears that a neocolonial state is the logical end to a political system that relies on bribery, nepotism and corruption. He cautions that corrupt officials "generally seek aid from their foreign paymasters, but the story of their end is invariably the same. If they succeed it is usually as captive to their foreign protectors and often at the price of their country's independence," (pg.24-25). Nkwoh believes that the current political system, c.1965, breeds corruption through its electoral practices. He asks, <em>"Imagine a candidate spending &pound;3000 for an election! He must recoup himself of his losses as soon as he succeeds. I wonder if Parliament is the way to make money anyhow," (pg.16).</em> Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1965 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/183ae997a8a4af7b26c8d6caf54efef4.pdf 97b8557eb10f356de5b066a8eed4dc64 PDF Text Text GIRL' FRIENDS �WHY BOYS DON'T TRUST THEIR GIRL FRIENDS �PREFACE This pamphlet captioned why boys don't trust their gril. friends is the first of its kind specially to deliver boys from the hands of our girls, who are in the habit of duping, bluffing and asking for much gifts from the boys. This pamphlet makes several revelations. It is very interesting and wonderful. It is the first and best of its kind. It a guide fo all boys and men in general. It is a pamphlet that everybody should read for information, advice, wisdom and mental entertainment. N. 0. NJOKU, (The Author ) ~ o p y n g h tResewed. . . �CONTENTS Pages What are girls love towards boys ? .................. 4 What Girls like to get from Boys ...... ....5 ............ ...... 5 Begging of money ...... ...... .... 6 The life of Girls Girls are Pretenders ...... -........ 6 My advice to young Boys ...... ...... 6 Love ltters a.. ......."... ............ 8 Pocket Money ............ ...... 9 The Story of Geofrey and Alice ...... 11 The Story of Margret and Chuks .... 15 -... .................. 18 Sayings of the wise A Story from the Arabs .,. . ........... 20 ...... ...... ...... 20 Advice to young men 24 Charges Against Wives ...... ...... 21 Wives obey your Husbands ...... 24 My Charges against Woman are ~ustifiid 25 Wives causes Trouble in !he house ...... 25 Wives who cook at late hours ............ 26 The life of a man ...... ....... ...... 26 The life of a woman ...... ...... 27 Poor man has no friend ".... ...... 27 A poor man receives insults ..... ...... 27 A poor man is not loved by his people ...... 28 Poor man is sensible but can't be made a Chairman ...... .... 28 Women hate poor Man ...... ...... ...... 29 Poor man has no good clothes ...... 29 Some Wives feed their poor husbands ...... 30 ...... ..... 30 A poor man fears a rich man ...... ...... 31 What are men to wcmen ...... ....-..32 The bad women The good women ...... ...... ...... 33 ...... ...... ...... ...... 34 Ladies Pride My ddvic: to husband end wife .......... 35 + - -- - �WHAT ARE GIRLS LOVE TOWARDS BOYS? Girls love towards boys is only, to eat them and get their needs from them, mostly to get clothes and money because with out clothes girls can not be regarded. a Infact, apart from natural beauty of a girls appearance aod dressing I can say that all girls are one, whether tall or short because they have the same oatural body and shape no one wi:h double sex. There, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, men and women those who are interested in love marking and friendship. Don't love because of cushion chairs and iron beds or wealth. For such is not natural love. There are some lzdies and girls who are fond of that by going to a boy or a man's house telling him, I love you there by snatching every penny from him. They like to sit on cushion chairs and drink the man's money, as they are drinking they are demanding shoes and other costly things from the person. If the person fails to meet up, they run fortyforty, from the person. �WHAT GIRLS LIKE TO GET FROM BOYS Girls of this time are girls with bad fashion of manner. They like to make friends with boys but the very. motive behind their desire to make friends with boys is most regrettable. What does our girls need from boys and men io general ? And what does boys need from girls and women in general ? Girls need money, cloth, sweet, gold, wrist watch, etc., from boys and, men in general. But boys d o not need much from girls and women. Tbey need only love and sincerity from women. Girls like to dupe boys and men. This has made boys to lose confidence in their so-called "Sweethearts' No reasonable boy trusts.his girl friend at this bad time time of dishonesty, insincerity, jealousy and wickeness. Who are those that girls like? In my opinion, those people are Car owners, top Civil servants notable business men and ocher people in high and recognised profession. Do girls fike ruck pushers, load-carriers, labourers and other pzople in pet:y jobs? Girls d o nor like this people because they can't meet up with their frequent demands. BEGGING O F MONEY One of the ncmerous deplxzble thin;!? which ocr girls do, is begging our bojs mon:y especinly at Bazaars. This is very bad. It indtieces $om1? our boys to of steal fiom people i n order to buy tkings for girls at Bazaars. Girls likc to attend Eazaars, �THE LIFE OF GIRLS Let us look into the life of'girls. A boy who is born the same day with a girl shall be stronger than the girl but the girl shall be more diplomatic and cunning than the boy. When a girl likes you, you shall not know because she shall pretend as if she dislikes you. A girl can resist an attraction of a boy but a boy will hardly resist the attraction of a girl. GIRLS ARE PRETENDERRS Girls and women in general, are pretenders. They are diplomatic and trickish. They will see men they like but instead of showing that they like men, they take off their eyes and pass. They will want the men t~ approach them first. Our boys are too weak in resisting girl's attractions. Whenever a boy sees a girl he likes, he starts a: that spot to show the girl that he likes her too much. He cannot just pretend that he dislikes the girl. It is because of this weakness of our boys n i resisting the attraction of the girls that have made the girls to be bluffing and duping our boys. MY .ADVICE T O YOUNG BOYS I. Please my;dear fellow men let me tell you the money which you will give to harlots you better use it for dressing or to use it to for food because giving it to them has no profit rather you loose your mor.ey and energy. �2. Infact, they are butterflies and we are theirflowers. They can comb and suck us at any time rhey feel like doing so, not minding us whether we are dying or not. 3. Another thing is this, however a woman is rich unless she gets a penny from a man she wi!l never be satisfied in her life. You know women are pests and they are bent on sucking the men until1 he becomes tried if he doesn't take care. 4. When will it be good for us to marry? Now listen. It is not good for us to marry at a very old age, and at the youngest age. Really we should marry at the ripe age so that we may enjoy the benefit of marriage. 5. It is good f a us t o marry between the age of thirty t o thirty-five years, by that time wz might have got some dresses and some few shillings to manage the family. I I 6. Really to marry an expensive lady is a risk because the woman can never think of: helping the man ~n any way at-all. Rather she will be interested at remaining in the house from morning till oight because her husband has money and can maintain her very well. 7. Ofcaute, really, women are very fond of pride also with their sweet mauths and beauty are, just like dead bodies of which if you keep on crying according to how they keep their faces, you will be tired of crying. �LOVE LETTERS Let us read some love letters being written by cjur girls and boys. Tke first letter rezds thus:Bentric: Okoye, Sacred Heart School, Okija. 21st'Nov. 1960. M~ dear Sweetheart, As I have occasionally told you that you are my dearest as far as love is concerned, it is my kope t t a t you will appreciate this word . Please my sweetheart the Xmas. is fastly coiing, and I have nothing to celebrate it. I would be grateful if you could purchase me one 'beautiful hand watch and size 6 "Lama,. thee from 'Bdta Shoe Company. This shoe is the latest model. It cost £3 : 15s Od (three pounds fifteen shillings ) . I hope my dearest, that you will try to buy ihese things for me. Other boys have been begging ine to tell them my needs for theni to buy them for me. I bluntly refused to tell them because. I know they are coming for freicdship. 1 have believcd in you and no other person in spite df big offers gift from 0th:; boys. .Yours. most aflectionate, " Be3ty " Cornmt: T5.e above is a very bad letter. Where will the boy written this letter get the money to buy ail these things for Beatrice Okoye. Thc b ~ himseif is y a rciiool boy bur the girl fails to rea!ise this. �Here is the second letter from a girl-student to her boy friend. The girl is Mabel Obiageli Uchendu. She writes to Boniface Odita. -- Federal Grammar School, Lagos, 22nd January, 1961. My dearest ~ o d n ~ , , POCKET MONEY I am badly in-need of pocket money, please send me five pounds as quickly. as posgble. Last time you promised me ''heaven and earth" but no single one you did fulfil. You see I don't want such a thing. If you could send me this E5 (five poundsb I will forgive you for the unfulfilled promise. I want to hear from you at the earliest time. Yours, "You know" Mabel Obiageli Uchendu. The next letter is the reply of Boniface Odita to his girl friend; Mabel Obiagcli ,Ucbendu. His letter reads. St. Augustine Grammar School, P. 0. Box 18, Ogidi, E. Nigeria, 30th January, 1961. My dearest Mabel: . I have received your letter dated the 22cd January, 1961, 'but regret to inform you that I have no money to give you. The sum of £5 ( five pouuds) is too much and I cannot afford it. �I think you suppose to know or realise that I am a student like you. I do not work, and please Mabel, where will-I get five pounds to give you ? I myself is badly in needof pocket money. I have requested my brother for a sum f 2 but he has not replied my letter. I will never deduct f d to dash any person. I have many things to d o with money but 1have no money. With reference to the "heaven and earth" promised you alleged to have been made by me to you I never made any promise to you. Why will I promise you when I am not employed? Please I am a student and I have n o surplus for friends, and in my opinion. gift is not a basis of our friendship. I beg to close. Yours, "You Know" Bonny Odita Senior Prefect. Coment: Bonny Odita is a sensible boy. He deserves congratulation. His reply to his so-called 'dearest" Mabel Obiageli Uchendu, is the first of its kind. If it were some foolish boys, they would sell theirtext-books in order to have money sent to their girl friends. Our foolish boy-students should emulate the resp-' , onse of Boniface Odita to his girl friend who stupidly �requested her follow student to send her the sum of £5 ( five pounds ).Mabel, I ask you here, where will Bonny get this five pounds to send to you? Is he working? Or do you want him to steal or sell one of his property in order to have money and send to you? You are a bad girl. , T H E STORY O F GEOFREY AND ALICE Once upoq a time, there lived one girl by na'me Alice and one boy Geofrey. Both were of admirable social outlook. One day, Geofrey met Alice on the Asa Road Aba, Eastern Nigeria and admired her. He stopped the girl and questioned her. The questioc was whether she ( Alice ) could agree to befriend him. Alice replied thus:Geofrey: What for ? Geofrey : Just for knowledge and ....................... .. Alice: And what is the importance ? Geofrey: 'It is of important to me. y Alice: Why is m name important to you ? Geofrey: Because I love you, Alice: Please do we know previously ? Geofrey: Yes, Alice: At what place ? Geofrey I can't just re-call the place now. Alice Please do remember to assure me. Goefrey Please forget about the place and tell m; your name. ' 11 �Alice What will you do with name ? Geofrey Just to know your name and Alice I don't tell boys rpy name. Geofrey I wonder why you are too tough wiih this simple request. Alice i t is not simple. I very hardly tell some body my name. But as you have indicated that you are very interested in me. I will tell you my name. My name is Alice Uzoma Nwokedi. My father is a Barrister and my Mother is also a Lawyer. Geofrey Very interesting. Thank you Aly for telling me your name. Please I have still to ask you for more information or particulars. What is the number of your house? Alice I am not living with my parents. I am living with a , relative at 15/27 Asa Road. Geofrey Your town please? Alice Okigwi. ~ e o f r e y The School you attended? Alice The Government Sch~ol. Geofrey In what clhss? Alice In standard six. Geofrey I am airight. Thank you very much Aly. The reason why I have been asking you this questions is that 1 wish to befriend you, Alice I have earlier discovered what you are after Now you have finished your own questions it is my turn lo query you to my satisfacuon, before 1 could say Yes or No. �Geofrey You are correct. You can go on wi:h your questions Alice What is your name ? Gebfrey M y name is ~ k o f r e ~ i b i s i .Ajali ~d Alice What is yuor work ? Geofrey I am a student, Alice Attending what School ? Geofrey St. Peter's Secondary, School Ngta. Alice In what class ? Geofrey I am a finalist, I will take my West,African, School certificate Examination, this year. Alice Which town d o you come from ? Geofrey T hail from lhiala. i am alright. I can now agree to be your Alice friend provided that you will be .sincere t o me and yourself. Gecfrey I am happy now that you have agreed. 1 have got what i-want. 1 will be very sincere to you and myself. I will visit you on next smday after morning Szrvice. Alice Okey ( They depart ) Before telling further story about Alice and Geofrey, I will like t o tell my readers that Miss Alice was a good !iar 'by telling Gecfrey that hei parents were Barristers. She deliberatly wanted to impress Gea frey too much. The parents of Miss Alice were poor �Her father was a labouer under Public Works Dee partments, Aba. Her mother sells pepper in the market. It was therefore a blatant lie for hliss Alice to claim that her parnts were lawyers. She wanted to elevate herself. O N THAT SUNDAY When the Sunday reached Geofrey visited Alice but to his greatest surprise, he met three gentlemen in the house of Miss Alice. Earlier Miss Alice did not agree that she had any other boy friend. The three gentlemen were too annoyed when Geofrey arrived. They frowned their faces. When Geofrey greeted them, they hestitated and reluctantly responded. Geofrey left them after some few minutes with shame and grea disappointment. Two days after this, Miss Alice visited Geofrey and tolo him that those he met that day were her brothers who have earlier warned her not to have any thing in common with any boy, and that was why they were annoyed when then they say him. But Geofrey being a sensible boy, disbelieved Alice and told her to go away forever, acd this was the end of the two days old friendship. Coment : Our girls are not reliable and have very bad manners. I wonder what is wrong with them. Some fairly looking ones ate convinced that they are too beuatiful acd for this, they become arrogant and bluffing. �But how can we stop our girls being proud and bluffing7 It is a simple t'hing. If boys could rake off their eyes from girls and stop to chase them, and start t6 pretend when they see the girls, then the situztion wilt change. Girls in the real sense love to make friends more than boys, but they have taken pretence to dupe the boys. I know that it will be very hard if not impossible, for any boy to see a beautiful girl on the street and take off his eyes, or pretend that he does not admire the girl. Girls will continue to make proud for boys forever, hence I know that boys cannot control themselves. , THE STORY OF MARGRET AND CHUK'S ' Once upon a time a boy and a girl entered into marriage promise. The boy by name Cbuk's and the girl by name Margret. They first saw themselves at Bazaar and started to love themseves but the girl after-on disappointed the boy. Chuks How are you? Margret I am well. I am interested in you, Chuks Margret What type of interest ? Chuks I mean I love you. Margret What type of love? �Chuks Margret Chuks Margrei Chllks Margret Good good. Okay. Please tell me your name. My name is Margret Ubezonu. Are you Schooling? I am in the Teachers Training College for my low Elementary. I shall came out next year. That's very good. I wish to marry you after Chuks the course. Margret May I know your tlame, work. qualification and town. ~ h u k s My name is Chuks Ubaduba, I am the Chief Shorthand typist at the C. M. S. Bookshop. I hail from Okija. My qualifi cation is R. S. A. Advanced. Margret And your Salary please. It is £15 ( fifteen pounds ) per month. Chuks Mar8ret I will agree to marry you after my course next year. Chuks That means that you are after now my fiancee Margret And that is correct. Please give me your Address. Chuks Margret My Address is c/o Teachers Training College Ibiaka, Eastren Nigeria. Tell me your own Address. i t is c/o C. M, S. Bookshops (Nigeria) Chuks Limited, P. 0. Box 14, lkweto. Margret Everything is alright now. We have to depart now. Write me in no distant date. Chuks Okay. ( Thay Depart ) 16 �Within three days of the above interview of 'any thing you may call it..Mr. Chuks Ubaduba wrote her. She letter reads: C. M. S. (Nigeria) Limited, P. 0.Bbx 14, lkweto, 6th June, 1961. My dear Maggy, I very much enjoyed our meeting, discussion and arrangement three days ago. I am very happy that you agreed to be my wife after next year. I am preparing for the marriage and every other things that will make us happy. I hope that you are studious and alright in health. I have not much in the meantime to say, till you reply this letter. Yours most affectionately, Chuks Ubadubs. The intending wife Miss Margret Ubezuonu replies Mr. Chuks Ubaduba with demands, which the author of this pamphlet is against. The Teachers Training Collcge. Ibiaka, Eastern Nigeria, 16th June. 1961. My dear Chuks, 1 have the pleasure to acknowledce the receipt of your letter dated the 16th J w e . 1961, but regret to inform you that 1 am not pleased on youi failure to enclose some gift. �I was expecting that your first letter,should accompany at least f l : : (One pound) but to my greatest surprise, 1 received only but mere letter. Please try to see that you send me at least E l : ( One pound ) and one senior towel as soon as possible. I am studing and I am sure that you are doing well. in your work. I have heard all you said in respect of the proposed marriage, with appreciation. Your, Nobody Than, Maggy. I n reply to this letter, Chuks refuses the the request as it is untimely. C. M. S. Bookshop ( Nig. ) Limited, P. 0. Box 14, Ikweto. 2nd July, 1961. hly dear Maggy, I have received yours dated the 16thJune, 1961. and have to hdvise you to make application for the withdrawal of that letter, as it is too unexpected, very bad and criticisable. Yours Affecticnate C. Ubaduba. �Comment: The above letter of Mr. Chuks to Miss Maggy suits the quier letter of Miss Maggy. I wonder' why our girls are madly after gifts, and if you fail to give them the gifts, they will take offence. Maggy is too foolish to have demanded money and towel within only three days she started dealing with Mr. Chuks. This type of thing provokes our attack and critic~sm girls of SAYING O F THE WISE I. '' However big a calabash is, there can always be a similar calabash to cover it '' 2. "Money moves a man like alcohol, whilst poverty cools man like a refrigerator" 3. "A Rat likes to eat "fufu" but the problem is how to get the fufu mortar into its hole" 4. 'Debt is just like any other kind of trap: it is easy to get into, but hard to get out o f " 5 "When the hawk cheated the hen. the hen cheated the grasshopper. " 6. '.Only the throat knows how tender the stomack is, and it will never pass anything too hot to it " 7. " He who is born to drown, must surely drown even in a cup of water. " 8. "Lend only what you can afford to lose. * * 9. "No Person grows older tban his father. " 10. "A Baby on its mother's back does not know that the way is long. " 11. "A well-fed visitor does not realise there is famine in the family. " �A STORY FROM THE ARABS A certain woman had a lover and her husband came home unexpectedly, so sbe hid the lover in a czllar. The husband had brought thirty artichokes with him and he put them in the same cellar." " The yoring lover ate one. The husband counted ,the artichokes one by one the lover gave them to him and the husband thought it was his own hand lighting upon them in the cellar." " Realising that one artichoke was missing, the husband searched the cellar and found the lover." Who are you ?" he asked. ('1 am an artichoke" replied the youth. The husband cried: What a cheat the vegetable merchant was. He counted this fel1o.a in as an artichoke. No wonder the basket was so heavy.'. <' He led the youth to the merchant, Gaying: 'How did you dare weigh this man in as an artichoke. ! The vegetable merchant took the lover by the ear and said: '' How often have I told you only to let yourself be counted as a turnip, never as an artichoke?'Then he gave the husband another artichoke." ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN Some young men who left their home-towns to townships to strugele o r stramble for money, no longer mean what they come for. They have started to do nonsense. and spoil their nzlmes andthe names of their towns. These men lives luxerious lives, drick too much, chase women badly and play with their business. �When they close from Market or return from work, the next place you will see them is in the bars and hotels wasting their money there. They buy iron beds and dash to harlots, pay their lodging fees but send nothing to their parents at home. Their parents are hungry and wear raggy clothes. This is a very, very bad thing. One should remembr his parents and cated for them, I am advising young men to stop bad lives and mean their business. Don-t be spoilt by township life. In the towaship. you wilbsee many thiogs. You will see very beautiful women, you will see many attractive things to buy, you will see different kinds of people with their attitudes. It is your duty to choose the type of life you would follow. If you make a wrong choice of life, you are finished. Many people mock you when it is time to d o so. 24 CHARGES AGAINST WIVES Many wives today are doing very bad things. I am annoyed with those type of wives and-declare wordy war against them. Below are my 24 strong charges them. 1. Some do not wake up in the morning to cook what their husbands shall eat before gaing to market or work. 2 . Some wives do not cook afternoon food in time. 3. Some wives quarrel with their husbands over chop money. �They demand chop money too much in order to make gain out of it, 4. Some wives do not clean .their houses instead they follow children to soil every place. 5. Some business-wives do not help their husbands in chop money and other expenses. They have money but would not bring it out, instead they persist to worry their husbands to give them money. 6. Same wives cook bad things and present to their husbands. 7. Some wives are very careless, they rough handle things, break plates spoil other things in the house due to carelessness. 8, Some wives do not know how to please their husbands, instead they do annoying things. 9. Some wives would never one day by wash the clothes of their husbands. '' mistake " 10. Some wives tell lies to their husbands. When they wish to visit their lovers, they till their husbands that they are going to meetings. 11. Some wives receive poisons and give their husband. This is an unforgivable sin. 12. Some wives fight their husbands. This is a very big diserpect and lack of fear. Wives who fight their husbands are irresposible aod do not come from good families, yhere respect, honour, and fear are io existence. �13. Some wives ire very wicked, daagerious add take their husbands to court. 14. Somz wives steal the moneyof'their husbands and send to their people. 15. Some wives are very lazy and can't just struggle to get a penny of their own. They. depend entirely on their husbands. \ 16. Some wives a r e very much after dresses. When they get money, they lavish all on buying clothes. 17. Some wives have long every thing. - " throat " and appetite for 18. Some wives d o nbt look well after their husbands during their sickness. They pray that their husbands die so that they may become Governors o r the house and have all the properties of their busbands. 19. Some wives are not satisfied with whatever their husbands give them. They want the whole world to be given to them before they would to sutisfied. 20. Some wives are disobedient. They can't just obey any order. What their husbands tell them not to do, they do it, and what their husbands tell them to do they can never d o it. They do whatever they like and 4 please themselves. 21. Some wlves are cunning. Their husbands not trace out their foot-steps. They are deep in their ways. . �22. Some wives love the money of their husbands and hate heir husbands. 23. Some wives are too dirty. They don't wash their clothes, their bodies and even extends their dirtiness to the food :hey chop. 24. Some wives are attempting to control their husbands. and they want to be too free and go where ever they like, and return to the house at any hour that they like. The above are the 24 strong charges which I have levelled against some wives. I know that there are many good wives. I even know some of them, but the bad ones are by far greater in number than the good ones. It is the duly of sensible women to call meetings of women where the sensible women would deliver lectures to less sensible women on husbandary, and other domestic affairs. WIVES OBEY YOUR HUSBANDSI! I shall continue to criticise some wives until they mbo some change of hearts towards their husbands. I see no reason why a wife should not respect and obey her husband. Wives obey your husbands. In order to be Moderate in criticism, I have the pleasure to offer wives tbe opportunity to defend themselves with regard to the charges made against them. Send your counter - statements or defence to the Critic Writer, Mr. Nioku. �Publications 17 Nnewi Street, Onitsha, for consideration and publication for our readers to see and judge the whole matterfor themselves. Before the 24 charges were made, our Critic Writer, made a through inverstiga!ion or inquiry into the general attitudes of wives towards their husbands, and .discovered that many wives have been behaving in a manner capable of annoying their husbands. 1 don't say that men have no faults at all ,as human beings. thev havt . but not serious as that of rroublesome &d wbrrisome women. Men are more reasonadle and considerate than women. This is an indispuable fact. Women should not be annoyed for the24ture charges made against them, because it is better to expose evil things than to cover them. MY CHARGES AGAINST WOMEN ARE JUSTIFIED Some women may think that I am intentionally criticising them. I have no hatred or malice against any body. My criticisms and chargzs against women are justified. Some sensible and wise women know that my charges against their fellow women to change. WIVES CAUSES TROUBLE IN THE HOUSE \ Wives use to cause quarrel and trouble in the house. 25 �They annoy and provoke their husbhds. Some business wives use to return from market very late. They close in time but instead they would return straight to their house, they go to another place and then return very late in the evening. This late returning is capable of annoying husbands and make them suspect their wives. - WIVES WHO COOK AT LATE HOURS The wives who have formed the habit of cooking at late hours keep their husbands hungry to any time. They present morning food by 10 a. m afteanoon food by 3 p. m ,and night food by 10 p. m. This is a very bad habit and should be stopped right away. It is dangerous to eat at late hours. T H E LIFE . O F A MAN The day that a man is born that he becomes a taxpayer. Before a man becomes somebody know that life had turned him down several times and that he had assed through hard ways. If a man remembers all IS sufferings in life, man shall hardly "dash " out any thing to somebody. E. A man who has no surporter does not stand in time. Before he becomes somebody, it takes time and "tog-of-war". But a man who has supporters does not suffer too much and becomes somebody early. �What makes some rich men not to give help to people is when they remember how they suffered and how nobody helped them. THE LIFE OF A WOMAN The day a woroan is born, that day she gets her first ofice in the kicben. The life of a woman is not hard as that of a man. A woman loves her child more than any other thing. A woman hardly gives her husband her money but eas~ly spends for hei child. Women in general love their children more than their husbands. POOR MAN HAS NO FRIEND A poor man has no freind. His brothers do not regarp him as somebody. No body is interested in befriending a poor man or visit him, and when the poor man visits somebody, he will not be welcomed or chair given to sit down, and the person he visits will think that he comes to borrow rnoney:A poor man is disregarded and called a foolish man. Some people think that a poor man has no sense and that is why he has no idea to get money. A POOR MAN RECEIVES 1NSU.LTS When a poor man talks, it smells some people who know that he can't pay £5 fine in a Court. A poor man is shouted down when he stands up to taik in the meeting. No matter the age of a poor man; he is regarded a s a boy, and he is sent messages as a boy. - �A poor man is humble, obedient, submissive yet hated and receives insults which a rich man cannot accept. A poor man wht n he sets trouble or case, runs away because he has no money for care. A poor man . has a poor outlook because h h2s no maintenance. A POOR MAN IS NOT LOVED BY HIS PEOPLE A poor man has brothers, sisters, and other rclatives but ncne loves him becsuse he has no money. He is n s t counted in number. They call him, "that f~cJish man.'. The only true friend and brother that a poor man has is God. POOR MAN IS SENSIBLE BUT CAN'T BE MADE A CHAIRMAN A poor man eats whatever that is presented to him became he has net his own. R e drinks wine any place he sees it and render his service whenever called upon to do so. A poor man is told a word without a fear. witb every. hop,: that he can't do anything. His highest ofice in a MEETING is "provost He can never on earth be made a finacial Secretary or a Treasurer: 'There is every fear that he will make use of any money that enters his hands. ". Whenever a-poor man visits a rich man, the rich man would think that ths poor man comes to borrow money �H e will not like to see the poor man. When the rich man sees the poor man coding, he gets inside the room and tells his wife to tell the poor man that he is sleeping or not in the house. WOMEN HATE POOR MAN Women hate poor mm. A Woman knowing that a man ,is poor she will not like his friendship and will. give him no respect, When she sees the poor man on the street, she takes off her eyes and passes. She would not salt~tethe poor man. A poor man salutes everybody even his junior in age, in order to be loved, but this labmr is in vain. The more he salutes everybody the more people think that he is out to ask for help. The poor man does nothing that pleases people, only bicause he is p o x . POOR MAN HAS NO GOOD CLOTHES A poor man will see what he likes but lack of money will prevent him from buying the tbing. Heeats poor food and things. His monsy is not enough to buy fresh fish to cook a superb soup. A poor man does not attend funclions because he has no good clothes. Lack of good dresses prevents a poor man from attending cerraio places. When a poor man through one way or the other gets t h e money to marry and marries, the wife , �when she knows that her husband is poor, would cry that her <'God" has killed her because she know what poverty is. The wife will dislike the husband and no respect of any class will be given to him. A poor man finds it very difficult to feed himself and his wife. When a child is born difficulties will increase. SOME WIVES FEED THEIR POOR HUSBANDS Some wives of poormen feed their husbands and pay their debts. A wife who feeds her husband controls her husband. She acts as the " governor " of the house. The husband will just stay in the house as a house boy acting on the order of the wife I have seen a wife who slapped her husband without a sugcient provocation simply because she feeds her husband and pays the school fees of their two children. A POOR MAN FEARS A RICH MAN A poor man borrows money a t any time, and when he owes debt, to pay back will be a "tog-of war" Slap him, money will not come out, kill him, money will not come out. He has no money to settle the debt and cannot do otherwise. Poor man's Life: A poor man takes a rich man as a demi god. He fears the rich man, respects him. honours him, serves him and obeys his orders. A poor man loves a rich man but a rich man does not love a poor man. A rich does not want the - �friendship of a poor man. A rich man considers that his friendship with a poor man will only profit the poor man and have no hope of getting any thing from the poor man. What a poor man wants from a rich man is to eat free of charge, drink wine free of charge and financial help. He wants.support from a rich man, not knowing that the rich man of nowadays is not satisfied with his money, and that if he sees a way to take the little that the poor man has, he takes it, without consideration or sympathy. In order to avoid poverty one should early ,plan for his life and work hard in order to succeed in life. Have something doing or aimed at. Start early in doing things for time waits nobody. WHAT ARE MEN TO WOMEN? I. 2. Infact, men are flowers and women are butterflies. When a butterfly sees a ripe seed on the flower it will go and enjoy the flower and when the .flower fades away you will see it ffying away. From this I shall have an opportunity to make a little description of some women. If I tell you, you will really feel that women are bad. 3. Now listen, women are love, women are butterflies, women are the main road to the bank of sickness, women are just like ice water for whatever you take to cover them, they must drop down that nobody could catch them. �4 Women are traitors. They are very dangerous and very deceitful. Women and money are the evil nets of the world. Women love mocey more than their lives and they are the main roads to hell. 5 1 am telling you that women are very destructive in their ways, actions and in their associations. Beware of them. 6 In this world of government, women'are just as a bone of meat which we do not know whether to swallow or to vomi: out- Infact women are very dangerous to men's lives. 7 Look, men are monkeys and women are baboons. Now according to what people have been saying, '" mo. nkey works and baboon eats." They remain in the house and eat and become fat while we go out under the rain or sun to find for their betterment. 8 We have come t o know of another thing, and that is women are just like a servant serving his master who does not care whether his master is poor or rich, but what he knows is his money. 9 Such a servant is like a woman who wastes her husband's money in a uselzss way. Such a servant'who is very ungrateful should be driven away to meet with diffioulties. THE BAD WOMEN 1. The bed women are those who do not care whether their husbands are poor or rich and the unsteady ones are those who love another man than their oyn husbands. �Sdme of_ them can even kill their husbands fcr aoother man. 3. Infact, inost of the bad women are witcherafrs anh some' of them a r e d a ~ g x o u to men's jives if I start s to tell )ou how I knew them this ;small pamphlet will be filled up. in'such a way that there will be no space t o write other things THE GOOD WOMEN I The good women are those who think and reason together with their husbands. They 2re ,those that know when rheir husbands are poor and needy. 2. The .good women are (hose who struggle very hard inorder. to help their husbands. They advise and comfort.their husbands when they are in trouble. 3. They fear and obey their husbands when they are given order. They .a!ways try to make their busbar~ds happy and to live comfortably tvith them in the house. They like their husbands. whrther they havemonay or not, infact they'are satisfied with the little they have. 4. They always make their husbands neat both h t h e house and on t.he body. I have travelled to very many rs places where good women built houses, b u ~ ~ aacd d o so many thmgs for their husbands. 5. ?/bese are whoin we cal1,the good women b:cause they d o not care [cr their own way alone as the bad women only care for thmselvrs alone: 6. Infa~t;~kindness, sa'lut3tion acd good manners bring love and. late brings help, mercy and long life. Is there any woman who d m not kcow that her office is the kitchen? Not all women know that very well. �7. How many thousands of people can hold a market from the beginning to the ecd? The answer is only two people that is the man aild the woman. There is no annoyance without a cause as you could see with me. 8. You must know that there is no fire without smoke. Is there any good house without a solid foundation and preparation? No, not at-all. There is no good building without a good financial background. 9. T o make a promise without fulfilling it, is just to cut somebody's neck with a knife that is not sharp. S o never you make a promise in vain. LADIES PRIDE 1. Infict ladies pride is nothing to us but charm. 'Ob! I am very sorry that my lady w ~ i h lips, round rosy soft face with pointed nose and deep blue eyes has broken to yieces her solemn propise to me. I am very sorry for a t such kind of promise. 2. I am exceedingly disappointed at the behaviour of our ladies, this has shown me that the love of most ladies in the world lies on their lips. Afterwards what are ladies love ? Oh, my dearest friends, infact Z never knew that some ladies love can fade from men just likedust in the wind. Really some of our ladies and girls of nowadays are just like a new house full of property. 3. 4. Some of our women are only good to remain with their husbands inoder to satisfy their curiosity thatis all. When a woman marries a man and the man is very fond of the woman, the woman will be very glad to ' meet a such man who will be worrying herevery nigh. . �MY ADVICE TO HUSBAND AND WIFE 1. Really, there is no earthy Kindom between husband and wife than the house where they live in peace and there is no earthly hell between husband and wife than when they have no food to eat. 2. Try to live in peace and harmony with your wife whether you have something to eat or not and take note that husband and wife have three great days in the world which. we live. 3. The first is the day ofmarriage, the second is the ripe age of thinking and the greatest ofall is the last day of everybody and that is death. Whatever you do remember the last day which is very important. 4. One's best child is one's best friend. Honesty is *he best policy in life as I can see. Really so many people have diffierent views and opinion, but be sure that the fullconfldeoce you have in a shop or market is the money in Sour pocket. 5. You know quite well that without money some body will not regret you at all. So beware, before you start to spend the little that you have in docket you must first be sure that by all means you must replace it 6. Look, never you worry so much about yourself or to mind for those rich men, because they can talk but cannot do what they say. Infact, if you follow their ways believe me you will find yourself in the prison yard if you don't be careful. Remember that one who is very careless while climbing a tree always has a sudden fall. Do not put your eyes on another man's property, but try to find your own livelihood. , �7. Please friends, mind how you play with ladies because their play will never end as if started with them. Again, you should mind yourself cf how you play with a married woman. 8. You should be afraid of those lip painted ladies whom you look to be the most beautiful of all in this country because they are very dangerious to men and can come to your house and carry your properties away. 9. Women are tongues which look very soft and yet they can eat hot things; therefore mind yourself how you mingle with them. Some of them who are married can do something to help their husbands but some of them are so st,uborn that they embark on wastiog the husband's money. Harlots are better than such women. 10. Infact some of our young boys of nowadays are just like an innocent dog which eats hundreds of eggs a t a time. My dear young boys please try to cheek yourself inorder t o help you marry at the ripe age, because t o marry early can make you not to be like your fellows. 11. It is really a fact that some women are just.the same thing, but remember that if you follow street and public women you cannot marry your own wife who can help you when you are in trouble. 12. Therefore, I am warning you strictly to be very carefull about such women. Please try to respect yourself when you are talking before your fellow men so that people may respect your words. 3 . A poor man's penny is his own pound. Really to is marry many .uvi\lcs good, but beware there is trouble in it. �It is really a fact that man who has so many children and wives is over-loaded but at last you will be profited because 2 man who has no chi!dren is like a blind man without a director. 14. I must tell you really that we d o not marry for only to enjoy ourselves, but we marry so that may get children and for comfort too. Iofact to marry in the church is not hard, but to marry one that is of the same opinion with you is hard but that is the best. 15. Again any woman who is married and does not want to help her husband to become somebody must conuted as one of the wastful and i~efficient women in life. I say you must be very careful for such women who appear to be very dangerous. 16. A child who is greedy of food should be given a bone of meat. Of course, to be a big man or money man is good, but remember that big mam big trouble. 17. The way to get money is very hard, but it is very easy to spend. Matches cannot light its self if you don't scratch it and no person can see his back while he is dancing, until another man sees it and tells him what it is and likewise he cannot see the dirt on his face until he applies for a looking glass. 18. A woman who marries a talkative and a drunkard must know that she is not in tbe mood of wife to her husband's happy like. but in the mood or thinkingand sadness because of her husband crunkeness. 19; So it is with a man who marries a talkative and palaver maker that man must know that be must be wasting his money for his wife. So afiybodjj who is marrying should first make thorough sc!ection before he or she is married. THE END. 37 �w NlOKU Ahv & S N No Condition in PMmaaent *BQO& 28 1. Wby Boys of nowadays d @ ' marry in time em - Bw Women, .. 2. ' HOW- toofmake Love Q , 3. ' 4. HOW to get a.tady in Love 3. HOWTshombe & Mobutu r,dgretted afteit death of Lumumba How to play U v e h*hs. If. H W Owrite Lave letters 9. Life etog of Boys & Girls , 10. Hadsa. &&, English & Yorub Made Easy I 1. for Bqgioners 12. How lo write better letters, applications and 13. business letters 14. The African Basheolr's Guide and I%By'% Guide -. 2< 15, How to write good Esgiish Letters & Composition * 16. AGuid to M a r 4 . . 17. The game-& Lo&'& how' to play it 2s 18. Never trust all aowada - 2s 19. They died in the game 20. My sever daugbter a I .p. I 4 Custwn with jd stamp. No. 6 Arondbuop Street, F e g e v n. . ' x)lOl(mm-x Priawd in Nigeria b$ .# Chinyelu Printing k . No. I Iweh Onitsha Nipria. - I . #M)lOl(x, ii k Ad -A - : � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Why boys don't trust their girl friends Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Njoku, N. O. (Nathan O.) Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fegge-Onitsha : Njoku and Sons Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource [1961] Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Nigerian literature (English) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3554 Description An account of the resource In many ways this pamphlet is a continuation of the pamphlet '<em>Beware of women</em>'. Although it does not declare war on African women, an Asian woman graces the cover. It advises boys not to trust their girlfriends because of their "habit of duping, bluffing and asking for much gifts from the boys," (pg.2). It declares that "it is a pamphlet that everybody should read for information, advice, wisdom and mental entertainment," (pg.2).<br /><br /> Despite this, it may be important to note that current Western relationship advice within popular culture (Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus) uses axioms similar to Njoku's "<em>Men are monkeys and women are baboons,</em>" (pg.32). Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/a17378755889c8f1ec4a2b5429e86162.pdf 706aa1315cd0cca24cbc9aa3f0dfe344 PDF Text Text I MY SEVEN DAUGHTERS I -/ A Z AFTER 3 E (A CLASSICAL DRAMA) FOR SCHOOLS & COLLEGES The Seven Daughters (Good ' for Nothing) . ����MY SEVEN DAUGHTERS ARE AFTER YOUNG BOYS BY Nathan Njoka Price 31- Copyrighr rtsemcd, ��Contents Pages I. 2. In an enemy's house -... In The King's General Parlour 1% - -- 3. (in The King's Red Roomi 17 - - 21 - 23 4. In The King's General Parlour 5. In a secret place. ( Enter Patriciah, Mabel ...... 25 Justinah, Okoronkwo. -6. I n The King's Palace On "Ofala 7. In The Kiag'a General Parlour Day" -... -- , 27 28 8. I n The Native Doctor's House ( Enter the King, ...-. 31 and a Native doctor -- - 9. The Kiog, His Highness Jobnson The I1 34 10. In Tbe Natlve Doctor's House (Enter Tbe King and he meets the doctor ..... 1 1. In King's Palace -.... -. 12. Wsr Between King Johnson ...... 1 3. King Johnson won tbe war ...... ...... . - 35 37 79 40 �Compliments From:- MR. NJOKU AND SONS BOOKS 1 STOCK AND PRICES N How to write Love Letters 5s 6d How to write better Letters, applications and business Letters 1s 6d How to. Succeed in Life 3sOd ,How to make Love 2s6d How to get a Lady in Love 2s 6d How to play love 3s 6d How 'Tshome and Mobutu regretttd after the death of Mr. Lumumba 3s 6d . Salutatiou is not love 2s 6d Why boys of nowadays don't marry in time 2s ad Why boys don't trust their girl friends 2s 6d How to write good English, Letters and Composition 2s 6d No condition is permanent 2s 6d Man suffers Is 6d each Beware of women 2s 6d A Guide to marriage 2s 6d How to know Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and English made easy for beginners ?s 6d Love shall never end 3s The prize of love 2s 6d The story of boys and girls 3s 6d How t o write agreements and receipts 2s 6d My seven daughters are .after young boys 3s Nigerian Bachelors guide and spinsters guide 2s 6d Complete Letter writing for boys & Girls in colleges & schools 3s �Preface Tbis is a funny and interesting drama intended t o make your leisure time very enjoyable. It is also designed to ban your anger. Whcn ever you are annoyed, take up this booklet and g o through it. You will come across very funny items that w ~ l l make you forget all about your anger. N. 0. NJOKU ��Characters Of The Play King Johnson King Dankwere The king of Bogima The Soldiers Police Band The king Johnson's wives King Johnson's servant Crowd or congregation Native warriors The Native doctor The twelve thieves Dog "Tiger" Justinah Mabel Patriciah Okoronkwo Beauty king of Bansala ��"CONCERT" STARTS I N THE KING'S GENERAL, PARLOUR (Enter the h n g and his servant) King: How man? times have Iwarned you that your service with me will be terminated if you 'continue to put eye on my wives and daughters. I have received several complaints against you from outsiclers. You are fioally warned just now t o take time, otherwise you lose your job and become an applicant. Servant: My Lord, please tell me what type of putting eye on your daughters and wives. King: I mean [bat you are chasing them about. Were it to be that you have got the opportunity, you would have mixed up with them. You are too fond of females, why? It has came to my observation that, some servants find meaus to mingle with their masters wives and daughters. When 1 hold you one day, I will cut off that your thing with a knife. (laughter) Servant: My lord, your daughters and some of your wives are the people who worry me every now and then. King: By how? �Servant: They are interested in me and have been asking me for friendship. When I said No! some of your wives started to hate and tronble me. Any thing I do, they find faults in it merely because I refused to be their secret lovers. King: "Gracious me". Oh ! God of Israel I must believe you. I know that you 'can identify those of my wives who are hostile to you because you declioed to love them. Servant: When you call them out, I would point those ones and take the obvious consequences from them. King: Don't fear any hell. G o now and c d l all of them. (The Servant goes to call them) (The wives Come In) Point at those stupid ones. Servant; (pointing) this woman, this and this. King: Three of you come out. The rest go out first. You may be called again. (They move oat). My servant told me that three of you request him for love, but he refused, and as a result of his refusal, you people started to antagonise him. Justinah let me hear you first. �Justinah: I am surprised to hear this. How on earth will I ever request t h ~ sdefamed and ugly boy to love me He was the person who wanted me to love him but 1 warned him strongly that, he was not my rank, and above all, he was a servant to us and that it would be the highest degradation if one heard that we were in love terms.. King: But love is blind. I t does not count one's outlook, wealth or possition. 1 am not eatisfied with your denial. I do not doubt the possibility of a wife telling her husband's servant for love making and letting down her private part t o the boy. If you are telling the truth, why not report to me that time you alleged he asked you for love. In short, I hold the opin~onthat my servant is talking :he truth. I will f~ne,youunder the native Law and sustom. You know that under our popular native law and custom, if a wife "indulges in love with another man, in which I find you guilty, the husband would either sack her or impose a maximum fine on the wife. I fine you one goat, one fowl, two guineas, and you know that you would produce one mighty kola nut the day you would pay the fines. I give you three days to pay the fines, if you fail, I will seize all you have in my house and kick you away. Justinah: Thank Sir. King: Mabel, I have finished with Justinah. What have you to say in your own? �Mabel: Give me Bible or any other oath, I will swear that I have never had the time to speak to this boy. King: I am not a commissioner of oaths. I have no legal right t o administer oath on anybody. Your lie is more serious than that of Justinah. When you said that you had never had the time to speak to this fine boy. You will pay the same fines as Justinah. Mabel: Thank Sir. King: Patriciah tell me your own lie. Patriciah: This boy ha8 just wanted to put us into trouble. He is the type of a liar I have not seen. He is a black devil. King: I cannot just follow what you are saying.' You have to pay fines as others. I am satisfied before my conscience that my servant is truthful. Three of you move away now. (THEY MOVE OUT) You servant I will promote your position in this my house. I have now engaged you to be watching all my wives and daughters for me. Any one you see going wrongly, tell me. 1 will increase your pay with two pounds as from the 1st of next month. Servant: My Lard, thank Sir. May God save the King. Woe betide all your enemies. CURTAIN FALLS �The king and his wives. His servant poitrts to the wives who are hostile to him because B e refused to love them. �In An Enemy's House. . (Enters Mabel, Jastinah, Patriciah and Okoronkwo) After four months the three wives of the King had paid the fines, they conspire to stage a coup detect against him or if this one fails, they finish his life with a rvit poison) Okoronkwo: Every body who heard the story of how the King; (Your husband) imposed maximum was usually fines on you was against him. e ruthleshl and unjustified: It was too bad of him rely upon the allegation of a servant without a considerable security. How can a wife request a servant for friendship, when important and wealthy men find it difficiilt to win the love of a woman? It is "strange" to be heard that a woman asks her husband's servant who is also her servant, for love. ~ Patrioiah: The King did not treat us b e f ~ r e ~ t h q t boy as if we are his wives. We did not receive any justice from his verdict. He insaulted us "three" much and we must pay him'in his own ooins. Justinah: I am not in wasting time. Let Mr. Okoronkwo get for us 12 strong armed thieves who will go tomorrow midnight and get the King assasinated. They can succeed, However, the King is a "epirit" and wonderful, if the theives fail to kill him we can put a rat poison in his chop and see what will be the result. �Mabel: Mr. Okoronkwo, tell us whether or not you can arrange the tbieves-clever and strong one. Okoronkwo: I have been undertaking similar duties. I will get you wonderful thieves to do the job. They can't charge more than k20. Patriciah, Mabel, Justinah: We can pay that. We will pay them after this job. Okoronkwo: Okay, wait and see what will happen. (THEY DEPART) CURTAIN FALLS Scene 3 " , . I n The King's Palace Enter the twelve armed thieves. One woman is among them. They go straight t o the side where the King sleeps. His dog called "Tiger" sees them and begins to bark at them. This wakes the King from sleep. He understands that thieves are within his palace and he takes up his riffle and load it for defence. One af the thieves fires at the dog-"Tiger" but it escapes unhurt. An expert thief repeats firing the "Tiger" and all in vain. �The dog thee chases them up and in the fight thaf follows, the dog biter two thieves who fall on the spot and die and others run away leaving some of their weapons. The King comes out and sees that two of the thieves are killed by his dog, he calls the attention of his household and the thieves are carried into a nearby river. I CURTAIN FALLS. �The thieves are running away. Dog-Tiger pursues them. The two dead ones are lying down. �Scene 4 (IN T H E RING'S GENERAL PARLOUR) In the morning'many people begin to Gome to sympathise the King on the attempt on his life. The King begins to narrate to them how the whole thirag happened. His dog the "Tiger" stays by him. The King instructs his drummer to begin to supply music and. they start to beat drums. The King provides refreshment for all the sympathizers. Those three wives of the King who arranged the th~eves are some of those dancing in the Palace for the Kings safety from the thieves. The whole events last for about five hours in the palace. CURTAIN FALLS. Scene 5 1N AN ENEMY'S HOUSE. (Enter Justinah, Mabel, Patrisiah and Okoronkwo) Mabel: Mr. Okoronkwo, you have seen that this plot to assasinate the King has foiled. Have you any suggestion as to what next ijne of action is to be taken in order to rouud the authocratic king up. If we put poison as we had in mind, in the king's chop, it must fail as the king is wonderful. �Okoronkwo: I will tell you people what to do. I will get you an explosive and you pat it under the pillow on the king's bed. When he goes to sleep, and immediately his head touches the pillow. the cxplosive will explode and kill the so-called wonderful kiog straight away. Patriciah: This could be effective. Get us the exploswe tomorrow please. We don't want the king to live to celebrate his next annual "OFALA" festival. Justinah: The king may not escape this second attempt on his life. Please Mr. Okoronkwo get us the explosive. I myself will put it undrr his pillow. Okoronkwo: Okay. you have it tomorrow. (THEY DEPART) Cunain falls. Scene 6. (In The King's Bed Room) The kiog goes to sleep in the night. When his head touches his pillow, the explosive there explodes smoke, but the and the whole room is covered w ~ t h King 1s not wounded. When this explosive exploded, the,lwhole of his hourehold are shocked and they run out to see what happened some neighbours come. They a n shouts. �King: Tbank God that I am saved, again. Those staging this coup do not know that I am beyond human destruction. I will conduc~ an investigation and know those plotters,. and deal with them. (Curtain falls, All Move Out) IN THE KING'S GENERAL PARLOUR (The King after two days of this explosive incident, conducted an extensive investigation and found out that his thrie wives- Patriciah, Justinah, and Mabel and Mr. Okoronkwo whom the King (Johnson) defeated in the Kingship contest are the people after his blood. The King invited many of his subjects and his household to hls general parlour in order to announce the result of his inquiry. By this time the three wives have ran away. King: I have the pleasure to announce you all that my wives-Mabel, Patiriciah, and Justinah and t h e notorious Mr. Okoronkwo, whom 1 defeated in the Kingship contest, are the people afrer my blood. 1 will report this matter to the Police, and take more precautionary measures against eventualities in this my and your palace wbicb haa lasted for centuriee, and which Mr. Okoronkwo wanted to overthrow in order to have his way. �Congregation: God forbid ! God forbid! God forbid King: I will employ more six night watchmen and arm them. They will shoot any-body they see coming inside my palace after 7 p.m. Congregation: This is good, we support you. King: I wonder what I do some people. I think that my rule is fair. When I came into power after the death of my father I put a atop to several bad practices. I stoped that if twins are born they would be abondoned in a bush, and so on. Congregation: You know even Jesiis Christ was persecuted and suffered for nothing sake. King: Oh yes. I see with you. No mqtter how good a person may be, some people will hate him for nothing sake. I have finished what 1 wish to tell you. Let you people be bringing me informations and news. You can go now. Congregation: May God save the King (They exit) Curtain falls. �Sceoe 8. I n a secret Place (Enter Patriciah, Mabel, Justinph and Okoronkwo.) Okoronkwo: We must not give up thz idea to kill the King. As he h,s known that we are planing to kill him, he will wage war against us, the best thing is to try all our possible best to kill him and be saved ourselves. Justinah: It is hard but we can't give up. Mr. Okoronkwo have you any other plan. Okoronkwo: Thousand and one other plans You will get one of his other wives who is not in fair term with him, and give her a petrol about a gallon, to pour on the side of his bed room one midnight and put it fire This must burn the King into ashes. It will burn every place and otner people in his palace could be burnt. Mabel: The difficulty is how to get the wife as none of us enters his palace to confere with anybody. Okoronkwo: Well you can arrange with the person when you see her in the market. When you see her, call her out and arrange it with her. Patriciah: Mr. Okoronkwo the "Senior planer". This suggestion 1s good. Let us implement it. Okoronkwo : Okay 1 am awaiting the third result. (They depart) Curtain falls �Scene 9 Outside the King's Bed Room (As the King sleeps, the wife, Beauty, who was brought over by other three wives, pours one gallon of petrol around the King's bed room and on the zink, and puts fire, but rt does not catch fire. She tries all she can to effect fire but i\ could not catch. Unfortunately for the wife, the King's 'Tiger' sees her. The dog takes an offence dog and bites the wife, Beauty, who dles on the spot. The King wakes up and sees what happened. He orders his servant to throw in the deceased into a nearby water and the decsased is carried off. The palace is quiet and the King does not want to make the incident public. - (CURTAIN FALLS) Scene 10 In A Pricate Place (Enter Mabel. Justinah, Patriciah and Okoronkwo) Okoronkwo: It is painful that this third attempt to murder the King has failed again,but I have not lost hope of killing him. I will try to kill him myaelf with my pistol and charm. The K ~ n gwill celebrate his annual "Ofela" featival next friday and I will shoot him that day during the time he dances. �Justinah: This thing is too hard now. But if you succeed, we will be too happy and three of us will be your wives. Mabel: I now doubt the possibility of getting this man killed. He is a "spirit". Patriciah: I also doubt it. Okoronkwo: Don't mind. One could attempt something several times before he succeeds. Take heart. Just wait to hear what I will do. Patriciah: Okay let's see what will happen. All of us will meet again in your house. Okoronkwo: Okay. bye bye all. (All exit) Curtain falls. Scene I1 In King's palace On "OFALA DAY" (The King Johnson) celebrates his annual "Ofala" festival. Many very important personalities attend. Masquerades and traditional dances feature the aeremony. It is colourful and grand. �All seats and vacancy fill to capacity by people At a stage of the festival, Mr. Okoronkwo breaks the crowd where the King dances, aad shoots the King with his pistol. The gun does not wound the jubilating King, but rather kills athpr five innocent speeiators. Mr. Okoronkwo tries to run away are but he is held by people. The dead ones carried away to the public mortuary f a post moteen examination as usual. Mr. Okoronkwo is roughly handled by a large crowd. and finally arrested by a Police Officer. The 'Ofala' festival is on. At the end of the festival, every body begins to go and the incident becomes the talk of the people as they go.) Curtain Falls Scene 1 2 In the King's General parlour (Due to the good services and the informations which the King's senior servaut oftenly gives the King, he wants the servant t o marry his mJst beautiful daughter - Silinah. The servant is the one who had a 'case' wlth the King's three wives Patricieh, Mabel and Justinah. In the parlour enter the King, beautiful Silinah and his servant who will turn to be the King's inlaw). - �King: My servant, Godwin, you are a very faithful servant, you serve me very well. You gives me iaformations. I trust you more than my wives and children. My wives want me to die. My children are stupid things. MY SEVEN DAUGHTERS ARE A F T E R YOUNG BOYS ! They only know how to play love and nothing more again. But Silinah will make a good wife. She is not after young boys as others she is different from my daughters. Silinah will be your wife as from Tliursday next week. I will give you £500 and one building in the town to start life with her. servant (Godwin): My lord, will this ever happen on earth ? That a servant of a king later becomes his iolaw ! This will be a famous news if Silinah would agree. Silinah :I agree that you will marry me. King ; Everything is okay now. Godwin go home and tell your pkople about this. I hope that they would approve of it. Servant : My lord, they must approve the marriage. They may not even believe me when 1 tell them that you say that I will marry your daughter. King : You will go tomorrow. You and Silinrth can now leave the parlour. (They exit) CURTAIN FALLS. 29 �Scene 14 ' In the King's General Palour. he "Corpse" of his dog-the " ' ~ i ~ e ris Laid to rest) " The dog of the king is dead. It died a natural death. The King's power and protection have been greatly reduced by the death of this dog. The King and other people weep bitterly for the dog's death. , The dog is dressed and put in s golden coffin. The funeral ceremony starts. Several native dancers and masquerades are invited by the Klng and they attend the funeral cermony of a c'og. The first ceremony of its kind to take place on earth. There are gun shoots in the air. Tbe dog is buried in the palace. After the burial of the dynamic dog, the king announces that he will mourn for the dog for three months, the dog he says, contributed immensed to his "Power" and protection from those after "My blood". King: My "power" and protection have been greatly reduced by the death of my dog the "Tiger". It was more stronger than the real Tiger. I know that thieves and other notorious people who are tired of attempting my life will resume the attempt to kill me since my dog is dead. But with the protection of the Almighty Father any of their further attempt will foil again. �I will make a statue of the dog-"Tiger" in my palace because what the dog did in the safety of my life was too mighty. I will never forget the dog. I will also open a school to be entitled "Dog Tiger's Memorial School". This may sound very funny to some people, but I mean it. May the soul of the Dog Tiger rest in peace. Crowd: A-men. (The funeral Ceremony wounds up) Curtain falls Scene 15 In A Native Doctor's House (Enter tbe King and a native dootor) (After two weeks "Dog - Tiger" died, the King Hs Highness Kiug Johnson the 2nd meets a native i doctor who is also a fortune-tell~r (Onye Ogbaja). King: I have come for you to make for me a charm which can be talking. This charm will have among other things a foresight, and will be kept in my pr~vatehome. When an evil is forthcoming this charm will have to notify me so that I may prevetit it or get ready for fight. You know that no King can rule for a long time without the help of God, charms, informants and personal prccaiitions. Yob might have heard that my life was attempted but for charm which an old woman made for me I would have been killed. �If you can d o this cbarm tell me. If you cannot tell me. Doctor: I can do it. King: Before we proceed to negotiate your charge for the charm, we will enter into convenant (Igbandu). The convenant is that you must never tell any body that I call at your house and you manufac ture a charm for me, and if you venture to say it, that day will you die. You will not also make a similar charm for another person. Myself ill not inform any living soul that you make charm for me, if I say it, that day will I also die. Doctor: Let us enter into the convenant. (They bring out a mighty Kola nut, and take a blade razor and cut their bodies very little and blood comes out. The Kola nut is broken, each person having a piece of his own. They mix up their blood and each touches his own share of the Kola nut on the mixed blood and the native doctor says " J agree that after manufacturing the charm for H e Highness, King Johnson the 2nd, that I will never reveal it to any body, and that I will never also make a similar charm for any other person, but sbould I go contrary to this convenant let me die". He then puts the Kola nut with the blood in his mouth, chews and swallows. 32 �The King also says: ''I agree that I.will no] disclose t o any living soul that I meet this native doctor and he makes a charm for me but should 1 go contrary to this convenant, that day will 1 die." He then puts the kola nut in his moutb, chews and swallows. Thus the convensnt is entered. Doctor: We have now entered into the convenant, I will now tell you how much you have got to pay me for the charm. You will pay me E65. You will also buy the following materials for the "work". One skull and a tongue of a man, six fowls, one goat, one bottle of strong drink. one camelleao. a head of a snake, four yards of clothes, and a tortoise. King: I will provide all the materials for theG'work" within tbe next one week. When I come within this time, I will pay half of your charge, when I see that the charm is effective, I will balance you. I will now go till I come again. Dootor: Okay my Lord, goodbye. (The King exits) Curtain falls, �The King, His Highness, Johnson the 1 1 31 �Scene 16 In : The Native Doctor's House (Enter the King and he meets the Doctor) ' Within one week as the King said, he comes again to the native doctor with all the materials for the 'work'. King : Doctor open this carton before me and take all the materials. I spent over E213 in order t o get them. (The Doctor opens the carton and takes the materials for his 'work' and begins to check them.) Doctor: They are correct. King : Have the half of your charge (he gives him the E32 101- (the doctor accepts i t ) Doctor :~ h a n k ' s i r . I will do wonders. I will let s o u know that there is devil. King: Seeing is believing. �Doctor: I will now begin to d o the "work" (He begins to invoke spirits that will come and inspire poucr in what he manufactures, he invokes: " My forefathers, Mammy-water, Kanskporo spirit,, Mukeke spirit, Taranta spirit. Bankolo spirit, Alunkoyil spir~t, Labat spirit, Juntiza spirit, Lakademo spirit. I conjure you all now t o come and give power in all I d o here today. D o not disappoint me, don't let me bc ashamed, please! (After invoking the spirits, the native doctor wbo rubs native chalk on his eyes, begins to beat his drum and sings a spiritual song. At the end this event, he takes six "shorts" of strong drink. After this, he begins to manufacture the charm and gets it ready within six hours calculating from the time. His Highness, King Johnsoh, arrived with the materials. He now gives the King the charm and he takea it.) Doctor: This charm has some fobidens: It must not be kept in a room where you sleep with your wives. You must not consult the charm for information or advice without washmg your face, hands and foots. You must not allow any oil to touch it. You can go now with the charm but when you rzach home, d o not reply to any salutations. Do not speak to any body the whole of today. You must not wash for seven days. Within this seven day$ d o not eat any thing that 2ontains fish and oil. That is finish. �King: Okay, I go, we see again. Doctor: Goodbye. ( Exit King) ( Curtain falls ) Scene 7 In King's Palace. (The King's talking charm has started to prove that it has foresight and very effective. One day it called the King and notified him that there will ,be an inter-tribal war-big one, which cannot be avoided to and advised the K ~ n g notify his Army, police and subjects about the "forthcoming" war which will last about nine months. The charm further advised the King to be sleeping in his latrine during the war and to guard his palace with armed soldiers. The King then sent an urgent message to senior officials of the Army and Police and summoned many of his snbjects to his palace in order to tell them about the War.) King: (speaking to congregation in his palace). I have an information from my usual reliable source that our neighbouring t r ~ b e preparing war against is us, They have imported bullets, firearms, explosives, and other dangerous weapons for the war. They will very soon attack us and the war could last up to nine months. The aggressors want to overthrow my government and throwu and take over the rule of my nation. 37 �We must not allow this to happen. God and the spirits of our fore-father9 will help us to win this war. Woe betide the enemies. Let all of you get ready for the big war. We are inherited wariors. Some of you who have arrows and dane guns would fight with them. Those who haven't any weapons will be supplied with them here. You know that the central war arena will be a t the boundary, we will try to cross the boundary over to their nation and destroy importants places like post and Telegraph offices, Airport, Bsnks, and bomb the palace of the King, My Army and police are very busy preparing for the war. The police band will supply war music throughout the war period as this will inspire power in us. Fight to a finish ! Fight the eoemies to the last man ! ! Congre~ation We will fight them to a finish and : regain the government of the break-away tribe. , King : Okay, go now and prepare for the war. (They Exit) Curtain falls Scene 10 (After eighteen days the King announced to his subjects that they would be attacked soon, the war starts, and each tribe arrives at the boundary with Armies, and native wariors. Fighting goes on. �Each party struggling to oross the boundary to the opponents land and fight there. Eventuallythe warriors of King Johnson overpower \heir opponents and cross over to their land in order to fight there. They seongIy guard their boundary against the entry into the~r tribe by the ~nemies. Six hours the war started. causualities amount to 306 from the side of King Johnson's opponents. The causualities of King Johnson's figbters are two only.>The name of the King of other tribe is King -Dankwere. Tbe warrior; of King Johnson have started to bomb some public buildings and installations in the nation of King Dankwere. However, they fail to enter into the palace of King Dankwere and destroy it, because there is a very heavy guard around the palace. Six fighters of King Johnson are dead during an attempt to enter the palace of King Dankwere. When the war beeomes to3 hot and furtber attempts to enter the palace of King Lankwere by King Johnson's warriors are made, King Dankwere bas to flee his palace and hides some where about six miles from his official residence. Within three months, the big war started, the fighters of King Dankwere are dead 1,035 people. King Johnson lost 182 warriors. Within 8 months, King Dankwcre and his people are tired of the war, . and in the nineth month K ~ n g Daokwere is k~lled in ' that place he hided and his people surrender. 39 �Before this war ended, King ~ a n k w e r i ' s casualities were 99,000 while King Johnson's dead ones were 2,013. Tbis shows that King Johnson's fighters have better defence and more stronger. Johnson is the king of Bogima tribe. The late Dankwere was the king of Bansala tribe which was formerly ruled by Bogima nation. Bansala became independent by farce but the latest war has given the Bogima nation the opportunity to rule Bansala once more. Radio Bogima, broadcasting the vietory of King Johnson says, "the nine-month old war between Bogima and Bansala is ended. The king of Bansala is dead and hie remaining fighters have surrendered. King Johnson has won the big war and has taken over the government of Bansala. Bansala's ~asualities in this war numbered 99,000, Bogima 201 3 only. "Our dynamic and powerful King Johnson bas ordered1 an automatic intergration of Bansala Army and Police with the Bogima Army and Police. Bansala currenay notes, coins and postage stamps bearing the photograph of the late King Dankwere must not be circulated again," the radio concluded. CURTAIN FALLS. THE END. ���The lovers of Novels to send three pence stamp for their catalogues and become our successful customers. 66 Arondizuogu st. Fegge Osha. ' New - -) . Era Press, 33 Iweka Road @ha. - � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource My seven daughters are after young boys : [a classical drama for schools & colleges] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Njoku, N. O. (Nathan O.) Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fegge-Osha ; [Onitsha?] : Njoku & Sons Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 196- Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Nigerian literature (English) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3553 Description An account of the resource This play's preface suggests that the work should be read as a closet drama. Readers are duly instructed: "<em>When ever you are annoyed, take up this booklet and go through it. You will come across very funny items that will make you forget all about your anger,</em>" (pg.8).&nbsp;<br /><br />The seven daughters of the pamphlet's title are featured as busty women on the cover to attract the reader into purchasing this play. They do not figure in the action of the play at all. In the plot the one good daughter is given to the faithful servant who warns the king that three of his wives are unfaithful. The play's story appears to come from oral tradition. The jilted wives attempt to murder the king on three different occasions. The king's dog,Tiger, protects him and the king proves to be impervious to poison and bullets. This play also incorporates elements of ritual practice and masquerade. After the dog dies of natural causes, the king consults with a traditional doctor who makes a charm after a kola nut ceremony that will prevent the king from developing any vulnerability. <br /><br />Both this play and <em>Beware of Women</em>, also by Nathan O. Njoku, have dogs that protect their masters against the poisons and bad intentions of women. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/976c9b11b1ad05037151facc846f140a.pdf 2c961963053699bc7b9535cac737c8ab PDF Text Text BEWARE O F WOMEN ,WHY. WOMEN ARE NOT TRUSTED Price 2/6d ���BEWARE OF WOMEN N. 0. NJOKU DEDICATED Mr. B. A. CHINAKA SHELL B. P. Copies Obtainable from, NJOKU & SONS BOOKSHOP, c/o 6 Arondizuogu Street, Fegge-Onitsha, Price 2/6d. Copy Rght Reserved. �INTRODUCTION When you travel to other continents of the world you see that women of that parts, behave better and more lovely than our mongerish Afriean Women. Our womeu know nothing than to pretend, to talk lies. to trick and say, "give me money" if you don't give them the money your word will be ignored. They don't know how to serve, to obey, to love, to pet and talk the truth. They are rather licensed liars Only very few are fair. In order t o discipline them, this little but effective booklet, has been produced. For your information; the letters contained in this bonklet and the investigation conducted are imaginary, real names of persons are not intended to be mentioned, but if by accident any one mentioned in this booklet happens to be your name, please accept my sincere apology. I must he greatful to Mr. OKENWA OLlSAH whose valuable advlce a ~ correction, have:entirely helped d to give this work its position before the reading public. NATHAN NJOKfJ the Author, and also sole %tributor of the fo!lowing Book:(1) "No Condition is Permanent" (2) "A Guide to Marriage by N. Njoku (3) "Man Suffers" All orders to Nathan Njoku, 6 Arondi zuogu Street, Feggc. Onitsha. �Those who have been liquidated, poisoned and disgraced by women would agree with me that this booklet is a first class booklet for men. I read i t in manuscript and take this opportunity t o appreciate its excellent contents. The author Mr. Nathan Njoku, a young but experienced writer, is neither a hater nor antagonist of wemen, but lover of his fellow men, a bold and an impartial observer. To my own understanding this booklet is never telling you not to talk t o any woman, or telling you t o hate them or make them encmy. No, it is tellicg you to beware of them, that is to be on your own guide. I must congratulate Mr. Njoku for producing this fine work, and I recommend it, for reading, to you, your family your relatives and friends Read on The Editor. �CONTENTS Page 5 Beware of women Who is That? 6 No Money, You are Talking for Nothing 8 My wife wants to rule my house 11 My wife ran away from me Stopping twins for maintenance sake 12 My advice to men against women 13 14 A ran Away wife My w~fe taking all my money t o her family 15 is My husband wants to leave me 16 My lover wants to oommit :uicide 17 Question for every body 18 The woman who ran four-forty 19 How my enemy got me through my girl's friend 22 I called my dog 24 I went bazk to my friend She paid me aoother w i t 25 She took an offence Passers-bye separated us 26 > , My dog came out My enemies heard every thing 27 Another doctor called 28 No money again I had a friend 29 33 Still in love secretly Men are powerfill and d o suffer 34 Questions for men 35 47 Questions for boys 48 Questions for glrls 49 Marl versus money 50 Authors comment ., - ,9 I , 93 �BEWARE OF WOMEN Beware of women, because they can receive poison f r o n your enemy and givo you and you may die for it. If you are now in love with any of them, take time, be very careful otherwise your enemy who has been finding a way with which to kill you, gets you through her. Never give them your body entirely, know yourself. Don't trust them too much. The majority of them arc bad and dangerous, and if you don't take time they kill you straight ahead. They can also liquidate you and run "four-forty." They have caused some of our young men to liquidate financially. Some of these men are now hopdcss. Some ramble about, jobless. Some have started life afresh, and some had left from their respcetive home towns to follow the mocking home people do farming work. i I What do you think that these men could tell their people that happened to their money? I am saying with absolute certainty that they have notbing to tell than lies, if you hear lies not small ones but the ones that would, ever make people be sorry for them. I know that some would say that they were rubbed. If you have ears to hear, eyes to see and faculty to think, beware of women, especially street one;, but if you can't listen, I am afraid, you will go like this young men I will mention. Women like to engineer words, so don't believe all tbe things your wifc tells you. Somebody can 1 �abuse her and she tells you that, she was beaten up by the man. They like to say things in a way ghat it will hurt ono's feelings, if you follow them, you make mistakes, or do bad things. He who is not deceived by a woman, will be very hard to be deceived. Who Is That? Question : Who is that woman inside the black taxi? Answer: She is a married woman, by name Paulina. Her wedloek took place last Saturday at the Cathedral Church. Question: What is the number of the taxi? Answer: The number is OY 940. Thank you very much my imformant, I have written down the rlurnber of the l taxi in my dairy. I w ~ l try hard to find out the husband of that woman, and tell him what I saw. Don't go away yet my imformant. I sm still investigating, you know 1 a m now at WAR with African women. I first began it, because they are too pretentious, if any one of them will be bold enough to come out and challenge me, I will like it Ebee, who is that woman quietly walking along the back yard.? Answer: She is a married woman. She frequently visits that place, and I believe she is living a t the inland town. Question: May I challenge her? Questioner: �Answer: You cnn do so. Questioner: Come here this woman, who are you finding there? (the woman runs away). So you have ran away, alright I will hold you another day. Question: Who is that pretender? Answer: She is Miss Victoria. Questioner: Nonesence, she is now pretending as if she never talks to boys, but she likes boy; too much. Who is that, prouding? Answer: She is a lady, by name Elizabeth. Questioner: I am sorry for her. That Elizabeth thinks that she is beautiful, not knowing that no one admires her, Let us call her and know what she will do. Answer: If we cail her, she will think that we are interested in her thus thinking that she is beautiful. Questioner: Oh! yes, it i s true. Who is that walking along that street with shampoo head? Answer: Shs is Questioner I don't like her shampoo, very rough. Let us call her and criticise her. Answer. She will disgrace us. Let her go with her bad head. Question: Answer: Who is that lady speaking to a man in white 2nd white? She is Christiana. Question What is she telling the man? Answer She is telling the man to dash her the sum rc. woman, by name, Lucy. �£5 before they fall in love. Questioner: Oh! what are these nonesenses? What are these Chsracteristics of Africa women? Why are they too much after money? What caused all these? What time would all these deplorable things come to an end. Let me warm all African girls, ladies and women, that I will continue to bombshell them, unless they stop being after money, and purely show "natural love" on their boy friends. My fellow men the titlc of my action against warnan is"DISPLINARY ACTION AGAINST THE MALCHARACTERS O F AFRICAN WOivlAN" No Money You Are Talking For Nothing T o fall in love with an African lady or woman i s not an easy thing. You Rave got 13 spend a lot. If your pocket is not heavy, you are talking for nothing, none will listen to you. They will disgmcv you when you approach them. It seema like thzre is no exis~enceof "natural love" in Africa, Afrimn women p2y lips service to natural love, but none purely loves her boy friend. The ugly situation is that they only love the wealth of s inan snd hate his life. I know quits alright that not all women love money badly or a r t not sincere to men, but the bad oncs ars greater in nwnber. Question: Who is the woman that is crying? Answer: Sb6 is a married wornall by nanm Ogacha. 2 �Question: What is she crying far? Answer She i h crying because her husband married a new wife. She wished her husband to marry her alone; Question Who is that lady runniog four fourty ? Answer She is my girl friend. She has eaten up my money and when she sees that I cannot maintain her again, she runs four fourty. Question Who is that big man Y Answer He is a well known man in our town. He is finding a native Doctor who wiil cure his diseases which he got from his girl friend. if care is not taken he will soon die. Now, he has seen a native Doctor. And here are the doctor's ques~ionsand the man's reply. Dr. Yes, what is the matter with you ? Sickman Please I want you to examine me well because I am sic!<. Dr. Where does it troubles you much? I have waist pain and there is a big boil on my bottom and I feel pain when ever I urinate. Dr. Did you meet a lady ? Sickman Yes, I met a bar girl four days ago. You have been attacked by a disease, called Dr. (Orie Ukwu) 1 will charge you £1 5 to elire it. Sickman There is no objection, Hence you can cure it. I will be happy to give you any amount just try to cure me aa quickly as possible. Author-Comments: Sickman �My dear rmders I am still warning you to beware of women mos~ly bar ones. For many kinds of diseases are spread by them. Look at the story of the sickman you h a w just read can teach you a lesson. Infact men are flowers and women are butterflies, when a butterfly sees a ripe seed on the flower it will go and enjoy the flower and whon the flower fades away the butterfly go away. Piease, my fellow men, is it p o d for a n educated mas to marry an illiterate woman? No sir, cduclted man sboiild marry an educatcd lady and illi!erare man t o marry an illiterate lady. Because birds of the same fea:her flock together in the nearness proximity. Please, when you want to marry a girl d o not ;:im to marry a most beautiful gir!, bccaune it is dunpzrous to h x husband, boys and men will be attracted to follow her and thereby bring trouble to the husband. And most of those beautiful girls used to sell their bodies to men and boys In order to gc: money and drsses. You must try to m3rry a girl whic!~ is not too beautiful anti A tall man should marry a short not too I&. girl, and a short man should try t.1, marry a tall gr1. Some men marry in erder to get children, if not most of our young men woiild like to remain bachelors. �My wife wants to rule my house The letter reads: I have been married since a year with out knowing that the woman was rather sturbon sort of woman. The wwst thing is that, this woman does not want to get children, because she docs not want me to enjoy her. When ever I approached her, she disgrace me. When ever 1 pass an order to her she can not care to obey it. She kept on wandering from place to place. She wanted to rule the house. i sm now fed up with her, must I sack her? Advice: please gather her people first in her presence and tell them the story, and see what her people will say. After consulting her people. If she keeps on disobeying, and does not wish you to enjoy her so as to get chi!d. You know that she doesn't love you. Then you can sack her, because a man marries just t o get children. Do you know that some women are the cause of their husband's poverty? Yes, they d o ir by telling their husband to buy beads, clothings and wearing costly things es gold etc. When they fee their husband with about f 10, they began to tell their husband to buy this and that for them. Do not allow your wife to go in company with bad women otherwise she become8 bad also. You know that rotten apple spoils others. ( M y wife ran away from me) (Here comer a letter from a man whose wife ran away). �My wife and I recently celebrated our second wedding anniversary. Tho following dzy, after taken children to bed. She and 1 went to our own bed and covered, she questioned me. The question reads : . "Supposing your mother and I were walking down a street and were suddenly chased by a lion, and you happened to arrive there. Would you save your mother first or your wife? I told her that 1 would rather save my mother first. Then she became offended and departed from me. I told her ''Bye-Bye". Auihor comments : My deer readers, in this question will you szve your msther k t . -Jr your wife ? . As for me I will save my.motker first r.~ther than my wife. Because if my. wife dies I can marry another wife, but i E my mother dies I can never get another mother in my life. STOPPING TWINS FOR MAINTENANCE SAKE Here comes a letter from a woman who waats; to know a way to stop getting twins. I have been married for the past 18 months, and have two children twins, a g e d 10 months Before then I have bcen living in harmony with my husband. He always buy me what ever I offered him He has always bccn very much in love with me and treated me .kindly. But, since I save birth' to the twins He does not maintain mc again- When I request for money, he would to sag that there is no money. Therefore, I wish to find what l shall eat so �that I can not give birth to twin babies again. I feel that if I give another twin again, he can not have money to feed me with the children. (Mabel of Accra.) Author comments: My dear readers do you think that this woman who finds st way to stop from getting twins is a good house wlfe? I do not think because if she sees poison she will give to her husband. Therefore, "Beware af women". "MY ADVICE T O MEN AGAINST WOMEN" 1 Do not promise a girl whom you will rnarrb . that you are a rich person, you have a car, bicycles, £3000 in the Bank, that you will give her many servants while yon are as poor as a church rat. Then, when you marry her and she fails to see uoder measured things you promised her that you had. She will run away from you. 2. Don't marry a street girl if you want to get children. And to avoid disease to attack you. Do not attempt t o marry while you are vary Young, because you will become old a t onw. . 4. Do not attempt to marry while you have not enough money to maintain her. If you win a girl by lies, can you feed her by lies? I have seen young persons artempring to marry when they see that they have got up to £100, forgetting that t o marry is easy but security or maintenance matters. 5. D o not marry because your mate has married, because you d o not know how much he has. 13 �6 Do not go to any woman while you have a wife, because you are teaching your wife a lesson in short, to d o like wise and is againrt the law. 7 D o not take your wife to be au angel, by so doing she will brain you, 'and you d o what ever she says with-out consideration. 8 D o not sted because you have no money to maintain your wife. Do things f ~ her as you can. r g Da not love women more than. money* but .' . love money more than women. 10. D o not think for money ,and at the s3me time think for women, becasue tbe two cannot arrive at the same dme. Think how to get money first. Then, when you have got enough money, then you can think of marriage, because it is .natural desire, that a person must think of a wife when he is up the age. "A RIJN AWAY WIFE" Please when you see a run away wifa do not marry her. She doesn't belizvs in steady life. She will run again. A c ~ u ~ l l y , wife who runs away is a kind of a thing a which can happen to any person at any time. Infact, it is a very strange thing that a wife can leave her husband and go to another man to leave Independent life. They forget that the best wolves on earth are husbands. What; is the r c s c n of a rnn-a-way wife? Surely thers must be some reasons, husband goiog in search of glamourite? Children not forthcoming? In short if a woman �feels that she is not getting what she hopped from her husband she might run away, escape for a while to reconsider things, but perhaps the greatest reason for an African woman for running away is (Security), that means money aod things money can buy. There are two types of run-away wives. That is those who leave door open and those who shut it: Those who leave door open are those -who run to their brothers, sieters or aunt (known to be of good chsracter). They wished t o come back after settlement. But, those who shut the door are those who run t o a girl living d o n e and to be very interesting to pursuits involving males. These wish t o have a house of their own. a man of theirs and !he most important of all to gain some social status. Dear readers, beware of such women because they are wonders. If you marry them, they can leave at any time and go to other person. ''My wife is taking all of my m o n e y t o Family". her Here comes .a letter from a man whose wife sends his money to her family. 1 have married k r many years now, but t h e ~ e is some thing my wife does, that 1 d o not like at all, she does not know that we have our own family t o care for. She continues to oompel me to spend a great deal of money on her family. And when family she sees that I spend small money for mv she beoamc offended. Please I should like you t o advice me whether I should send away this woman �I say this hence, I am not prepared t o live with a woman who loves her own people more than she loves my people. (S. I. E. of Sapele.) An advice: Do not sack he€. List out what you planned to do in future. that should show her the light. But, if she continues spending your money foolishly, you can sack her, if you have money to marry another. "My Husband Wants To Leave Me" Here comes a letter from a woman whose husband wanrs to leave. The letter read.!:I got married to my husband six years ago Unfortunately I have not got any chi1d:fromj him.. I am so worried over it, because my husbrnd loves me and has given me all medical aid, but with out any fruitful result. As a result my husband has become annoyed and is now running after other girl. I am now afraid, because I may in the end lose my dear husband. What must I d o ? (Sarah of Zaria.) An Advise: Both of you must seek for expert medical advise. Examination can tell you whether the fault lits with either one of you, or both of you. The doctur can tell you what course you will take after the examination. Try to compel your husband to agree to see doctor. The doctor can also tell your husband not to attend to another girl again. �My Lover Wants To Commit Suicide Here comes a letter from a man whose lover wants to commit suicide. The letter reads:A few morlth ago I fell in love with a married woman of my age. I am a bachelor of 25 years. The woman is attractive and I find it very hard t o depart from her. We stay two miles away from each &her but we managed to visit frequently. She wanted to leave her husband because of me. When I rejected her idea of living her husband, she cried and told me. that she 'would commit suicide. What will I do, will I run away from her o r will 1 marry her? Ongenra of Lagos. Answer: I advised you to leave her because she will put you into troublc.$But, don't you know that to fall in love - witha married wotuan is dangerous? Therefore beware of her. "Are women dangerous to men?' Yes, women are dangerous to men because they soak the lives and power of men. Therefore men do not live longer again, like their f u e fathers in olden days they took their hearts. They confuse the life of young men. They stop young men from making progress in their business. They caused them to think of them instead of thinking for their business. They took away the little money a young man could use t o start life. Infact they cause young men to be weak and useless t o the nation. �After confusing them and see that they are no where again they run to any where. They keep on hunting for men as a hunter hunting for aoimsls. What can it profit a woman if she gains the whole world and lose her life? where there is happiness, there is danger. cgWomen have spoilt the world" women have spoilt the world by hunting after men who will give them money, which tbey will use in buying what they like. Men women m d children have lost the right way of living the life. Men want money, money! money! money! they cry" "Children want money" "Give me money, give me money, they shout". "Women want men, men, men, men they cry" If you go round the world, you will see that the number of harlots are greater thaq the number of the married women Now, the Eastern Government has started t o tax those harlots, I appzal t o men to watch their wives well so that they may not be confused by independent women who live alone. "QUESTION FOR EVERY BODY" Why do girls of nowadays d o not grow iall like the girls of ancient time? Is it because the world has changed, or is it because of their nature? When I was a boy, I saw that girls of thllt time grow very tall. But since about 10 years, ago, I saw that most girls �do not grow tall again, you will see a girl of 8 years bringing out breasts, when you look at her you sea her breasts pointing at you. Before two or three months, what you will hear is that the girl !is married 2nd h-s given birth to a male or female baby. Infact, some times I used to ask my parents this question. When I ask them they will only laugh at me and tell me that they do not know the reason. The only answers I can give in that my question are as follows:Girl do not grow tall again because of their wickedness. They do not care to respect their parents as the girls of olden days. They keep on playins with boys from that playing their minds changed. Then whst ever s boy tells them, they will tell the boy to give them money. If the boy gives them few pennies, they will agree what ever the boy tells them. Therefore. I appeal to fathers7 and mothers to take care of their children otherwise their names would be spoilt. THE WOMAN WHO RAN "FOUR FOURTY" Here comes a letter from one John Ibilo, who was entirely liquidated by a certain woman, he was in love with the woman and his relatives strongly protested against his befriending woman but he (John Ibilo) never listened to them. At last, he regretted but it was too late, this lztter reads: �I used t o hear people saying that women did liquidate men but I never agreed it, but now no one tells me to agree. I have seen every thing with my two eyes. There was certain time I fell in love with one woman. The woman was beautiful on her body but she was ugly in her heart. She had small eyes but she sees farer than the person with bigger eyes. She never talk too much but she was a slow poison. I n short, she was not a good person. But I never knew that she had all these bad qualities before I fell in love with her. Some of my relatives knew that I was in love with her and they strongly protested against ~ t , but I never listened to them. I thought that they were trying to prevent me from enjoying my youth. (When we started to make the love,) the woman pretended as if she was rich and needed no supporter. She told me that she loved me and not my money, because according to her, she said that she was richer than me. She began to buy petty things for me, when I ask her: "What will I buy for you," she repli:d,"I don't want you to buy anything for me. I don't want, just be sincere t o me in your words, I myself will do so to you." After sometimes this woman began to change small small, she stopped to buy things for me. She began to beg me money from small amount t o big amount. I started t o give her, with hope to recover them, because I thought that she was merely trying me. One day 1 checked up what I had given her, it £47 : 2 : 4d. Tbis amounted to made my business c a pi t a 1 which �was f250 to reduce greatly. I got financially difficulty and was unable to import articles steady as before. lnspite of the shortage I had got, I continued to give something t o this woman, because she had brained me up. I loved her without comparison. At arly time this woman visited me, she complained t o me that boys wsre worrying her for friendship, and she used to disgrace them so, when she said this, I began t o do tbinga which would make her had more interest in me. S o that boys would snatch her from me, I began to d o all these foolish things and my money finished. One day the woman came t o my house and I informed her that my money had finished. "Were you robbed" she asked me. I told her that I was not robbed, She thought that I was trying to know what she will tell me. But when she discoverd that my money had f~nlshed,caused by her, she ran "four-fourty". I never saw her again. Five times I went to her house but when she saw me coming, she ran inside the house and told her house girl ta tell me that she was not in, tbat she was out. This thing pained me a lot, nearly I got heartfailure and die. Then I remembered the protest made by my relatives which I ignored, and I regretted, but it was too late. I am now a motor boy. When ever the inaultive passengers insult me, I remember my foolishness, and bad life I played. John lbilo of Abbaki. Author's comments : If you are now in love with any girl, lady or woman, that she can Beware, bear in m i n d �liquidate you and run "fourty-fourty". The story of Mr. John Ibilo of Abbaki is a lesson t o you but if you don't want to learn something from it, I am afraid, you may go like him. HOW MY ENEMY GOT ME THROUGH GIRL'S FRIEND. MY Here comes another letter that will teach you a sense, from a young man whose girl friend poisoned. My name i s Benard B. Eke of P. 0. Box 14 Guzo. I fell in love with one lady in 1958, but I never knew that this lady only loved my riches and hated my life. In one of her flattering letter, she wrote: Fine Benard, bombastic Benard, I don't think that 1 can live in this warld without you, she used to call me "bombastic Benard" because I was she said that I love to use high English. impressed by this letter, and each time she wrote me; my love on her became stronger. T o be frank, I had a terrible love o n this lady. What happened? I bad one bitter cnemy, who was ready to give any amount of money to any body, who could k ~ l lme. 1 cannot imagine how that my bitter cnemy managed to know that I was in love with the lady. He approached her and promised her EL0 if she got my head. 'The lady under-took t o kill me with poison. She assured him that it was an ea>y thing for her. She also told him that I like to eat rice " t h r ee" much and that she would it cook that riee for me and put �poison and present it to me. The lady charged that my enemy k20 to do the job. The enemy agreed without pursueing the charge. He paid her €10 advance, balance on kill. What happened ? One evening, the lady came to me in my house. After formal greetings, she told, me to give her 6d to go out and buy "Oyoyo" rice hawked by Yoruba women. I was glad as she was able to ask me to give her money. I gave her -!I she went out and bought 6d rice and gd meat, and put it poison. She carried the rice and kept table, and ask me to come and eat, on my d~ning God so kind, 1 was not hungry that day. I told her to begin to eat and remain small for me. She refused to eat the rice and told me that she it, would not touch the rice unless I frrst eat because it was in my house. I told her that I was nor hungry, and that it was dangerous for one to overfeed himself. With amicable face, she begged me to taste the soup of the rice, in order to assure her that I was not annoyed. 'Nothing' like annoyance, annoyed for what' I said to her. She continued to force me to taste the soup in spite of what I had told her, but I resisted her. With a fround face, this dangerous lady called me: 'Bernard, Bernard' if you refuse to taste this thing, I will leave it and go. 'You can go', 1 tod her. She' meant it and gone. 'Bye Bye' I said to her. �I CALLED MY DOG I called my dog, and it came, and ate the rice. What next did I d o ? I went t o one of my mate friend and told him about the incident, He gave me advice and warned me t o ''beware of women" He also adviced me to suppren the terrible ove I had on that lady and sack h e r because she was after my head. He sunpected that there was poison in that rice if not so the lady should have to eaten the rice. I thanked him and returned my house. WHAT I S WRONG ? You see trouble, one Sunday evening, the girl came to my house again. But I never g w e her face as before. "What is wrong?" she asked me. 'Nothing', 'I replied her. She brought me some oranges. I accepted the oranges and put them on my table, The oranges in the real sense were not oranges but poisons. I never took the oranges, 1 threw' them away after the lady departed from me. I presented this lidy with sweet biscuits, but she refused to chew her share in my house.' may be she was afraid. She; told me: I will chew them in our house and give some to my junior sister'. 1 made n o objection "it is alright" , I only told her. After some pass-time conversation, she departed without both of us referring to the dash we had the first day she visited me. I WENT BACK TO THAT MY FRIEND What again did I do? I went back to that my male 24 �friend and told him that she had come again. Me was badly rtnnoyeil for my allowing her to enter my house again, but I told him that I was not born to treat people like that, no matter how I was offended or trespassed I told him also that I knew myself, and that I had known that the lady was trying to get my head. I also wid that my good friend that if the lady ventured to enter my house again, 1 would !ell her gently not to visit me again, but if she tried again she got it very hot. SHE PAID M E ANOTHER ViSIT Not quite two weeks,. the devilish lady visited me previor#ly, she paid me another visit, by evening. "Good Evening" she saluted me. "Good evening to you" I replied. ,Any how 1 gave her sent. Shct brought me another poisonous oranges I received the oranges and kept them by my side. I called my boy to get my table knife. He brought the knife and I took one orange and cat it into two and gave her one . t o take. She refused and sad that she had taking a lot of orange bcforc coming. 1 told her to taste small in order to assure me that she was not annoyed. If 1 am ~ m o y e d ,will I come here, I am not annoyed, I a m happy" she told me. I tried all I can to make her taste the orange bat she declineJ. By that time I knew rnore than I knew that she was badly after my head. SHE TOOK AN OFFENCE I called my dog again and threw to it the om, nge I cut which.the laciy refused to take her share. �What an annoyance! This dangerous lady was badly annoyed for this. She took an ofence. She told me. Straight to gtve her back the remaining oranges "What am I doing with your oranges? Iasked her. I gave her the oranges. She told me to pay her for nenethe one I gave to my dog. "You are ~alking sense" I replied her. She began to tel! me bad words and we began to quarrel, the quarrel developed a fight. She tore my shirt into piecea, and I slaped her twice. I never boxed her because I knew she could not reslst it, she will die. PASSERS BYE SEPARATED US Passers-bye separated us. Both of us were asked to ray what brought the fight. She distorted every thing: A single word never came out of my mouth 1 was mute. The passers-bye begm to accuse me, and gave judgeme~t in favour of tbat lady. I You can decide any t b i ~ g , told them. I never wanted to tell them why we fuught because I rlo longer wanred to reconcile wtth that lady as she was sccking for my head. MY DOG CAME OUT The parcial passers-bye dispersed with run when my dog which resembled tiger came out with mouth opened. That my dog hated to hear noise. The lady never followed [he passer - b y ran, because my dog had known her and she no longer feared the dog. She left with out run, but with big shame. When she was going, I told her that I no lcnger wantea her in my house, but if she ventured she took. �what she wanted. MY ENEMY HEARD EVERY THING Accordive to inf~rmation, I heard that the lady went t o that my bitter enemy and told him every thing that happened. Oral message t o the enemy, keeping him informed that I was aware that she was trying to k ~ l lme. I gat no reply. For three months, I ' don't see the lady, so I thought that every thing had ended, not knowing that there was a bigger plan. One morning, I wake up but was unable to walk, sweat was all over my body. I began to feel cool badly. Say by 10 a m I could not hear again. Every thing was by writing. If I wanted to tell something t o a person I writs it, and if the person wanted to reply, he writes his. Believe me, I was afraid and my people were afraid also. It was a wonder to us. I have not seen such type of thing. My people went and calred a Doctor. The Doctor examined me and called the sickness malaria caused by heavy sun. He charged £2;2/- (two guineas) to cum it. My people paid it. The Doctor gave me Fame tablets and drug. The first tablet I took made the thing more seriously. I nearly die. Each time I took the tablet or the drug, the thing became more seriously. My people reported this to the Doctor but the Doctor said that it was the reaction of medicine He told them not to fear. my people believed him but I never believed him because I �knew t t e re-action of med~cine. I told them by writmg that I would no more take the tablets and the drug. Told them also that I had no hope of recovery and that 1 must die. They began to cry as I could not withstand my own tears C joined to weep. We stopped when we saw a visitor coming ANOTHER DOCTOR CALLED My people went and called another Doctor. The D x t o r examined me and elaimed that it was nothing but bad blood. He gave his charge, Q : 31- (three guineas), and my people paid it. He gave me blood tonic and blood purif~er.None of these worked at all. My people called another Doctor when the sickness began t o change to many kinds of sickness. The Doctor as the one already called was unable to bring a cur% My people called another seven Doctors, one after the other but there was standstill, no improvement. NO MONEY AGAIN No money again for further treatment, so my people had to borrow L50 with interest. Opinion, invitated as to what way to follow next. This a as unanimous agreement to consult a native Doctor, My people consulted one native Ljoctor, who was also a soothsay (a person professing to tell the future). The �Native Doctor examined me and shouted: "They don maken mad". The Native Doctor said it was medicine buried by a lady in front of my house so wlaea I passed it over, 1 was affected. He said that the medicine was the one that caused madness but as God may like it, it change to another kind of sickness The medicine he claimed, was done by a Yoruba man. He charged E30 t o cure it, we agreed and paid him half of the money, balance on recovery. The Native Doctor began his work but it was very tough. He treated me, treated me, and got tired I myself, was also tired of taking herbs and washing with medicinal leaves. As tbe almighty God may like it, I was cured in 18 months time, a yew and six months, calculating as from the date the Native Doctor startqd to treat me. I never retaliated. I left every thing for God Not u p to 5 months. 1 recovered, I heard that thunder kllled that my bitter enemy. Not up t o quite 6 months, I heard again that, that lady was claimed by a motor back tyre. Motor killed her. Thus they lost their lives. Authors comment: My readers I know that you will derive sense from the story of Mr. Benard 5. Eke, who was once called "Fine Benard Bombastic Bmard" by his girl frieud,who late received money and made him *'medicine". If Mr. Benard was told in the commencement of their friendship that, that his girl friend could seek for his head. I don't think that he wculd agree the sayer. but now see what ,had hapoened. �NOW READ ANOTHER LETTER FROM A MAN WHO WAS POISONED BY HIS OWN WIFE I married in 1947 and wed in 1949. What a honney moon I and my wife began to live happily, not a small one, but a big one. She loved me quiet alright, aud I myself also loved her. We don't hide any thing for each other. If any body spoke to her on street, when she returned, she told me. She could not eat without me, I myself could not also eat or taste without her. We lived very good for complete two year, before devil came in. I HAD A FRIEND What brought trouble? I had a man: friend who was very handsome. Each time 'this my friend visited me, my wife admired him. He attracted my wife very much. To talk the truth so that the devd will be ashamed, that my friend never first chased that my wife. My wife gave him all impression and showed him likeness, before that my friend become interested in her. After, I heard that when I left for my work, that my friend came and began to play with my wife. That my wife had not raken her money and cooked fresh fish for me, but I heard that she used to buy fresh fish and caoked it for that my friend. I never took any action when I heard this because I don't d o my things like that, I wanted to witness every thing with my eyes. One day when I returned work, I saw my two tumblers broken into piece3, I asked my wife who broke them 30 �but she told me that it was our oneyear baby. After, from my house boy that it was broken by that my friend when he was playing with that my wife, after both had taken two bottles of beer. L heard I counted this two. One day again, I returned and saw peculiar thing. I counted i t three, and began t o keep watch of them. One day I left my house for my work, say . about 10 a m. the very day, I told o u r Manager, that I was attacked by big headache, and that 1 wanted to go home and rest for three hours he permitted me, because he was a good man. I went back to my house, and met both parties swallowing pounded yam with fresh fish. I looked on my bed, it was rough, nor as i t was 'in the morning, the very day. When that my friend saw me he nearly ran mad. Shame was his lot. That my wife herself could not know what to do, Only God knew how she felt. I never showed them that I was highly annoyed and offended. I brought out two bottle of beer from my cupboard and presented it to that my friend. He was unable to finish one cup, before I drank up the beer. I left him with thlt my wlfe and went back to my work. When I returned in the evening, 1 did not see that my wife she had packed her things and ran to her people. I waited her, waited her t o return but I could not see her, According to the native custom, it was my business to go to my in-laws whom I was mar marry their daughter, to �enquire why my wife ran end what was her anger. Upon all what she did to me, I carried two jars of tombo wine and went to her parents, when I reached to their house with some of my relatives, that my wife saw us and ran out. We formally presented the two jars of tombo wine to those my in-laws. After drinking the wine I told them the purpose of our coming. Those my in-lawn sent a messenger who called in that my wife, she greeted us with shame. My in-laws said that there was no need for long talk, because they had heard what they "called deplorable thing" it waa the tresspass she commited made her t o ran away they told us. They begged us greatly to forgive her because it was her first offence, They adaed that to err is human, to forgive is divine. I had earlier decided in my mind that wbat ever happened. I will not marry that my wife again. But I surrendered when an irristible presure was brought and bear on me, by my relatives to receive that my wife back once more. That my wife returned back to my house two days after we came to their house. We began to live again. Each time we went to bed, she began to beg me to forgive her. I told her that I have forgotten every thing, but I added: "let another do not happen again". She swore that she would uot do that type of thing again �STILL IN LOVE SECRETLY After all these had happened, I thought that that my wife and that my friend were n o more in love, that they had separated, but 1 soon heard that they were still in love secretly. I investigated and it was true. I went to one of my relatives and told him. He told me to prepare and sack that my wife. I was in preparation, that my wife gave me poison that my friend gave her to give me, so that if I die they would be chanced quite alright to carry on with their love and married together. The poison nearly killed me. I t suffered me and I spent £154 9 8d t o cure it. That my wife left me because she was induring the time 1 was s~cking formed th& I bad known that she was the person who poisoned me. After I heard that' she waa living with that my friend. They married for a year and one day, they got big quarrel, and fough:, and each sustained injuries, and they parted. This is the end . of my story. My name is Paul P. 0 Ebems, Private Mail Bag 2819, Kpoko. �Boys and girls, men and women and dear brothers and sisters in this life problems and happiness, man d o suffer till sweat comes out before he eats. In this troubled world man cannot record all what had happened to him in the scramble for money and the grievous disappoinments which life bas fired him. And I can tell you that man whether short, thin or poor cannot be taken as a small man because any man has a-way in which he shows his man. hood, -either by power, cleverness, foresight, commonsense charm or trick, (Men Die In Many Ways .Because Of Money A-tad Women ) Men die in many ways in finding money. Some men had died in the motor aceidcut, many had died for over -worki@ the~nselves . Restlessness of mind and heart-failure have killed milions of men. In fact, man do suffer, and man is a responsible being for the f o l l o ~ i n greasons: (1) Whether a man has money or not be must contribute financially to the development of his community. �(2) Whether s man is poorer than church rat he is liable t o tax. (3) Whether a man has money or not the desire for marriage sleeps with him on the bed every night. (4) Whether a man has money or not he is being looked upon by his relatives to help them. (5) Whether a man has money o r not he is rcsponsible for the maintainance of his parents. (6) Whether a man has money or not he i; responsible to maintain his wife and train his children. There are other numerous responsibilities which man baa. QUESTIONS FOR MEN (1) In what way is a man known? A man is known by courage, endurance, cleverness and hardworkkg. In what way does man overcomes his problems? (2) Man conquers his problems first by prayer, commonsense and contribution of advice received from wise thinkers. �(3) Is a man barn- to have thing8 easy ? Man is born to sweat before he eats; knowing this we need not worry our mind when e v e r we are troubled. (4) What type of men are expected bo sncceed in life. Men whoare expected to succeed are man who are courageous, patient, kind, honest, labourious and fearers of God. '5) What type of men are expected to fall in life ? Men have men gress who are expected to fall in life are men who too much competitional, minds men who envy, who are dishonest and men who hate the proof the others. (6) .What type of men are expected to be poor for ever ? They are men who hate to work but love delightful things. (7) They are also the type of men that are idle. What type of men are wanted ? Men wanted are men who understand others point of views, men who love their neigbbours as themselves, men who are faithful, simple sympathetic Godly and poor in heart. 36 �(8) What happens to men who arc arrogant and rich in heart? Fall and shame always be their lot. (9) I s it true that good men d o not have big money? That is a lie, the only thing is that good men d o not as di~honestand unfaithful men have money one day but have theirs gradually. (10) Is it true that wicked and bad men have money greater than good men? The fact is that a thief can have £10,000 a day but that money will finish within a short time while the man who gathers by labour increases daily. (11) I n what way is a bad man known? A bad man is easily known by wordsof mouth, attitude especially when you do a business of money with him. (12) In what way is a good man known? By words of mouth and actions you know a good man (1 3)What is that debt that a man owes his community The debt is wife. When a man marries he has paid his people. 37 �(14) Do men maintain. thelr parents greater than their girl friends? It is deplorable to observe that some men don't care about their parents instead they will maintain their parents who born m d suffered on them, they take to drink and maintain tbeir girl friends. I have seen many parents going naked while their sons wear robes and drive costly cars. ( 1 5) Are men who keep themselves clean wornanisers? Cleanliness is hoiiness so it is very foolish to think that those who keep themselves clean do so in order to attract women but do so for their personal pleasures and to have respect before the public. In fact, simplicity of dress and cleanliness of the body and mind is lifely. (16) Wbat does dirtinesb earns a man? Dirtiness earns a man under assesment of wealth, disrespect and disgrace. (17) Docs cleanliness mean wearing of rich clothes cosily hand-watch and gold? In short cleanliness means cleanliness of the body and clothes whether cheap or costly �-But it is not bad to wear embent watches and gold and robes if you have what is called money (1'8) Is it bad for men to rub Powder? Every tbing depends on having time and the type of business one does. If you have time to powder your face it is not bad. After all we d o things to keep our lives long, and have happiness. (19) What makes ,some men before to die poor? who had got money It is a shame 'to do a common work. (20) What type o f men regain their wealth afier life had below them? They are men who are not shy or shameful to do the work of a common man. Important words o f Advice auainst what may happ~n ro you in futxre. Here comes a letter from a man whose former boy asked to come and serve him seven years as he had served him and the advice given him and you. 1. Dear Master of Life, I heard that you are a Great master of life and a famous advicer and I have read your books and was convinced that you are a wonderful being I write. �to tell you my own miserable state. Furmerly I had many dependants and what was called money but now I a m no where. I have no perron t o help me financially except my former boy, Robinson, wbo insisted that he will not help me until I have served him 7 years he served me. Afier the boy said this my brain scartered and 1 was unconcious. What I did was to pray to God to take away my life insread I will live to serve tha boy who had served me. Now tell me what to do either to go and serve the boy or stand firm in my decision not to go and serve the boy however hunger worries me. E. Ojo, Shagmu W. Nigeria. Advice. : Your case is a difficult one but I will try. Nobody expect y ~ u , can tell whether you treated your boy fairly or not during his service to you. If you were cruel and gave h i m tough time it might be his annoyance and wriy he insist that he will not help you until you serve him for 7 years he had served you in order to return every wickedness for wickedmss. That is to retaliate. �But if you were fair to him and he insist, not to help you until you serve him then he has not the slightest respect and sympathy, and I a d v i ~ e you not to go and serve the boy because hie mind is not good to you and his aims at high. What I can tell you is: Forget the boy's money and take thing mainly for no condition in -this world is permanent and life you see is empty dream. Again from today stop to pray to God to take .away your precious life and never attempt to commit suicide for it is' agalnst the law of tho state and that of God. And don't have little mind, encourage yourself as a man by prayer and labour you shall regain your wtalth a n d become a . man who has a story of life to tell. Here comes a second letter from a k5-per month court messenger whose wife demands more than his salary and the advice given him and you. 2. I am a court messenger receiving . & per month. When I receive it I share it. . �I give my wife fi4 for what we will eat for one month. I use 5s. for my pocket money and save 15s.for our cloths and eventuality. But what is paining me now is the persistent complaint of my wife that hunger worries her at any time because tho £4 is not sufficient for one month. When I asked her to tell me the amount she thinks that will due for one month, she said £8. As 1 cannot afford £8 what will I do? I. 0. Iselle Ukwu W Nigeria. Advice :I don't think that your wife knows your r income. T y to make her know your salary to avoid undue demand becau~eshe is over assessing you. I n view of the present high cost of living manage to give her small amount to start small trade fmm there she can help to what y m ear. Here comes the third letter from a woman who explains why she divorced her husband and condemn men and advice given her and yeu. 3. Dear Mr. Okenwa Olisah. I have been reading your books with interest �I could gather that you are an impartial writer but J don't know how you wdl feel to read me criticise men as you are a man but any how I will strick because my pen is not a respecter of any body or a disrespect to well-fashioned gentlemen. I was in the School when a certzin young man approached my parents to marry me. The man was a Shop boy in the U. A. C. but when asked abuut his occupation he replied: "I am a branch manager of the U. A. C." He told me secretely that he had E2,000 Saving in the Bank and promise to please and maintain me if I agree to morry him. I was not impressed by the £2,000 he clammed to have had in the Bank t u t 1 was impressed by his promise t o please and maintain me. I was also impressed by his appearanze. I agreed and we married together. The first month I came to his house I received a good treatment. Every thing was normal. But when we entered the second month I experieneed a slight change. The third and fourth month were deplorable and micerable. The man started to show me h ~ s true colnur and I regretted my marriage with h ~ m . �He started t o beat me, started to make mouth at me for the shghtert offence, started to d o me a11 sort of things a man supposed not to d o his wife. What action did I take? I left the man with his insincerity, with his unfaithfulness, with his oruelty, witbhis senselessness and his wickedness. The attitude of the man has made me te condemn men and always look at them with unreliable eyes. The littles in them pretend to be big. No more with me and men I have chosen independent life. Elizabeth Nwa. Obikalu Oki, E. Nigeria ADVICE: Elizabeth, I can assure you that I am not annoyed because you criticised men of which I am among. I only against destructive criticism. I am also sorry for your broken marriage. Whom will I blame, is it you or the man for the failure of the marriage? I will not now blame any party for being responsible for the failure of the marriage until I hear both sides I have heard you but have not heard the voice of your former husband. �One book says: "Don't give judgement until you hear both sides of the case "Do you know Elizabeth that woman is born to be under man as man is born to carry the responsibility of woman? That a woman who is disobedient and has quick temper can not succeed in marriage? Referring to your decision to become an independent girl, it is the worst you have said. Do you know that an independent woman has no way to refute the charge that she is a prostitute? That is very hard t o resist the trials of men? That people will look you very down? Please revoke your plan if you wanr to save your self from blemish and regret. The last is your condemnation to entire men. You have misfired. Don't you know that all mcn as wrll as wolnen are not bad or good. To say the truth the number of good men leads the number of the women who are good. If you don't know, knaw it as from now. And it is unwise to assume that all men are unreliable simply because a certian man disappointed you. The fourth letter comes from !i man whose wife over-powers during fighting and the advice given him and you. �My own case is this : M y wife Paulinah is a strong woman and il tireless fighter. Instead I will overpower her during fighting, she overpowers me. Being that, she has known that she is stronger than me, she disregards my orders. Please tell me what I will do this woman?4. Okereke Uche, Abudu, N. Nigeria. Advice: There is no reason why a woman sbould overpower you, Why say what is expected from a woman? It m?ans that there is a certair thing you do. which makes you very weak or are you s~ck? You cannot do the woman any' thing than to avoid affray and keep your house in peace by displinary action. Don't fight next time, fighting lets some one down and you cannot reform a woman by beating her or quarreling with her. The fifth letter comes from a girl who is io difficulty in choosing a good husband arid the advice given her and yon. 5. Two men are coming t o merry me The one I love has no money to maintain me but the one I don't like has plentv of monev to give me. Please tell ma w h d L LAY. o Veronica 0.B Ebi. Onitsha 46 �Advice: If you know that you cannot marry the man whom you love because he has no money and cannot also marry a money man you don't like, wait for the man whom you love and at the same time have money. Be very careful in engaging a man. Try to know the work of money and love in marriage. QUESTIONS FOR BOYS In what way is a good boy know? A good boy is known by salutation, respect, obedience, devotion to his duty and quietness. In what way is a bad boy known? By carelessness, disobedience, stubborness and noise you knew a bad boy. Are parents responsible /or the rudncss of their children? Yes parents must share responsibility because some parents don't give their children training from there they grow up and become thieves, rougbian~, and disgrace to the community. Mother and father who is responsible to train their children ? 47 �Both are responsible. 5 In what way is a bey trained? By correction. advice and example, Not by corporal punishment. 6 What type of boys are wanted? Boys wanted are intelligent boys, clever boys and obedient boys. 7 What type of boys are filling up prisofi ? They are in majority bpys who refused the instruction:and the advice o f their parents. QUESTIONS FOR GIRLS In what way is a good girl known? I A good girl is-known by her shyness, quietness, respect, obedience and likeness to domestis work. 2 i n what way is a bad girl known? A bad girl is known by her lack of shyness shame known also by carelessness and weakness to domestic duty. 3' What type of girls are filling up horels? hey are in majority girls who are bad and those who don't want to be under men. 48. �"MAN VERSUS -MONEY1' The struggle for money has gane s o far, that some have now begin t o ask; which is it that controls the others, The lifelese or the animate men? The urleasines~money of this life, is mostly caused by money, many die in the strife' Others still remain in want. What evil has it not iatroduced? Where there is peace it intrudes. Those who have not often complain. Those who have it also complain. Dearest friends bas it seperated, son from father hits it disunited, husband and wife bas it hrought t o a clash, that is how money handless man's life. But m m is made to control money and not money to control man. In what whatever condition you may be let not money change your mind. T o the rich and poor give good treatment. for the Lord is the maker of them all. Remember the .great, "END" that respects none, and treat others as you would like to be trested. �BEWARB QF WOMEN AUTHORS COMMENT I am sure that you bave read Mr. Ebems enrefully and with undcratandiag. A word is enough for the wise, SO beware of women. The Owner This to cer1ify that this pgmpkt brloiogs tor .- ...... .-..." -....... ........"..-"" "........"-".." -"......-..-..- .. .......................... --.....Address: ,- ..........-.-.. "..-...-.---......-..--.-.. - . . . ..; Occupation .... .., , ................................ . . . . . . Native of . . - - . . -. . - - . . .----.-..-..-Date........."-...... . .......-.., . ----- ���� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Beware of women Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Njoku, N. O. (Nathan O.) Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fegge-Onitsha : Njoku & Sons Bookshop Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 196-? Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Nigerian literature (English) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3552 Description An account of the resource The cover of '<em>Beware of Women</em>' is upside down and backwards--a fitting situation for this title! The pamphlet begins its hostility toward women with a disturbing declaration: "<em>When you travel to other continents of the world you see that women of those parts, behave better and more lovely than our mongerish African Women&hellip;In order to discipline them, this little but effective booklet has been produced,</em>" (pg.2).&nbsp;<br /><br />The editor, presumably Okenwa, claims that the author, Nathan Njoku, is not a hater of women but an impartial observer. It is also made clear through a disclaimer that these letters and subsequent investigations are fictional--the product of Njoku's imagination. And yet the writer describes African women as greedy, manipulative and pretentious. Women are the enemy, according to Njoku,and they are just as likely to poison young men as liquidate (bankrupt) or cuckold them. "I am now at WAR with African women," declares Njoku, (pg.6).&nbsp;<br /><br />Njoku tells his readers "do not love women more than money, but love money more than women," (pg.14). But just a few pages later Njoku condemns women for loving money more than their husbands or boyfriends. The author even believes that the general wickedness of women has had biological effects. They no longer grow as tall, they develop breasts and become sexually mature at an early age, and they will accept a few pennies from boys and agree with "whatever the boy tells them," (pg.19).<br /><br />The anecdotes range from brief stories of how or why women will ruin the male reader and run the "four forty" (i.e. run away with men's wealth) to longer tales of how women will poison husbands and boyfriends for a little money. Njoku advises men that they have great responsibilities to their parents, community and children. He also says that a good boy is known by "salutation,respect, obedience, devotion to his duty and quietness", as opposed to a bad boy's display of "carelessness, disobedience, stubbornness and noise," (pg.47). Good girls are known for their "shyness, quietness, respect, obedience and likeness to domestic work," whereas bad girls "lack shyness [and] shame,"(pg.48). Overall, the pamphlet offers advice to men about why they cannot trust women,signaling a rift in Nigerian society over changing gender roles. The author,who also publishes under the name Felix Stephen, writes in most of his pamphlets about relationships with women and warns men away from marriage unless they want children. Women are viewed as threatening and only "very feware fair," (pg.2). Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/8087ad8036014d565f5b2b30121e586e.pdf 91ad2383de516c3a1fc5a8d4c222ce9b PDF Text Text 1 I WAY TO MAKE �FRIENDS WITH GIRLS ADELE MADUMERE F.B.s.c.,A.c.I. (INCORPORATED COMMERCIAL CONSULTANT.) Obtainable From:- A. ONWUDIWE & SONS. R 9 No. 6 Onitsha Main Market, P 0 BOX 214, . . ONITSHA-NIGERIA 316d Net Price All Copy Right Reserved �CONTENTS PAGE Ade and Lizzy at Owrri Road. Dance at Cafe Ambassador. Obstacles in Courtship. Ade Snached Lizzy from Mr. Cousin. Ade to appear Before the Supreme Court The Political disciples of Ade. Ade wins again Lizzy meets Native Doctor. Limy in awful Condition. L z y s ments letter to Adc. iz' : �PREFACE The Way to Make Friends with Girls presents itself as novel io which the Nigerian background can be seen in its entirety. The names appearing in the book are fictitious. m e story itself has no reflectin whatsoever to any person or persons now living or long dead. It is an imaginary story. THE AUTHOR. �A. ONWUDHWIE & SONS P 0 BOX . . %e 214 ONITSIIA - NIGERIA. Xanaging 9irector of ONWUDIWE & S N OS Boek - Sellers and Publishers. Promoters of Nigerian Modern Novels. �CHAPTER I It was a blessed evening. Owerri Road was thick-a very busy road. busier than Aggrey Road, Port-Harcourt. Lizzy, a drab-complexioned beauty of her time, the girl whose beauty everybody delighted in discussing, was walking gloriously along Owerri Road. Ade, like amateur cub just out to hunt games, could not allow an error pass him. Hc jumped out from the School Road. "Slop! Lizzy, I know you had wished to see me." It was Ade's whisper to Lizzy �"What! how do you come by this suggestion?" asked Lizzy. "Call it not suggestion" continued Ade. "Don't play shy on this issue. You like to see my face always isn't it.' Lizzy was hurrying up for a dear appointment. She had not plenty of time to discuss romance on the Road. Ade was too anxious to hear more of Lizzy's sweet words. He thought that, that was a golden opportunity to talk to some one who he had in mind for long. "Why are some men fond of interrupting women on high ways.?' questioned Lizzy. "Why are some women not bold in expressing their interests in men they love and like?'replied Ade. There was no reply from either side. Passers-by wondered why the two people broke their journey on a high way. The popular feeling was that they were discussing an important matter largely personal to them. It was bad light. Lizzy could not continue to stand on the road unmindful of her appointment. Ade did not mind bad light and time because it was the appointed time "Though the talk .was to Lizzy's inconvenience yet Ade was in smiling cheeks. A brake to the talk was unavoidably necessary. It was imperative. Lizzy took leave of Ade and walked away. Ade was in a confused state. He stood still. To go up to Lizzy again was a capital Q. He concluded however, that he had made a b3ld attempt though not successful. The next question was how he could re-adjust his plans in order to succeed. To go home to plan another method of approach was the only answer. CHAPTER I1 Lizzy was wondering how Ade could boldly stop her on the road. She did not know how Ade came to understand that she had any interest in him at all. 6 �She had not talked to Ade previously. How both of them knew each other's name was nothing to surprise anybody. Lizzy and Ade were popular names about town. Lizzy was named to a senior Service man in a big firm in Port-Harcourt, Ade was a public servant a journalist and politician. As a matter of fact Lizzy had admired Ade's manners and personality. Ade, five feet ten inches tall. Lizzy five feet eight inches two inches difference! Lizzy had much to think about her position. Ade. had much more to do. Lizzy left her husband, Mr. Cousin, on account of maltreatment. Though Mr. Cousin was a senior Service man yet something was lacking in their marriage tie. There was no happiness. There was quarrel every day. Plenty of trouble every time! Lizzy did not want to remain single. She was contemplating to reconcile with Mr. Cousin Many other suitors had given her their hands in marriage but she could not give consent. Mr. Cousin was much worried lossing a charming. young girl of Lizzy's figure. He had approached Lizzy several times both singularly, severally and otherwise. Each new approach became more unpromising than the old. He wrote so many letters of apology. When his English language was failing him he coosulted a barrister who drafted him a letter which he registered to Lizzy at one time. When the legal letter failed, he turned to vernacular letters. There was no inprovement! But to keep away from Lizzy Mr. Cousin could not bear. He desired to reconcile with her by all means and at all costs. road romance, Lizzy had Since Ade's changes in h e r o u t 1 o o k. She had mentime tioned to Nelly, her friend at one �prior lo the road incidenr, that she was interested in Ade, Her interest came to the comparative degree when on one evening Adt: delivered a heart-breaking lecture at the Diobu Market Square. He was campaigning for one of his party's candidates during a parliamentary election. Lizzy suspected that Nelly must have mentioned this remark to Ade at any time and that might be the reason why Ade mentioned that she wanted to to see him. Though Lizzy snobbed Mr. Cousin's several approaches yet she had not concluded not to rejoin him. She wanted to make him realise his follies and to mend his ways. Mr. Cousin took the whole matter seriously because he had enjoyed Lizzy's company to the envy of so many others. If he missed her entirely he would find it dificult to go in the other ladies company. Moreover, his other three wives were no match. Going to choose ladies from mean insultiog his wives. outside would While Ade was planning haw t o get Lizzy. Mr. Cousin was doing all he could to gain his wife's love. Lizzy on her part; had became confused owing to so many new developments. It was a world of confusion. Who would Mr. Cousin or Ade? win? �A state dance was staged by the Managers of Cafe Ambassador V.I.P.S., States men and second class citizens would attend the dance. Ade was in his dead black dancing suit. He was a bachelor. Being a state dance, he had no need for a partner. He was sure to have a dancing partner when he got to the hall. Lizzy had not attached herself to any dancing partner for fear that her husband might be offended. �Ade bought his ticket a t 10.30 p.m. and walked up the dancing flat. About 30 minutes later, Lizy. in light--blue, dazzling. damask, don't-shake gown, reported at the Ambassador gate. A gentleman at the gate requested to know if she was partnered ' I don't need a partner. I will partner myself. So, don't be worried about me," replied Lizzy in a sharpcontemptous voice. She bought her single ticket and went upstairs. She quietly took her seat very close to the entrance beside a gentleman facing the other way. Being attracted by the drawing of a chair behind him, Ade turned round to see the face he saw on the Owerri Road. It was Lizzy sitting closed beside him! "What are you doing here Lizzy?'asked Ade "And what about you?" asked Lizzy. It was on exciting occasion an occasion that would renew acquaintance. Ade had no need for another partner. Lizzy had no need for another partners came down froin heaven just at the time they were necessary. The first dance was High Life. Edison Bells Orchestra discussed the hits. Ade and Lizzy danced the NIKE NIKE .......... .. high life on the glory floor of Cafe Ambassador. The music was on, it was true but the partners did move conver, ration than dancing for Lizzy to be inside Ade hold me tight. It was wonderful! "Who asked you to sit near me, poor you?" whispered Ade. "This point is inexplicable, my Lord" replied Lizzy in a love-sented tune; "Don't you think something is responsible" continued Ade. "Anything can be responsible, I don't care. What ever may be your suggestion, my only belief is that the call together is free and easy, "concluded Lizzy. The dance was on. The conversation was on. Ade was preparing himself and his speech another opportunity. �The music first round ended. Dancers took their seats. Ade and Lizzy occupied on and lone table right at the extreme corner of the hall -perhaps for convenience sake. The dancing hall became the long awaited place for Ade's second approach. The table was rich with Star Lager Beer and Tango all brewed in Aba, Eastern Nigeria by the Nigerian Breweries Limited. The services of waitress was not needed. Lizzy appeared to be the best waitress even though she had not served in that capacity before. 'The partners paid no need to the music second round. "It is regretted that when we met last on the Owerri Road we could not have a nice discussion. You could not help replying to my question Adequietly. Before I go further I will thank you for having given me the courtesy that day. This very attitude of yours places ),ou above average. Just as if you gave me an appointment I did not arrange for adancing partner to night. You, on your part! came in without one. That is why 1 will not hesitate in concluding that God has sent you safely to me to continued, and if possible, finalise the matter. Lizzy, you may doubt why the matter has been put to us in this way. I know quite well that you were married to Mr. Cousin. It seems to me that you are not living with him presently. I can't say whether you will, one day, in the near future, rejoin him. What ever may be the case, all I want is your love, for truly, I like you. I should be very pleased if you would give me your opinion fully in order to release my heart from bondage". Lizzy was listening attentively to Ade's speech and raising her eyes she saw Mr. Cousin walking into the hall in his Agbada dress, She pretended not seeing him. She began to give Ade signs to make him know that her husband was in the hall but Ade did not take notice. �In replying to Ade's speech Lizzy said: I could have replied adequately but for Mr. Cousin's presence,' which Cousin?" interrupted Ade. "Look behind you" wanred Lizzy, As Ade turned round he saw Mr. Cousin sitting opposite their table looking steadily at Lizzy. There was no going back. There was no need hiding. Mr. Cousin had seen his Lizzy in Mr. Ade's company. For courtesy Mr. Cousin would not intrude. For the same reason Ade and Limy would cantinue with their conversation. If anything would happen it would be after the dance. "Let's forget all about Mr. Cousin" continued Ade- "There are only two possible things we expect, Mr. Cousin may either stage a fight with me or seize you from me. Both are usual daily occurences. If the former happens the shame is Cousin's. If the later the shame is mine. I pray you, carry on with the talk and be frank" Lizzy entertained some fear in the first instance. Later, when Ade applied his diplomatic utterances, she felt quite normal. She would carry on with the talk in spite of her husband's presence. "Well, she began to whisper" I'm bound to say something I'm bound not because you force me to say my opinion, I'm bound because love is strong. I'm bound because love is kind. I m bound because love is true. I'm bound because love is my pride. I'm bound because love is the due to prosperity, to place of mankind". "Speak high my lady" intruded Adz, "Yesy' continued Lizzy ''I was married to Mr. Cousin. We had married for long but for lack of love 1 was compelled to leave him. I have decided that before I give myself to another man I must consent my mind several days and nights and even months if not years. I know you are a bachelor and may ask me to marry you. And before you put this question across, I must assure you that you are bound to fail as my mind is very far from consent �I shall always like you person for you are sweet. Any young woman who does not surrender to you in love cannot surrender to any other person. Let's go on with the dance." Ade held his breathe. The Bells Orchestra kept on with latest hints while ethers enjoyed themselves in a dead waltz, Ade and Lizzy appeared unconcerned. Mr. Cousin, who came to enjoy the Saturday night engaged himself seriously in the affairs of his wife and her dancing partner. How the dance would end for the two parties could not be predicted. Ade could not be silent over an important' matter as courtship. "For likeness sake" he burst' your reply though very disencouraging, ought to be polished to a certain degree lest it becomes together valueless to me. I appreciate your frankness for I urged you be frank. You are a product of noble parents. All you fear is thz very many unusual commitments in love- making. Dismiss this fear and release your conscience reconsider and give me your final decision." Lizzy found it hard to reply again. She meant L'I to harm for Ade, but wanted to stand clear. have a principle in life." voiced out Lizzy "I can't make fuither statements on this matter to-night but will advise you to hold on till when next we meet. Let's enjoy the dance". Ade could not press the matter stronger but waited for another opportunity. The dance was coming to a close. Mr. Cousin had decided what to do. He watched Ade atjd Lizzy closely. The master of ceremonies announced that five would end the dance. Lizzy and Ade jived. The Edison Bells Orchestra signed off. Mr. Cousin quickly walked downstairs and waited for Lizzy and Ade at the gate. As Ade and Lizzy came down the gate and walked out there was a whisper of "Lizzy ' from Mr. Cousin. �There was no reply. "Lizzy don't you hear Mr. Cousin's voice again?" querried Mr. Couisn "Oh Sir, you are too late Cousin" replied Lizzy. Mr. Cousin was surprised at the reply. What would he do?. While Ade stepped his right leg into the car. Mr. Cousin held him by his tie. ''lf you enter this car I finish your life now" exclaimed Mr. Cousin angrily. Ade gave him a jaw-breaking blow oo his cheek and he let Ade go and fell unconsciously on the ground. Lizzy jumped into Ade's car and they drove away. Mr. Cousin lay there for a few minutes, regained consciousness and quietly went home CHAPTER IV Both Mr. Cousin and Ade were students of the Island Hotel Dancing School. Dancing ;classes werc held twice weekly. One Monday evening, Mr. Cousin arrived at the dancing practice quite on time. Ade went up to Lizzy's house to request her to accompany him to the dancing school to do a special Tango which had worried him for long. Lizzy told him that she had no objection if that could only keep him happy, but reminded him that her husband dsed to be a regular student of the dancing school. Ade told her that Mr. Cousin had not attend e d t h e school for six consecutive times. Lizzy was convinced. She dressed up aod followed Ade. Arriving at the Island Hotel square they noticed that the attendance was very good that evening. It was a pleasure for them to join their comrades. They went up and took their seats. Students were seriously attentive to the Tango bits demonstrated by the Instructor. Later, it was coupling. The instucior wanted a lady for coupling demonstration. His eyes caught Lizzy. "EXCUSE WE DANCE" said .the instructor as he walked straight to, Ade. 14 �He danced with Lizzy. That was time. The cat was let out of the bag. It was a little wonder to Mr. Cousin who just walked in. It was a little wonder not because he had not seen a man daocing with a woman before. It was a wonder because he was surprised t o see Lizzy at the dancing School because through out his stay with Lizzy she swore that she would never follow him to the dancing School. He did all he could but failed to convince her. This thought made Mr. Cousin look pale. The problem, to him, was incomprehensible. How be it, he must endure it as he endured the terrific blow of the Cafe Ambassador. The demonstration was over students more t o apply the Instructor's instruction. This time Ade was to dance with Lizzy. Mr. Cousin could not keep silent any longer. he should act. He walked boldly to Lizzy to request a dance. Lizzy looked at him with contempt. He drew her from the seat. She held Ade tight. Mr. Cousin could not draw her off, while he stood before her Lizzy said "You are too late Cousin. If you don't respect yourself 1 will here now show YOU your seat" Ade did not intrude for he was watching the evznt. Mr. Cousin came up to drag Lizzy again. '%%at a fool you are, Cousin. Take your time. play cool. If not, 1.11 beat the hell out. damn you and damn the consequence. Voiced out Ade in a high temper, Mr. Cousin left Lizzy and walked out of the Hall. Lizzy and Ade continued with the practice. they did not mind the little drama. Other students could not talk because the matter was from big man to big inan. Mr. Cousin was away but nobody knew what was in his mind. At one interval Lizzy looked downstairs and saw Mr. Cousin standing beside an electrict pole near the I s l a n d Hotel. �She watched him closely to know whether he was armed. Ade saw Lizzy as she was looking dowo. He walked up to her. "Look at Mr Cousin" whispered Lizzy. They looked at him attentively but could see nothing strange about him. The dancing School came to a close at 9.30 p.m. Students were going away. Lizzy and Ade kept behind until every other Students had gone down. Coming downstairs, Ade and Lizzy saw Mr. Cousin walking away. They followed him with short paces coming to the junction leading to Lizzy's house, Mr. Cousin halted. Ade and Lizzy came to the same point. As they walked over the adjourning street, Mr. Cousin followed. "Stop there Lizzy! Stop there or die Lizzy!" commanded Mr. Cousin. Ade and Lizzy continued walking" If you walk further. I shoot you dead! threatened Mr. Cousin. There was still no shivering, no reply, no turning back. What a determination! What a slight even at the point of gun! It was terrible. Liuy wanted to play her part when and where necessary. Mr. Cousin walked up to Lizzy's house but halted at the entrance. Lizzy went into the dressing room, got ready, looked at Mr. Cousinand said: "Come in, darling Mr. Cousin was afraid to go in. .'I deal with all kinds of people but not of Adz's type, said Mr. Cousin. "Don't fear intruded Ade "Come in for I dehl with all classes of men including people of Mr. Cousin's class Experience has thought me so. Come in, I know your worries-"once beaten twice shy". Come in friend. Don't fear. Mr. Cousin's fear increased as he heard Ade's voice. He thought that if hc went in he would be entrapped. In departing Mr. Cousin said; "I know my love to Lizzy is yet true. She was true all the time. She has not told me the manner of sins I'm guilty of. 16 �has charmed my sweet heart. There is cupid influence in all this. But what matters is how we parted. What judges us is how riiuch we loved ourselves, Lizzy loves me, this I know. This she will continue to love me I'm sure. Though going in dismay Lizzy, keep fit and remember me. Lizzy was worried: In a very cold voice Lizzy raid; "Sorry, you are too late, Cousin." CHAPTER V Mr. Cousin returned home in the worst of mood. Poor Cousin To live or t o die. To continue the Lizzy case o r discontinue. The world at this time was in complete darkness. Missing Lizzy because of a minor matter. He did not think that the mistake was such that could not be corrected. He had three wives besides Lizzy but the missing of any of the other three would be frankly regarded as a shortcoming. 'Lizzy's absence was a !horn in the flesh. The only reason was that Lizzy stole Mr. Cousin's heart before they ever joined as husband and wife. Mr. Cousin thought of many things sorrounding the case. Well wishers. friends, bossom, relations, had warned him about his affairs with Lizzy before the break-down. He was shy because his parents had advised him not to joke with Lizzy but because of thz weakness of flesh he paid no heed but regretted after every misadventure. But what was that bone of contention? A man with four wives was not satisfied with them. He was fond of picking women from outside to inside the house- would ask the four to give him chance to romance the fifth temporary pasture. This attitude continued for some time until that became: his second self. Mr. Cousin would leave the house every Saturday night �to sleep ourside and to return the following Sunday morning. The first, second and third wives could accommodate this very .attitude of Mr. Cousin but Lizzy who knew the art of loving could not. She always told Mr. Cousin, "if you are not satisfied with all of us and feel that another woman ou:side is more applealing. bring her in legally. We want to be as many as ten in the house since there is accommodation for all of us and since African custom allows it. But if you feel it is an extra burden and you still have interest in her, please romance her outside not inside this house" Mr. Cousin regarded this stately statement as water poured on the back of the duck This was the real trouble. Lizzy could no longer bear the burden. Whea the case reached its green point-when there was no happiness in the house Lizzy decided to keep away in order to avoid trouble After all, there can be no life without happiness. Sadness in the horn? shortens the the days and nights. It reduces strength and life and that is death. A new thought came to Mr. Cousin. He decided to write a letter to Lizzy which might change her mind. If the change of mied was impossible. The next qoesticn was "what do you say?' Lizzy would say what would be the next step to follow in the matter in order to arrive at success. There and then Mr. Cousin would take a decision. Was the losing of Lizzy an inrecoverable loss? The question would be answered by Lizzy in her reply to Mr. Cousin's letter. ''Dear Lizzy" Wrote Mr. Cousin #'Need we bother our heads about doubtful future? What do you say? Shall we continue to live in a fool's paradise? the home of doubting Thomases �Did I not aish you Godspeed as I left you that night. Did I not ask you to remember me. I have waited for the response but have been challenged by silence. What do you say to our existence? Tell me in sincere words whether you will come back to me nor nay. I know it was not your intention to stay away as long but for the presence of that foolish jealous heart. Do you know that Ade plays a mere foolery with you and will drop you as soon as his plans are true. Don't you know the politicians tongue. Because you see him always talking on the soapbox-raising fale alarms in order to attract innocent citizens to dwindle them to feed fatter than senior sxvicemen -To gct rich overnight. T o b poor the following day. T o brew crisis in order : to feed fat on the' illiterates. Thank you, time shall come when you will pr-fer living with me under this condition to eating for a week and starving for another week. Rich men a t election times and poor men thereafter. You know how dearly I love you. You know I cannot afford to miss you. Jane, Kate and Asugwo always say I will die whenever you leave me. They are now waiting to hear that I have done something extra-ordinary because of your absence. In order to avoid an unpleasant end, please come back. It will interest you to hear that I am now prepared to act by your instructions and directives-stop talking to one and thousand ladies- being with you always when I am not in the ofice attend all private and official functions and meetings by your express permission and approval- above all, to love you lovelier than ever then to be yours for ever. In the light of my new phase of life what d o you say Lizzy? what do you say to our existence in life? Tell me! Tell me! Your dearest, changed Cousin. - 19 �The letter did not move Lizzy. Since Mr. Cousin's Island Hotel encounter, Limy had delved into higher interest in Ade. She has been lectured by Ade atimes without number. Lizzy had made up her mind not to have further dealings with Mr. Cousin and his family as far as marriage was concerned. She was awarethat Mr. Cousin was wealthy. She believed that wealth was not his that had it but his that enjoyed it. She felt that without happiness wealth meant death. Though Ade did much in braning Lizzy, yet she carefully ignored anything relative to making a promise --a promise to marry Ade. She did not want to commit herself in any way except for keeping Ade harpy zt that material time. Mr. Cousin was expecting a good result. He was optimistic because Lizzy's action in her house the other night encouraged him. Ade read Lizzy's action well. He knew that she was principled hence she avoided commitment very much: However, Lizzy's action spoke much of premise. It would not be wrong to admit that Lizzy was watching Ade closely. He did not want to go from hell to hades. Would there be a reply at all to Mr. Cousin's letter or would it be treated with silence this was a problem which required a solution. I t would be discounteous of her if such a letter was not treated. In what way and what tune would the reply be written in order to avoid commitment. Aftei consider~ngthe gaps and hitches L i u y decided to give a full. com~rehensiverenlv to the letter ~ . ~ ;\T 3 A,M. LIZ& WOKE FROM * SLEEP AND WROTE: DEAR Cousin It was a hard job that your letter was presented to me. It has been over one week chat I had picked materials for the reply. Shaping of the tune to suit. I was not drawing a conclusion on our final position but on how to be able to write you when I had. for long, ~ - �decided not to have further dealings with you. Well, courtesy is strong. I must give your lztter the very courtesy it requires. I must make it clear to you that before taking the decision to keep away from you, I had the backing of many conscience. Nobody else is responsible. Ade was not my friend while I was your wife. You know I had to respect you in all respects. I like your personality so dearly but hate your manners. 1 did all in my power to play the game with you as a comrade. You did not regard me as somebody in union with you but as a visitor. I managed the affair well as far as humanly possible. I gave you a sufficient time to make a change of heart but very unfortunately you played me out: Jane, Kate and Asugwo are your wives. I am not better than them. You can always remain with them in that they are always prepared to pay you back in your own coins. As I am not born to reciprocate evil I will not learn that in your house for marriage sake. The alternative is that which I have now done Outside this, I will live to wound myself and conscience. Your new phase of life, as you have put it is very interesting. I wish you all the best of luck. Are the present promises sweeter than those you used to make on those hectic days? The answer is No I You can't deceive me again. Acting by my directives satisfying my wants listening to my advices desist from going to. the pubs regularly stop talking to thousand and one ladies - to be with me always when you are not on office duty to attend all private and official functions and meetings by my express permission and approval-above all, my Sweet Cousin, to love me lovelier than ever and Oh! my dear, to be mine for ever ! It is all true darling me! What do 1 call this?. - - 21 �the sentiment-the sentiment-what a promisewhat a wonderful evasive promise of future improvement - what a prospective future I wish I had a teleprinter to send out this news. - Let me tell you Cousin, I have the music in me. I am a good trumpeter talking candidly, you wrote the letter under reference the night you returned from Cafe Ambassador. Finishing the letter you went to Hotel Picadilly whtre you spent the remaining part of the day. Alcohol and spirit can do marvellous jobs for weak humanity. I must advise you to keep up with Jane. Kate and Asugwo for the time being. Later. you will decide to make another choice if you still want a fourth wife. Left to me., I would ask you to manage these three and do to them all the things in your nzw phase of life. There is n o need having, a legion of wives. For your information, I have vowed since leaving your house not to marry a polygamist in my life again. Remember that before I gave my love to you there was no indication at any time that you had any wife other than me. You did not reveal to me that you had ever intended any girl before approaching me. It was a big surprise to me to see vour other wives coming in successioo after I had settled in your house. In order not to embarrass you I kept calm. You were still not satisfied but proceeded with the new wife deal. On the other hand I founa you an imposible partner- Not only that happiness was absent from the house but that sincerity is your enemy with your marriage is slavery. As I don't want to be a slave in a free world, I sang you ''Nunc dimitis". Replying now to "What d o you say'' I candidly affirm that I will no longer remain in bondage in a man's house in order to have a husband �I will not come back to you. If you are feeling my absence from your house, please pray t o God to give you courage. Rpgard i t as a shortcoming. It is nothing strange. What of death? Assuming that 1 am the best, can't the world d o without the best? There must be a substitute as I go away. Try elsewhere and you will surely succeed. While wishing you, all wish yourself let me remind you, Mr. Cousin. that you are too late. very sincerely, Lizzy. CHAPTER VI It was a world of make - belief to Mr. Cousin as he received Lizzy's revelation. It was a shocking news! He wished he did not write the letter. If he did not, he would have not been reminded of many things he had since forgotten. That is the danger of using the pen. In courtship man meets many obstacles. Mr. Cousin had caused himself the headache. He would blame nobody. He wanted to have the best from woman but had the worst instead. He did not think that the matter would die there. Woman can be tossed here and there, for they are changeable all the time. He decided t o make further attempts which might fiod a solution. He would not bsar Lizzy's absence in his house. It was Lizzy who attended important personalities who always visited Mr. Cousin. Many of his friends admired Lizzy's manners and would express same in her presence. The other three wives were unpolished. They were not the sort presentable in a Senior Service man's house. Mr. Cousin would d o it or die. �Ade was on the other hand, finding Lizzy's favour. Nothing was binding both of them. Ade wanted a corcrete statement from Liny. He did not know in what manner she replied t o Mr. Cousin's letter. If he did he could have had some relief. He had his doubts because anything could happen in courtship. If he succeeded in wooing Liuy's the bctt-r for him. But if he failed it was another calamity. Politicians are talkertives. He had boasted to friends with Lizzy's name. He had told tales with the Cafe Ambassador and Island Hotel incidents. Ade must pull his weight if he w o ~ l d hope to succeed. Mr. Cousin was planning ahead. He thought that nothing again would disunite L m y and Ade except that same offence he had committed. He used to know a girl who had been in love with Ade. This was an instrument to use. Mr. Cousin succeeded in knowing the house of Gracy. She was the type of girl who breaks her head when she hears politics. She attended all political meetings especially those of Ade's party. She liked to see and hear Ade deliver his speeches. But Gracy's love t o Ade was too secret. She was under the control of her mother. Her father died when she was eight years old. The mother had been all and all for her. She would have married Ade if not for her mother's serious objections. "My daughter. you won't marry a Politician'. She told Gracy always. Gracy was interested in Ade but since she had not the final say in the marriage way she had to wait. But talk ill of Ade t o Gracy's hearing you would have it hot. She defended Ade every where. She took pride in reading. �Ade's contributions in the dailies. She would want her girl friends to enjoy the reading with her. She would always feel to go to Ade's house but for the mother she wouldn't. Mr. Cousin had a cousin who was very friendly with Gracy. Agnes visited Mr Cousin one evening. He was very sad. "What is w r o n g ? ' a s k e d Agnes "Many things are wrong' replied Mr. Cousin "I have not seen you i n this mood before. Something must be wrong indeed: continued Agnes "Yes, Agnes one Ade, Ade, Ade, wants me to die. He has taken away Lizzy from me. He had to beat me at Cafe Ambassador. He wanted to kill me a t the Island Hotel. He persuaded Lizzy to write me a stinker. You know how Lizzy loved me a@ how I loved her. If she were here now you would have been happy. But Ade, the politician, has used his "1s sweet coated tongue to snatch Lizzy from me!' it not Ade who intends Gracy?' interrupted Agnes, "Yes. It is he that dangerous man". - Concluded Mr. Cousin. "Don't trouble your heart much. As fnr a s l have heard this story, Agnes must hear it. She will warn Ade. I know how dearly Gracy loves him. She is mad about him. She has told me many fine stories about him. She goes as far as to defend him wherever she hears his news. I know if she hears that he is interes~ed in another girl something must happen. be The matter will s o o ~ settled. I f Cracv hears that you are my cousin, she will feel it badly. She must act.' CHAPTER VII Gracy was at her mum's Creek Road residence on Friday evening. There was a tap at the door. It was Agnes "Come in Agnes!" You look sweet. There must be some fine news''. very �"The news is not all that fine. I don't know why we should con~inue to give our hearts to these unsteady men. They promise you Heaven and Earth today and forget all tomolrow. I'm not happy at all over Ade's attitude towards my cousin, Mr. Cousin of the Travellers Bank Limited who rides on EP 555. You know his wife Lizzy who was a pupil of our School." ''Yes! yes!' I remember. I use to see them always I know Lizzy very well. That fine-Looking girl". intruded Gracy. 'Do you know" continued Agnes "that Ade has snatched her from my cousin." Telling me!" interrupted Gracy. Yes Lizzy is no more in Mr. Cousin's house. The Pittiest side of the story is that Ade bit Mr. Cousin at Cafe Ambassador and attempted to kill him at the Island Hotel. Mr. Cousin was crying in his house yesterday before 1 came in to see him. He has the greatest blow any average man could have. I'm sorry for the situation. Sorry because this matter affected my cousio and someone in whom you are interested". Gracy was not happy at all. That was some thing serious. She could not talk. She. looked a t Agnes stupidly scratched her hair. She found it difficult to say any word. When Agnes saw that Gracy was wounded she said: "I'm sorry I have had to injure your feeling this evening. You were happy before I came in. You now look dull. I know I O U have the interest of Ade at heart not neccessarily 1oving:him. I know why you are sad. I am aware that Ade intends to marry you. You will not be happy to hear that your intender misbehaves in any way feminine. But I will urge you to go about it gently. When Ade knows thatyouare aware of his present undertaking, he will discontinue his plans because he loves you. �Don't fall out with him. Take the matter lightly. We should correct ourselves from the misadventures of others. That is why we read books. Your case is not a complicated one. There is a way out'. "But you arc not serious, Agnes. tuned Gracy. "Are you wanting me to believe that my Ade will behave in this way. To snatch Lizzy from Mr. Cousin to beat Mr. Cousin in a public place such as the Cafe Ambassador. To attempt Killing Mr. Cousin! It is wonderful! Ade is a public Servant. He makes the law. His standing in the community is such that he cannot think in terms of commiting murder because of woman. I have watched his utterances in private and public places. He is mindful of his position in the community. I have not seen him in bad company. Could you believe that since I knew him I had not entered his house yet he is not worried. He has disclosed his interest in me. 1 have franklv told him that my mother has the final say in this connection. As modern as he is, he has not indicated to me his objections to my mother's vizws about his intention. He has taken everything coolly. He does things gradually. I am puzzled indeed. I will not take a decision on t h s matter. I know what to do. You will hear the result soon. 1 thank you for disclosing all this to me'. Agnes was disturbed a bit. She wondered why Gracy was bold in defending Ade in this all important matter. She had her doubts. She took leave of Gracy. CHAPTER VIII Ade iovited Lizzy to an at-home. He also invited Lambeth, George, Sunny and Sylva. Ade had some points to discuss with his friends. �He would want Lizzy to be there. That was another way of making his political friends know of his new deal -His plans for Lizzy. Ade asked the manager of the Hotel Universal to arrange him one room of the Hotel for the at-home. By 7. 10 p.m. the invitees arrived at the Hotel Universal, a stone throw to Gracy's house. Egusi soup pounded yam-goat slices-chickens maggi sauce-ground pepper-The table was rich. "Ladies and gentlemen, there is DO nerd for any introduction. You know yourselves. Of course, Lady Lizzy, you are at home with Lambett George, Sunny and Sylva!" Your humble Ae' d! Hear! Hear!. The party did justice to the dishes. "And what do you drink Ladies and gentlemen? asked Ade "Nothing but Star beer' repl~edSylva. "Why Star Beer?' asked George "Because Star nas quinine In it' point out Sylva. It is true! It is true!' Ladies and gentlemen' Ade intervented "You have got it a11 wrong. Star Beer has n o jot of quinine in it. Five ingredients are presented in Star Beer. They are malt, yeast, hop, sugar and water.' "This is wonderful! exclaimed Sylva. "That is why it is good to come together. I had held the view that there is quinine in Star Beer. Not me only but several thousand others. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have learned enough to-night. If we doo't have to learn more, this is sufficient Plenty bottles of Star Beer on table. 'These are condemned soldiers. They must be executed!" commanded Mr. Lambeth. There was a big laughter. Lizzy was watching the order of the night. She was learning much about her new suitor. She was not shy. She was used to that sort of gathering when she was with Mr. Cousin. 28 �The only thing strange to her was all that scented politics. That sent her head back to Mr. Cousin's remarks about Ade. "Now, Couucillor Lambeth, can you tell us what is wrong with your council and the market men and women association." Asked Ade. The Secretary of the Association had made several calls on me since the past weeks. I had not taken the matter seriously because I always hit at the right point. I don't want to raise any alarm yet. But when I know the truth in the whole matter, I will boom up the show. Councillor Lambeth said: "This matter has heard so many interpretations from many angles. As far as I am concerned, I can only defend myself. You know I'm new in politics. I do my private job from which I earn my livelihood. There are many members of our couucil who have no private occupation but tbe council Hall and its many departments. Some of them do the legitimate duties of council officials. Whatever may be their good intentions not withstanding, the public suspect them. I have met three or more members 3f the market men and women Association who told me that they paid El0 each to be allocated market stalls. I for my own part, have not been approached by anybody to help. I have neither demanded from any one. I am convinced that there is something wrong somewhere. I'm afriad. However honest any councillor may be. he must be suspected. I am afraid. I will resignmy membership of the Council." Mr. Sunny whose show in drinking beer became interested in the matter. "What did I tell you yesterday, Ade?' asked Sunny. Man). of our present councillors are swindlers. Some of them are rogues. They see all manner of will in the name of our great party. They always bring preasure on the Executive Committee 29 �to defend them. This time they will not eat their cake and have it. We must go on without a management. As for Mr. Lambeth, since your conscience is clear, you should fear no accusations and suspicions. The market men and woman know those who took money from them and such people will be handled. Many of the Councillors who had no bicycles before going to the Council are now owners of 300 C. C. Triumph Motcr Cycles. Some of them now own Volkswagen saloon cars. They are not paid any reasonable allowance but they can live luxuriously in the name of the party. ' Mr. Sylva was fast with the Beer. "Star! Star! You can't beat Star Beer. Beer at its Best! Others joined in cheeriop. Sylva was nice in campaign. He had heard previous arrangements with some members of the Market men and women Association. They had agreed that they would send nine delegations to the Minister of Local Government. Ade was to lead the delegation. The noise made for Star Beer attracted Gracy. She heard the vioce of Ade but did not suspect it much. That was about 9 p. m. The party was coming to a close Mr. Cousin left Hotel Metropole coming to Hotel Universal. As he was going upstairs to the Beer parlour he heard the vioce of Ade and company. He ran down to Gracy. "Come on! Come and see your Ade with Lizzy. Come! Come!" Gracy dressed up. She walked fastly to the Hotel. Mr. Cousin had quickly taken his seat in one of the rooms in the Hotel t o watch events. Gracy was going upstairs while Ade and company were coming down. Hello! Gracy. preeted Ade. "How d o you do!" replied Gracy. "Is mum in?" continued Ade. "Yes Mum is in and what of your Lizzy?" 30 �Ade was silent. Lizzy heard question but did not ~~~~~~~~~anything. Gracy walked away without saying more. Mr. Cousin who was expecting some casualties was disappointed. What was actually wrong with this Ade? His dear Gracy did not stage a fight with Lizzy. There was no quarrel ! What a disappointment! CHAPTER IX On petting home that night. Mr. Cousin felt that he was wasting his time by chasing Ade and Lizzy in the way he had done. The law courts must look into this case. He married Lizzy according to native law and custom. If a woman does not want t7 continue marriage with her husband, she should divorce him in the customary court of his town. Lizzy was quite aware of this condition. But she wanted to take a final decision before taking such a step. Her letter to Mr. Cousin was an exhibit. T o divorce a husband meant paying to him through the court what bride price he paid for marrying the wife. This usually happens if the woman has attacbed herself to a new husband. In Lizzy's case, she had not given a definite word to Ade or anybody else. If Mr. Cousin would take legal redress it must be against Ade if he could prove his claims. Taking it against Lizzy meant he was divorcing her an undertaking which he so much feared. He therefore decided to test Ade's action in the Law Court. Ade was worried in mind since after the at-home surprise. He was worried because he did not know how Gracy know that he and his party were in the Hotel Universal how Gracy know about Lizzy. He had to suspect many people including intimate ones. He did not know how to handle the Gracy issue. - - �Of course, he could defend himself. Gracy had disclosed to him that her mum did not want her to marry a politician. This was a good point. Ade would not like to die i3 single blessedness. If Gracy failed him. he would make a success from another. But the moral impl:cation mattered. If Gracy proved, truly speaking, that Ade fought o r bit Mr. Cousin o r attempted to kill him because of Lizzy, Gracy would lose confidence in Ade. By his losing Gracy's confidence he lost much because Gracy had done so much to advertise him. Defended his attitude represented his interest in private and public. What more to love him dearly to admire. Ade called a t Gracy in the noon of Thursday. She received him normally. He expected that the Lizzy question would be brought up. T o Ade's greatest surprise, no mention was made about it. "You asked me a question a t the Hotel Universal the other night. Was it not about Lizzy?" "I have forgotten all about the question. I only wanted to confirm an information and that I did. If you could snatch Lizzy from .Mr. Cousin and bit him, you are too brave. Anything can happen about any person. There is no need having explicit confidence in man for he is fragile. "Don't continue" interrupted Ade. "Let me tell you. Your informant told you that I snatched Lizzy from her husband and at the same time bit him. "And attempted to kill him !" introduced Gracy ' ' ~ h killing? And you believe this story. This is a fable. .'I have been interested in you. I have not snatched you from your mum but I was able to snatch a wife from her husband. Which is easier? To take away a girl from her parents o r a wife from her husband? This is fantastic! As long as you are concerned I must tell you the truth. Lizzy had left her husband since eight months ago. I approached her along the Owerri Road one evening. Since then, 1 have been �trying to get her to marry me. You know that your mum has placed a very big barrier in our way. I don't know how long to wait for a change of heart on the part of your mother. How d o you think I should live without a wife - a partner. Lizzy has not given me her final reply on this issue. You know how much I had. approached you on this marriage deal. I understaod lately that Lizzy is not willing to go back to Mr. Cousin. She made up her mind before leaving his house. I was not there. I had no interest in Lizzy when she was under her husband. I am not the class of men who tamper with peoples' wives. If anybody tampers with my wife, whenever I have one, I will deal with him. The evening you met us at Hotel Universal was a tragic one. I invited friends including Lizxy to an athome. I was collecting facts in a matter which will soon engage my attention. That was all for that evening, Gracy was convinced. She began to feel much for Ade. Her mother had deprived her of something real. She wished anything could happen to change her mum's opinion about Ade. But she could not challenge her mum whom she had loved much and who had been all for her. Any attempt made on forcing her mum would be resisted. If she felt heavy about the matter or pressed it carelessly meant committing matricide. "Poor Ade" said Gracy. "I wish you were inside my mind at this moment. I'm dying, dying. dying for you. Blood is strong. Mum! Mum! Mum! On mother! Parents have secret joys and so arc their griefs and fears we are told. Could you not convmce mum to change her mind about you. What is wrong with politicians. I don't know. other' hates politicians badly. What of Ministers' wives? Can you not come to that posit~ons through your local activities 33 �I have admirtd your articles in the dailies. I have heard your speech to a marmoth crowd. I have heard of your activities in your local council. What is their wrong in marrying politicians. Are our Regional Premiers not politicians. Our Prime Minister - Our Parliamentarians earning fat Governor General salaries to maintain their wives and children. - - - It was Mr. Cousin entering our house for the first time in his life, who informed me that you wcre with Lizzy at Hotel Universal. 1 did come of course, I saw you and greeted you. I don't blame you. It is mum. It is mum! Ade looked up to the ceilliog. He could say nothing. "I will leave you. Let us watch The side" was his final statement. CHAPTER X At 7 a.m. on Monday morning. Ade was preparing his speech for a big Lady at NO. 4 Field, Port - Harcourt, when a Bailiff handed over to him a summons to appear bcfore the Supreme Court on Friday in the forenoon to answer a writ from Mr. Cousin to show cause why he should detain Lizzy, Mr. Cousin's wife illegally. NO. 2 clause on the Summons his claim for £500 against Ade as damages for depriving Mr. Cousin his personal libert),. That was another interesting news about town that week. Though Ade was not financially up-to-date yet his name was princely. The news bazed forth. THE REPORTER, a local news paper used it as a leader in The ADE, JOURNALIST AND POLJTICIAN IN DEPEN- - DANT IN CIVIL SUIT OF e500 CLAIMS: RE.4SON ILLEGAL DETENTION OF MR COUSIN'S WIFE. The Reporter sold it like hot cake that day. That was a fulk of the town. The Rroadcasting Service used it as Headline News. Other National Newspapers made big news out of it in different journalistic languages 34 �Ade must defend himself. He consulted Mr. Nwafor M. A,, LL.B., a politican- Lawyer of Lagos fame. Mr. Cousin retained Mr., Ibeji, M. A., M. Sc., LL.B. another famous Port-Harcourt Lawyer, specialist in matrimonial cases. Friends and well wkhers of Ade and Mr. Cousin applied to go into the case to effect a szttlement out-of-court, but Mr. Cousin was too stiff. Ade's feet was heavy about the case but he was not in any way despondent. He would not give up. That was a test case for the two learned friends. Lizzy was disturbed so much. T o . appear before a crowded court to testify in a case for the first time in her life time. Her name is to be published in the dailies for the first time in her life to be finger pointed where -ever she went. T o tell tales with her name not for something glorious but dishonourable. The news shocked Gracy. She observed that Mr. Cousin was wicked and rascally. She was forced to move down to Ade's for the first time since they fall in love. She gave Agnes notice not to come to her house again. Their friendship was to be discontinued. Their relationship became stained. She was sorry for her Ade. She minded much Ade's name not the case it self. Ade had been making fast news not such as that which came in as a flash that time. CHAPTER X I The S u p r ~ m eCourt was crowded. Cars lined up. The premises was the sea of heads of men, women children, politicians of all grades, who came to listen to the sensetional case. The police were very busy at work, keeping order. �Ade dressed in his immaculate white Agbada. In his company was Lizzy who dresscd in blue Mambo native custom with cha-cha-cha gold neckless to march. As Ade moved his tagle-ftalhtr fsn, there was a loud applause of 4de! Ade! Ade! both outside and inside the court. What a popularity1 Mr Cousin dressed in his deep indigo suit. He drove in with Mr Metu, his good friend. They alighted fiom the car and walked majestically into the court. c'Court" His Lordship. Major Amachoko, came into the court. There was a dead slience' "Suit No. P H 40161. Mr. Ete Cousin Versus Mr Mana Ade witnesses in this case out of herrings'' 'cYour Lordship, 1 appear for the plaintiff" said Barrister Ibeji. Your Lordship, I appear for the Defendant" said Barrister Nwafor. 'Your Lordship, my client is asking the defendant to show cause in this court why he detained the plaintiff's wife illegally since twelve calendar months and 2, to "pay us f500 special damages for depriving my client his personal liberty. This is our case" said Barrister Ibeji. "Are you liable or not liable?" "Not liable' replied Mr. Ade. "Your Lordship' said Mr Nwafor' 'I will apply to this court to strike out the first clause in the claim. There is no ground whatsoever for my learned friend to mix criminal case with civil. Your Lordship. if my client detained the plaintiff's wife illegally which I suppose to mean unlawfully, he could have reported the matter to the police. It is the police and not this court who will charge my client with unlawful detention. I will refer your Lordship to Maxwell Versus Chapper which was exactly put in this way. In that case, Your Lordship, the court struck out the case �and cost was awarded against the plaintiff". 'What do you say Mr Ibeji ?' asked the Judge. "Your Lordships' replied Mr. Ibeji, "My learned friend cannot interprete our mind at this stage of the case. He could have waited until a later stage to make this application that is if we fail to establish a case against the defendant. It is the court's findings, which will show us the next way to follow-Your Lordship, my learned friend is putting the Cart before the horse." Standing up again Mr. Nwafor said, "Your Lordship, my learned friend bas got it all wrong. I would refer your Lordship to cap. 38 sub section 4 of Criminal Procedure. The whole thing is explict here." The Judge referred to his book. ''Yes, yes, yes, I see with you Mr. Nnafor and Mr. Ibeji, I am afraid you will lose this case. I therefore strike off clause 1 of the claim. "As Court pleases." ''This case" said the Judge "is an interesting one. I will give it a full day's hearing when next it comes up. You should file your statement of claim and defence within thirty days from today. Case is adjourned to 30th July. Immediately the Judge announced the adjournment the Court became almost empty. Many people rushed to Ade outside the court. At each V sign he made there were shouts of Ade! Ade! Ade! He .;.as carried shoulder--high. Many people who had not known Lizzy had the opportunity of knowing her. No soonerdid Ade went into his car with Livy Then the shout changed from Ade! to Ade! L!zzy! Ade! Lizzy! Ade! Lizzy The following day, the local daily annouuced No. 1 Victory for Ade in the unlawful Detention case. The news spread tar and near. Ade was interviewed by many newspaper reporters but he reserved his statement. Any statement in that connection at that time would subjudice the case. t 37 �CHAPTER XI1 Mr. Cousin returned from the court with sadness because he lost part of his claims. He had paid fifty guineas to his counsel. Could he lost both siae,. To lose Lizzy and to lose his money Kate, Jane and Asugwo were not happy with Mr. Cousin. They heard all about the Lizzy's affair from outside. On hearing the Conrt news they began to think that if Mr. Cousin had some regard for then? he would not continue to waste time and money for only one woman who left the house. Kate could no longer wait for Mr. Cousin. She decided to go home tc see her parents and to sound their opinion. She revealed her plan to Mr. Cousin in the worst state of mind in which he was. Mr. Cousin told her to do whatever she wishes. He invited all his wivs to an emergency family meeting. '*I am surprised" he pointed out in a trembling voice "that since my trouble with Lizzy, none of you has asked to know how I have faked. You think that I am foolish to look for the lost sheep. You feel that I donst love you and that is why I have been anxious to get back Lizzy. I will frankly tell you that I will not forsake one ot the sheep which lost because, h l have many of them. I'm, therefore, not out of the way as I continue to struggle to bring back Lizzy. If any of you goes the same way Lizzy has gone, I will look for her. Kate has told me that she wants to go to see her parents. She may not come back. If she does not, I will go for her. But when you become stubborn or when you make a mockery of my present day position I will act before any of you. I will not allow the Lizzy's error repeat itself". �- - Poor women waves of one man who wants more of women. Mr. Cousin's speech gave them a blow, Poligamy, this is the danger. The danger of cosmopolitanism-the danger 'of discontentment ! Kate, the one of the three who could speak to Mr. Cousin. She could not hide in the dark. 'I'm ashamed of you, Sir" said Kate sluggishly "So you are not ashamed to tell us these words. If 1 were you, I would not utter anything at this time. You were beaten at Cafe Ambassador. At Island Hotel, Lizzy and her friend fought you. You wrote a letter of apology to Lizzy and you were terribly tormented in returning. You went to the court yesterday and lost part of your claim. Yon will continue to look for one woman who was tired of you and went her own way. Dear Sir, I am also tired of you. I will find my way before darkness falls on us." Mr, Cousin was pricked again. He was hopeless. Too many troubles. As he wanted to reply, Jane said: "Ete, l have been silent all the while not because I don't know what to say o r what to do but because I am ashamed of myself not of you as Kate said. I will act when I will. I know that I am in great trouble-in agony-hell. Whom will I meet and who will speak for me. All that I will do is in my mind. When 1 will, I will" "What will you do?'' interrupted Mr. Cousin. "Say what will you do to go to your parents-To find another husband. These are the. two possible things you can do. Men are too many. Women are also many. Any c,ndition is good for me. And you Asugwo, what say you?" Asugwo looked at Mr. Cousin and signed. "To qay what others hav? not said. TO tell you anything newer than all you have heard. I am not the taking type. 1 believe very much in action. 1 will give no notice when I decide. 1 am too slow at talking decision. My decision, when taken, cannot be recalled. So, wait for me. You will see but will not hear." 39 �Lizzy's trouble became lighter than the one Mr. Cousin had, then to reply' Kate, Jane o r ' Asugwo. "Anything can happen. After all, what is the end of man? Is it not death? Man dies but once. The next is re-incarnation. If women curse my life this time, in my next re-incarnation, I will make a vow. Women are woe men! They are woo men! Men suffer all the time." thus concluded Mr. Cousin. , C H A P T E R XI11 - It was another big day in Ades, history the 30th of July. The political disciples of Ade were ready. The Kokoma Dance Club had arranged its native high life picces. It was the Ade Day! Ade boys were happy to march to the court in their Youth Day uniforms. Since the Judge announced that Cousin Versus Ade Civil Suit was the only case to be heard in the Supreme Court that day, friends and wellwishers of Mr. Cousin and Ade would not want to pe absent from the court. The court pemises and Hall made temporary forum. Mr. Cousin was in his white gabadine suit with black bow tie to march. Ade dressed in his party colours with red cap on his head. Lizzy drcssed in her pep+pe Ghana print and in white buck shoes. AS Ade and his Lizzy alighted from their car Adel Lizzy! Ade! Lizzy! rang into the air. Ade waved his fan in 'response. The court Hall could not accommade listeners. Hundreds of heads stoad.outside the court Building. What Sort of case! People were sOffaearing. Electric fan! And yet they could not help. A murder case had never had such adiuence "C-o-u-r-t;" commanded the Orderly. His Lordship bowed to the court and took his seat. "Su!t No. pm40/61 Ete Cousin Versus Mana Ade witnesses in this case out of hearing." �"Your Lordship, I appear for the Plaintiff.' It was Barrister Ibeji. "Your Lordship I appear for the Defendant.' that was Barrister Nwafor. 'Your Lordship, my client is claiming £500 special damages from The Defendant for depriving him his personal liberties. Our statement of claim is before this court, my Lord' submitted Barrister Ibeji. ''Do you still plead not liable?' asked the Judge. "Yes the Lord' replied Barristtr Nwafor. " ~ n d " be continued "My Lord. This is a very funny case, funny indeed. I would ask lour Lordship not to waste his time in this case. Here is a man whose wife left. (see paragraph 3 of plaintiff's statement of claim) my client only met the woman in her parents' house at the time in question. My client did not induce his wife to leave him. If the Plaintiff was offended, he would seek legal redress against his wife and not against my client. If we waste our time to give evidence and counterevideneces, it will amount to the same thing. My learned friend could have directed his client what to do. In matrimonial causes Act 1950, the proceedure of divorce is set out clearly. The husband or the wife can make a divorce petition. If your Lordship holds that the plantiff has a locus stand, 1 am prepared to go on with the case. "Yes Mr. Ibeji. "This is a case of prestige. My client has been injured seriously by the attitude of the defendant. It is this court which will prove us right. This is clear case of deprivation of liberty Fundamental human rights has been challenged. This honourable court, my Lord, will agree with us that our claim is genuine. If my learned friend is afraid or not ready to go on with the case today we will happily ask for costs. The Judge was seriously writing down his opinion IThese lawyers keep on messing up themselves. This is a case which a lay man can early handle. - 41 �The ,Plaintiff has righi.to petition against his wife;' The Defendant can be correspondent. Read: your law books at home and don't always disgrace yourselves in this court. Case struck off.' Mr Nwafor stood. my Lord we ask for costs. Yes I agree. You must definitely have costs from the plaintiff. "Fifty pounds my Lord." said Mr. Nwafor. Mr. Ibeji said, If your Lordship holds that this case be struck off.' That is what I hold interrupted the Judge. "It is wrong for my learned' friend to ask for costs." . "f35 cost against Plaintiff announced the Judge. "As court pleases." 'gC-o-u-r-t!" The Judge rose for ten minutes. How would Mr. Cousin leave the court? T o trek out from the hall nhen the Ade men and women were ringing Ade! Lizzy! Ade! Lizzy! The Kokoma army with their talking drums Music! Music! Music! everywhere. Ade's driver drove Lizzy home while Ade was sitting comfortably on peoples shoulders on to his residence. A song composed by the Kokoma Boys - Too Late Coz. Cousin, what will you d o next: It is late. It is late Coz, Cousin Oh late! late!" It was a melodious tune which caught the minds of many people who heard the young voices. It was the song of thp season. CHAPTER XIV The Ade Cousin case was the common talk about the town. The Vigil, a local paper came out with hot news "ADE WINS AGAIN.'' Regional and national papers. made smooth- sailing news out of this case. It was a heartbreaking news for Mr. Cousin. Ade did not stop here. He crossed over to the Music makers of Atomic 8. He wanted a high life hit of the Ade Cousin squable. A song was composed in high life "Ade wins the fantastic case Cousin wouldn't make a peace. - .42 �Who will advise Cousin to stop here for he will find us relief there. Major Amachoko is a wise judge Mr. Cousin would certainly owe him a gradge. The Supreme Court is a court ofjustice which does not in a moment admit malice who will quickly run to Mr. Cousin's aid so that he may not find the world red. who will advise Cousin to stop here for he will find no relief there! Go, say Ade wins the fantastic case but Mr. Cousin wouldn't make a peace. This high life number was recorded. Everybody would want a copy. The records sold like hot cakes. The Aggrey Road record dealers had something tangible. The demand for "Ade wins" record was great indeed. Mr. Cousin was embarrassed. How this news blazed was unthinkable. Ade was a political prince. Every thing connecting him must be sung in high and low places. There would be no check. If Mr. Cousin would stop the news he could but he couldn't. He confined himself to his house. He wouldn't go for tennies. He wouldn't go to hotels to chat and drink. He couldn't go to the church. If he could stop gzing to work he could but how could he? He was cut free. Ade organised pressure groups at every corner of the garden city. He knew all the places to find Mr. Cousin and detailed his disciples to watch. The world at the stage was too miserable for Mr. Cousin. Returning from the house, Mr. Cousin hhd oppositions from his three wives. He would go to bed withcut dinn5r many nights. He had no strong will to demand anything from his wives. If he would ever lay emphasis on certain points, he would be cautioned. Everything he did to regain his wives' love proved abortive. CHAPTER XV A new thought came to Mr. Cousin. He decided that before aoy other thing happened, he would bring peace to his family. 43 �Anything could happen to him outside but there must be peace inside. How could he go about this matter. Mr. Cousin invited his fathers-inlaw to his home. He did not disclose to them the object of the invitation. Upon hearing that it was at.home all of them decided to respond. Before the clock struck 2 p.m. on Sunday, the eleventh of May, all the invitees had arrived at Mr. Cousin's Res~dence, 3 Bende Street. Messrs. Okon Etim and Nnabuihe were surprised to meet one another at Mr. Cousin's. It was an exciting pregnant meeting. Asugwo had prepared a rich vegetable soup with pounded yam foo-foo for the luncheon. The food was passed. The invitees were truly at home. While at table. Mr. Nnabuihe observed that his daughter, Kate, was not happy. He also noticed tbat the faces of the other two women were gloomy. "Gentlemen!" whispered Mr. Nnabuihe. T h e dishes are palaiable it is true but the house does not appear free and easy. Something is wrong. Look at the faces of our hostesses and you will see rancour, displeasure and sadness." Mr. Etim looked and Mr. Okon did not bother. "We will see whatever it is later' replied Mr. Okon. Retiring to the palour the invitees were presented with two kegs of Omoba palm wine and two big bottles of Guinness Stout beer. Stout beer and palm wine make good mixture. Two legs of goat were served. The fathers-inlaw were entertained according to custom. Mr. Cousin called Jane. Kate and Asugwo. L'You are welcome. mv fathers-inlan' greeted Mr. Cousin. ',I iovited you today. I know yo; are surprised to see one another in my house. Our fore-fathers say that where one's enemies are too many one has to offer drinks to some of them. I have so many enemies outside because of my affair with Lizzy whom you all know. 1 do not move comfortably outside. Ade has �done very much to run me. He has organised his men against me a t strategic points in the town. I am not safe to move about and to eat outside. I feel that my security must be inside my house Contrary to expectation, my house become so much unsafe. It means, therefore, that my life is in great danger. I know this because an enemy can work his chance through inside and outside ihe house. The more successful would be that which passes through the inside. I must tell you straight away that your daughters are my known enemies to-day. I haveinvited you t o see what you can d o t o bring my wives t o acknowledge me as their husband and friend and not as an enemy". Mr. Cousin's statement was amazing, There was a dead silencz. I t was a matter which required a close vindication. The silence broke when Mr. Offiong said; "This is a serious matter. The accused person are here. They should defend themselves. All we want is the truth and nothing but the truth. If Asugwo could say something we will be grateful. Felling on her knees Asugwo said; "Good Sirs, I'm ashamed to say whatever 1 may say in this matter, I'm saying something because of custom. If I don't, I may be right by reason not to say out my mind, my action in this regard will be heavily misread. I'm ashamed of Mr. Cousin. I did not think that he would some day summon such a meeting to discuss his love adventure. After all, who is Lizzy? She is fine, it is true but she is an incomplete woman. Not withstanding this. Mr. Cousin loves you more than any of us. A beautiful woman without a child is a decorated coffin.. Mr. Cousin does not care for us and the children we have born for him. He cares for Lizzy's beauty. I believe I am speaking the mind' of my mates ' '*Yes" answered Kate and Jane. "Mr. Cousin believes that missing Lizzy means missing his precious life. How can wt, the neglected ones accept the one who has rejected us. We had decided to return to our parents so that Mr. Cousin 45 �could fight out his Lizzy's issue. Our presence in his house affects his plans. Tha! is why he wants us to go. fle is giving you the reverse of the story. He has invited you to recall us not to reconcile. If he wants internal peace he must sever connections with Lizzy who, amongst us, is now a lost sheep. The disappointments, humiliations and disgraces Mr. Cousin has heard in his bid to find Lizzy are sufficient to have him. Mr. Ade has taught him so many lessons!and how I wish he stops here. It is when this 1s done that he could have the happiness he asks for. I don't want to go further into the matter. If T do, I will be inviting more headaches and heart breaks". "Has any other person more to say?'' asked That was the reply from Mr. Nnabuihe L ' N ~ ! " E Kate and Jane. "Have you anything to add, Mr. Cousin? asked Mr. Okon. "I will not add anything. I am appealing to you to use this opportunity to an advantage. I'm in a big confusion. My wives seem to be cleverer than I and the more I talk the worse the situation becomes. In order not to waste your time I hereby promise not to go further into my deal with Lizzy. Let fate decide the issue. I rather preserve my life for the younger ones than to lose it to L i u y and her Ade". "This matter has settled itself" said Mr. Nnabuihe "We cannot go against custom. We must go out for consultation.'. They retired to one of the rooms. "1 am an Igbo man" voiced out Mr. Nnabuihe "I don't know how you treat the matter of husband and wife in lbibio land". Since both of you are Ibibios I will introduce the matter as a guide to what we may decide here. Mr. Cousin has offended his wives greatly. He has to beg them-render apologies to them in order to recapture their love. From what has happened, the women have been too patient. If they were not good parented they would have deserted. The custom in Igbo land finds Mr. Cousin guilty for which he is liable to a heavy fine. In-order not to waste our time I will suggest that 46 �he should pay each of his wives ten pounds and further apologise to them. The women should be asked to buy three hens. Each of them should make a delicious erika ikong soup tooffer to the husband. They should eat the food together. They will go to Ojukwu Diobu to swear t o ' each other so that they take themselves into confidence. After this, the matter is done." After a long pause. Mr. Okon said; I1Mr. Nnabuihe has solved the problem. There is nothing to add or substract. All he said is what happens everywhere. It is not only in lgbo land. The only thing new to us is Ojukwu Diobu. Since they live in a town ruled by the Juju. we will not ask them to go to any other place to look for a juju. If all. swear to the juju, there will be a lasting peace. There were no further remarks. The arbitratores returned to the parlour. Mr. Cousin and his wives were waiting for a ruling "We have looked into the matter" said Mr. Etim. I'We are sorry that our brother-inlaw. Mr. Cousin, has allowed satan to come into his house Why we marry many wives is to check ourselves. No wife can claim superiority to her mate in the house. A beautiful woman advertises her beauty when she is married alone. But when she is married with one or more wives, she hides it. The man who marries more than one wife is always a King because the wives will find means of pleasing him. The wife who renders best service t:, the husband enjoys him best. Mr. Cousin has allowed Lizzy's beauty to dictate pace on him. Lizzy saw this weakness and used it to an advantage but to the disadvantage of the Cousjn's family. From all your statements, we can rightly say that Mr. Cousin has offended his wives. But this does not mean that the wives should pay him back in his own coins. They should understand that what ever a woman is, she is under man from creation The woman should always play her own part well. The man will come back to his secures afterwards. �Mr. Cousin wants to have peace in his family hence he has taken this honourable, humble, approach to the issue. l h i s Mr. Cousin's action should be welcomed by everybody who knows the game of life and how to play it. But inorder to respect native law and custom, Mr. Cousin should make some sacrifice. He should pay each of his wives ten pounds and with this ask for forgiveness and pardon. The wives should offer a hen each to the husband. Each of the wife should make a palatable dish with the hen. Mr. Cousin will eat with all of them. In order to rebuild confidence, the whole party should go to the Ojukwu Diobu to take oath of confidence. This being done, peace will come back to the family. Mr. Cousin has given an undertaking, not to continue his hunt for Lizzy." Mr. Cousin stood up. Looking up and down smiled. ''Well, my Lords", he said: I'm happy indeed that you have done a big task in less than twenty minutes. I am prepared to pay the price for the cause of perfect peace. If doing only this will return me to the family I will be Sappy to accept your recommendation". 'IWhat do you say women" asked Mr. Efiong. ''On the behalf of my mates', answered Kate' We accept your findings and recommendation. The invitees had more of the Omoba stout mixture and later went away. CHAPTER XVI Ade had made up his mind to marry Lizzy. There was one thing yet difficult. T o marry a wife who deserted her husband meant much by native law and custom. The deserter would apply through the native court to divorce the husband. That meant that the bride price, including all expences the husband made would be returned to him through the Court. �Mr. Cousin paid twelve pounds and three pence to marry Lizzy. That was the marriage custom of the Effiks. This amount would be paid to the court by the new suitor. Ade handed over twelve pounds three pence to Lizzy to deposit at thz Obia native court. The court messenger served summons on Mr. Cousin to appear before the Obia native court on Wednesday the twentieth August to answer a suit of Divorce made by Lizzy. That was another try time for Mr. Cousin. That was a test-case. He had assured his father-inlaw that he would abandon his bid for Lizzy. If he accepted the refund of the bride price it meant he had finished with Lizzy. They would be regarded as ex husband and wife. If he did not accept the refuod he would be inviting another trouble in his family. His wives were watching every movement of Mr' Cousin rignt from the last meeting. It was not a matter to be pursued secretly. In whatever form it was handled it must be known by Mr. Cousin's wives. It was a trying time for Mr. Cousin. The matter would be settled once and for all. On Wednesday, the twentieth August Mr. Cousin went to the Obia Native court in the company of Kate. That was another news. The mere going out with Kate for the first time was a sign of things to come. When the case was called up for hearing Mr. Cousin told the Court that he was not prepared to stand with Lizzy on the box. He said that be accepted the divorce and accepted the bride price refunded through the Court. The president of the Native Court praise Mr. Cousin for the way he handled the matter. He ordered that the money should be paid to Mr. Cousin. He told Lizzy that she was at liberty to choose a new husband if she liked. 49 �Whilt on the car returning home Kate who was sitting in the front with Mr. Cousin was pondering over the whole issue. She could not say any word. 'What is your opinion about this matter? asked Mr. Cousin. Kate pretended not hearing him. She continued to be silent. "What's your mind about this matter, Kate? continued Mr. Cousin "I'm sorry. I don't know you were talking to me" replied Kate. "Well, I am yet uncertain of the matter. I cannot say how I feel until you have said how you feel about it. I will answer this question after three Calender months by which time I can make my conclusion. I am yet observing what's the situation! "I understand you" interrupted Mr. Ccusin." You are in doubt about my sincerity in this connection. You must have observed a very big change in me since our last weeking. You ought to be surprised a t my action in the court. You don't believe that I will bear Limy's absence. I saw Lizzy in the court but that once charming face did not charm me. I was not moved. I was not attracted. There was a time in our affair when I asked to know what was the greatest object of my existence in a life without Lizzy. My concern today is to have an ideal home with o r without Lizzy. But I can't forget her." Kate looked stupidly at Mr. Cousin. She watched him as he held the stering of thecar in a helpless condition. "Why all this?' asked Kate. "You said not long age that you have finshed with Lizzy and yet you are, dying for her". "There is something, wrong' said Mr. Cousio. "Oh Lizzy, Lizzy, Lizzy. Poor me. Something, truely wrong." What is wrong? interrupted Kate. "I won't tell you . what's wrong. All I know is that there issomething wrong in my heart, Poor me.'' Kate could not bear the situation. She was afraid, afraid that under that condition there was a possibility for an accident. Mr. Cousin was in an unconsious, mood. yet he was driving. ' �"Ho! exclaimed Kate suddenly "Don't kill me for Lizzy. Don't kill me I'm Kate, poor Kate. Life has no duplicate! If you choose to die for Lizzy's sake please do so. Don't commit uxorious! "Mr. Cousin had his fears also. He stopped the car. Kate quickly came out I'll wait for:: taxi here. I've had the rotterest time for my life, Kate Nnabuihe." Mr. Cousin came out t c drag in Kate, She ran away to nearby village. Mr. Cousin could not go out for her. He came back and kicked off the car. Kate came back to the road, both seeing the car, took a taxi back home. CHAPTER XVII - Gracy had been following the Cousin Lizzy dramma closely. She was in a position to know what happened in both Mr. Cousin's and Ade's houses. From Mr. Cousin's side she had her Agnes. From Ade's side she had Oti, Ade's sister and Georgy, his friend. Gracy heard that Mr. Cousin had accepted a refund of the bride price he paid on Lizzy. She knew that it was by Ade's arrangement that it was possible. She knew also that Ade would eventually marry Lizzy. Her mind was beating furously. She did not think of losing Ade any time. She believed that there would be a time when her mum's heart would change and consequently Ade would be accommodated. She didn't know how to get about the matter. Gracy wouldn't go to Ade's house. She had not done so in the past. But at that time Lizzy and Ade lived together. Gracy decided to register a letter to Ade to make her intentions known to him. "Ade,' she wrote Dear Ade, ''I have tried to put off my mind from you �but fate holds me strong. You told me once that your ruling planet is the sum and that you are a that Lion. I k n o ~ lions are wickedly shy but wonderfully commanding. If your contenance represents your soul, I have a reason to keep away from you. I have known you too well. The soul is clever, of course. My knowledge. Therefore is limited. It is how evident that you have succeded in your project--Ade and Lizzy, husband and wife. It is an interesting news. Ade. What o i Gracy, the founder of Ade's love? where is she going to be? This question may appear unbecoming and irresponsible but fates demands that it can be put. 1 know that there are so many young men wishing to have life partners. I aiso know that there are millions of young women who wish to couple. 1 am certainly aware of the fact that the world can do without the best. 1 agree that the dead can be remembered when the living is disappointing. Fate demands that I should do justice to concieve. 'That is why it appears to me and perhaps to you too that I'm making a mockery of myself in this letter. You told me when last you visited that you were trying to get Lizzy to marry you. You mentioned my mum as placing a very big barrier in our way, you said you could not wait for mum's change -f heart. You remarked that it was unfair for a young man like you to remain without a ~ i f e . I did not fail to make you undsrstand my position. I urgtd you to make some move towards making mum change heart on the issue. She has had no objectims other than your being a politician. I had my strong confidence that through your influence and perhaps my little help, we could win mum's favour. From the look of things, you have made up your mind about Lizzy. If not so the question of convincing mum requires only constant approach. You have had harder cases very hard cases which you softened by your influence. You have won declared 52 �and hardened political approvements to your side. Your convincing ability had secured your outstanding position in your party. Poor Ade, you have failed to d o what you ought to d o only because of that sire-footer, heart-hrcaking lad. This is dangerous! It is challenging! -dangerous because you have killed innocent love. Challenging because you questioned Nature, I, Gracy am good for everything feminine. Beauty, I am okey. Height, I am averagely promising Ade's match. Education, manners, I can be sure of not disappointing. If Lizzy and 1 are interviewed I'm sure of beating her by a big margin. D o you know Ade. that because of you I have made open enemies both socially and politically. How well have I defended you? How much weight has fate taken away from me? How many worried nights have I had just because of you. How many meals have I missed because of defendinp your name? am ashamed of myself. How can I look at Agnes' face? Agnes who had been dear to me appears indeffmnt today bccause of Ade. She has the right of asking me so many questions now. "Where is your Ade? I remember hearing "1 don't know why we should contiruc to give our hearts to these unsteady men. They pramise you Heaven and Earth today and fcirgct all tomorrow.' I also remember replying, "Ade is a public servant. He makes the law. His standing in the community is such that he cannot think in terms of committing murder because of woman. I have watched his utterances in private and public places. He is mindful of his position in the community. I have not seen him in a bad company "...... ........ ........ 99 Please let me hear fully from you lest I ask myself. "What is the greatest object of my existence?' Yours in Love, Gracy. 53 �ADE RECEIVED THE LETTER. He read through. "This is a matter of life and death" he said to himself. He knew the feelings of Gracy whom he gave his love a t a glance. He had come to mix company with friends and foes. He had realised what it w a s all about. The gift of life is one thing. The care of life is another. Could it be said he was impatient and that had caused these bickerings. His astonishment at finding himsclf invlwed in the affair was growing rather than diminishing. This letter from a fallen-teacher, was borning. What of the moral justification? Ade's highest aim at that time was to be married. He gave his love to Gracy and thought going on with the affair and to prove the hitches, shortcomings and finally the success or failure. But Lizzy's charm was wonderful. He was caught in Owerri Road trap. There was no going back for him. Politicians like much noisemaking. The newspapers and radios blazed and sang the love episode Ade made a venture a bold venture to the politicians but to the private man, no news. While he was enjoying the advertisements, he forgot his dealings with Gracy who became crazy about him at one time. - Ade seemed to be faced with a problem which kept attacking him, some times horrible, sometimes reviving -uncountable emotions he yawned. He walked about in the room. "Why am I in this place? he murmured. The tricks of fate enhanced him. He was thinking whether there was going to be another news. This time Gracy versus Liuy or Gracy versus Ade. Lizzy found Ade a worried man. She gave him a symbolic look. She watched him closely to know what was disturbing him. Ade was aware of Lizzy's move. He sat tight on the chair taking care of the �letter. Lizzy could not say any word. Her mind did not go the length of understanding if anything existed between Ade and Gracy. She had her suspicion that something must have been wrong at a political meeting or that he was makmg up his mind a b m t a peculiar party problem. Ade had continuous busy three nights all for his party affairs. 4de slept. He woke slowly, thinking he heard R knock at the door and hearing Graq's voice. But he had dreamed that Gracy hanged herself and in her room left a hote "ADE IS THE CAUSE" The dreamed sound lingered into his waking state and left him puzzled and depressed. He wondered if he had slept at all. The hanging inclderlt and the alarming note sank Ade's feeling. In a confused state he shouted "Poor' Gracy!" This is noise woke Lizzy. "Which Gracy?' Lizzy exploded. "Gracy hanging?" 'Ade is the cause?' he continued. "Sincere Gracy hanging! Honesty! Innocence! Defender of my soul! Heaveus!, what do you say? Lizzy ran to hold Ade as he sat helplessly in the bed. "Did you quarrel with anyhody?'she asked. There was no reply. She thought of many things-Politicain's lives are ridiculous. Any thing can happen to them at any time with or without notice. "What must be wrong with this m a n ? ' s h e continued- "This man has t a d a sleepless night. He has concealed many things. I cannot read his mind. We have not lived long and I cannot claim knowing nothing of his ways I have known no!hing about him than that he is a pol~tician. Who will help me?" Turning himself left and right in the Bed Ade shouted again, L'Poor Gracy" Lizzy left him suddenly and ran out from the room to the parlour "There is something in this name" she th?ught "Poor Gracy must be Ade's ghost friend. she won't be a living Gracy". - 55 . �The wall clock struck 7. 30 a. m. It was time for breakfast. Ade hadnot taken bath. He had not dressed up. Lizzy quickly ran to the kitchen to make breakfast. Ade walked sluggishly into the bathroom. He later went to the dressing room. By 8 o'clock he was ready for the day's appointments. He took little of Akamu and Akara and drove away to the party's Secretariat. CHAPTER XVlll . Lizzy was not happy. Ade's new developments disturbed her much. Since she could not gather any thing from Ade's mouth, she would investigate the matter. She thought of how to go about it. She remembered that there was a native doctor who lived at 13 Creek Road who could reveal the whole secrets to her. Ugochukwu had been famous in town because of his ability in sooth-saying. He had caused many heart-breaks. Many families had relied on him in every hard, mysterious, domestic problems. Lizzy told Ade that she was going to see her aunt who was ill. Ade wanted her to wait till evening so that he would go in her company. She said that she was asked to come down immediately because it was a serious case. She was however, allowed to go. Limy took a taxi to 13 Creek Road. Shz knocked at U~ochukwu's door. The native doctor's messenger ran Gut to receive her. "is your master in?'questioned Lizzy. " Master is very busy with a client," replied the messenger. "Could I not see him now? Messenger. ''Let me see him. But he may not have time to attend you now." Lizzy: please help me. I have only a very short time with him. The massenger came out from the room. "Sit on the form. Whatever you wish to ask from master speak it from your mind. Spit o n four penny pieces .and hold them lightly. Master will call you �soon". Lizzy did as she wastold. She waited anxiously for her turn. About a minute later, she heard a native doctor chunning. The juju bell was rung seven times. A juju morkation song began. The native doctor danccd as he sang. He asked Lizzy to clap her hands to his tone. . The native doctor asked Lizzy to place the four penny pieces on the ground, She did so. Ugochukwu: You are a lucky woman. You have to come to know all about your life. You are married now. Your husband is living. Looking into a small mirror on his alter, he smiled. "Oh Lucky girl. Say, One who does not carry a pot does not break a pot." Lizzy said so, "Say My hands are clean". Lizzy said so. "Your husband loves you too much. Is it not so?" "It is so, answered Lizzy but added "Tell me why I'm here". ' L Y o ~ here because you are here, otherwise you are should. not be here" replied Ugochukwu. "But why should I be hert?" continued Lizzy. "Aha! you want to know why your husband who had loved you does not love you again." "Is it why I'm here?" questioned Lizzy "Yes. There was something wrong in your home yesterday and that is why you are here. My juju says he was there last night' Lizzy was astonished. She looked at Ugochukwu nodding her head. That was a point for the juju. "And" de continued ''You had a restless, sleepless night. You couldn't see your husband's face. He did not talk to you. His attitude was vzry unusual Is it not so?" "It is so." replied Lizzy. You have come to know why your husband behaved in that way". Lizzy was glad. The native doctor read her countenance and understood that she had been convinced. He continued to sing for the juju. He stood and danced. while Lizzy was was clapping for him. He rang the 57 �bell twelve times. Sitting down again he said; "Open your two palms." Lizzy did so. He looked into his small juju mirrow and said : "The juju said that you have not given him kola and before. he continues you must bring a bottle of ekpeteshi, two bottles of guinrss stout, one pound in shilling coins. ten shillings in six pence and five shillings in three pence." Lizzy had only one pound. "Can 1 offer anything I have to the .juju?" asked Lizzy. "No, the juju does not talk twice on one subject. "From what you have stated I understood that the juju wants a total sum of one pound fifteen shillings from me but I have not up to that sum here she pointed out. "1 understdnd youy' said the native doctor "But" he continued " You can go home to get whatever is !he balance. My juju dots not charge much money. You are very lucky to be charged one pound fifteen shillings only. Lizzy took leave from Ugochukwu to go to the house to collect the balance of the money. On getting home. Ade had returned from work. She appeared kery serious and pale. Adc looktd at her. He found something strange in Lizzy's look. "How is your aunt feeling ?" "asked Ade" She is seriously down. I'm afraid if she will recover. She has been sent to a native doctor's house. I have come to takz food and to meet them there. Ade was in deep sympathy with her. "Take your food quickly and let's go down to see her. I'm sorry indeed. This is another thing to worry your mind. Make haste and let's go." "Don't worry yourself" replied Lizzy. " You can't be allowed to see her now. The native doctor does not allow anybody to see her at this early stage of his work. He has allowed me and my younger sister to be there. Hz may allow othcr visitors later. You will wait till then. I will send your kind regards to my aunt." Ade did not go further. He �thought that Lizzy was sincere and serious. Lizzy went back to 13 Creek Road. She paid the juju charges. Ugochukwu was happy. Heasked Lizzy to keep calm. She would hear everything about her case revealed. She listened with eagerness to the native doctor's demonstration. The mvocation took a new turn. The juju drum was in attendance. Ugochukwu began to chant ',Ududughudu; Okwa mpkuru otile; Onyam mata Okwa hibie. Uh! Uh!, Ugochukwu: Your husband was calling the name of somebody when he was in bed. Lizzy: Yes. He was calling Gracy. Ugochukwu: Gracy is his girl friend. He promised to marry her but disappointed her because of you. Lizzy: Is it true? Ugochuk~u:Gracy is annoyed with your hnsband. She handed over your husband to Ogbakorokoro juju. The juju says that there will be no peace in your house as longas you live together and that either of you must die if you continue to live together. There is nothing you can do to please your husband and there is nothnig your husband can d o to please you. You will live in disunity throughout the short time you have to stay together. Lizzy: Telling me? What a m I to do? Ugochukwu: In order to release your husband from the hand of Ogbakorokoro there must be some sacrifice. After that you will be given some charm against known and unknown enemies. Yon will be given some powder to apply to your husband's food. This will make him love you more and sincerely. Lizzq: Are you sure that after doing all this, things will be well with us. Ugochukwu Oh! definitely so. Native doctors are too many but they are graded. Many people �who come to me h w e hau no disappointments this case is very hard but simple to me. If you can foot the blll you can be sure of success. Lizzy: Do you mean that I will pay additional money to what I have paid Ugochukwu; This is a childish question. It appears y3u are no; familiar with our business. Lizzy You've guessed it right. I have had no previous dealings with native doctors. I always take my cases to the white and black trained doctors. Let me know what will be the bill. Ugochukwu: You will buy many material for the preparation of the charm and the love powder They are two separate jobs. Both of them will cost you five pounds. At the completion of the work, you will pay more eight pounds. Lizzy: It means I have to pay more thirteen pounds Ugochukwu: Yes, If you pay this amount you will enjoy more happier days. Lizzy: I have not the amount required. I don't know how to convince my husband about this matter. In the first place he is not aware of my coming to you, I told him a different story before he allowed me to be here. In thz second place he cannot listen to such story .He is a politician. He does not believe In sooth-saying. He does not believe that anybody can charm him handing him over to a juju for that matter. I don't know how to go about this matter. This is a big problem. Ugochukwu: I know your difficulties in this instance. There is a way by which you can set your husband round. You chat with him always At times he romances you. Politicians are good drunkards. You can get him round on one Saturday night. Lizzy That is true but I would want you to give me the love powder. I will apply it on my husband. When he is in mad love with me I will 60 �make him pay what ever is your charge. I know that in a week's time the powder will effect him and by Saturday next I will drag him down to you and the remaining job will be done., Ugochukwu: I understand what you are after. You want to try me. I will surprise you. I will give you the powder. Before two days time you will bring me news of its effect on your husband. Lizzy: I'm not trying you. 1 have heard much about you before I decided t o meet you. 1 know you can d o wonderful things. My chief trouble is money. If I had it, 1 would not ask you t o start from number two of the items. Please help me for you will enjoy me now and in future. Ugochukwu: This ponder! You will see it when the time comes. You will thank me thereafter. Put a 'little of it in your husband's soup. Don't eat with him. If you eat any food in which it is added, the powder will be off. It will not react on your husband. It will be more effective in lunch. The soup in which you will add it must be palatable. It must be rich so that ycur husband will take much of it. The more he takes the more. it will affect him and the more he will love you. Lizzy: Thaok you. You will hear again from me. Ugochukwu: I will not be long. I will soon hear from you. Lizzy left Ugochukwu's house, full of hops. She took a taxi home. The battle must be fought and I will win" she thought. CHAPTER XIX Lizzy would face the opportpity with the necessary uneasy sense of obligatibn. She was going t o make an attempt. She felt that something was wrong indeed. She had been called names. She had been worried by her former husband, Mr. Cousin. �Her name had been published on the pages of the dailies. T o lose the very man for whom she had stood many trials and temptations was to her unbecoming. She would face the matter fair and square. She would set her face strongly against any woman who would intrude. Ade, she concluded, had fallen short of what she expected. He would then run the gountlet between Lizzy and Gracy. Ade was thinking of Gracy still. He was moving heaven and earth to get Gracy agree with him in the changes. He thought he couldn't d o without her but when there was a change in the tide he yielded to Lizzy. But he did not mention anything about Gracy to Lizzy even when they joined. That was why Lizzy felt disturbed when she first heard of the name and hearing of it desparetly. Gracy felt that Ade's attitude was a slight. She has expected to have a reply since last she wrote. She did not mind much, but thought she would draw a line somewhere. Ade was well disposed towards Gracy. This was one of the reasons for his keeping Lizzy in the dark about his intentions. He continued to adjust himself in order to be properly located. Gracy was too young that she could not think in the way the native doctor made Lizzy to believe she felt that by pointing out Ade's mistakes she could score some points and she might have his favour. If Ugochukwu did not put the matter in the way he did he could not get some money from his client. The ordinary mentioning of Ade's change of altitude was enough to convince Lizzy to believe whatever he would say afterwards. She could, therefore not play fast and loose with the affairs of her Ade. Ade decided' after all, to reply the letter in order to keep Gracys mind a t rest. "DEAR GRACY, :'To ask yourself what is the greatest object of �your existence is a question which will come through as you enter into your fifties. If the question comes now, it is too early. ''1 know that you have read many meanings into my long silence. If you were i n my heart you would find a long vacum. I have been searching for words to reply fittingly to your thought provoking epistle general. Up to the time of writing I am short of adequate words. But in order to freshen the air, I should write. "Which of the points raised in your letter should I touch and which should I leave? On reading your paragraph five I hung my head. It would have been better if you did not write at all. If you had told me anything orally-If you had spat on me-If you had slapped my cheek-I would have gladly received them. But this in black and white is a reminder. It is a mirror in which I can see my reflection. Each time I peep into this letter 1 hear an invisible person whispering your name. "Your general remarks seem to hit the nail on the head. How must 1 do? has died. The next question is how shall "how must 1 do? he buried? If it is only to please you and not "kill" innocent love" I am prepared to be a polygamist, "Considering how I had dealt with Lizzy, it is dangerously impossible to think of any disappointment at this stage. Since the advent of your letter Lizzy and I have been at loggerheads. Mark you, she did not see your letter, but she saw the reflection through my attitude. Without knowing the reason for my indifference Lizzy has suggested many things which she has not revealed to me, She has been afraid of my movements. She has been under a cloud. "Gracy, you need not tell me of your sincerity, your confidence. I have acknowledged and recognized your attitudes towards me. There could have been no drawback in my plans if mum did not blow up. She was looking at the concern from one perspective. She did not think ahead of time. �She cou!d not interprete our thoughts. It did not occur to hear that politicians are good citizens of the state who can make and unmake. She failed to notice that the one essential thing required in the partership of man and woman is happiness. Your mum's attitude has now hit me. My house has not that happiness. "Since dreaming of you, Gracy, hanging and while doing this you shouted l'ADE 1s T H E 1 have had the awful result. Lizzy .heard CAUSE!" me about your name. She wondered what was in the name. You, Lizzy and I are now in great confussion. Who can tell the result? "1 do not think you were correct to say that I am the cause of your hangiag. After all, 1 make several approaches which were neglected. The fault, of course, was not yours but my only fault is that I could not wait until your mum's change of heart. But I had my fears. She looked very suspicious. I wondered if there could be a reconciliation of all. "Your paragraph four is no exaggeration. You have those qualities. I saw these qualities in you before approaching you. How can I express here how high my hopes would have been if 1 could call you my wife. I cannot think of my other way to get at the issue. The only thing 1 can d o is to leave you to yourself. I am prepared to accommodate you but I will not give Lizzy the sack. All that I want is happiness. I don't care if it costs me every 'other thing you can think of. lfyou write back to say that man is no longer worried, I will be happy I will convince Lizzy. She will be prepared to welcome you. I'm still yours, Ade. "fir forwarded the letter to Gracy under registered cover. CHAPTER XX Since returning from the doctor's house Limy was watching Ade's movements. She did not see anything better than what it was 64 �since the hcetic night. She would try the doctor's prescription Ade returned from the Secretariat. The luncheon was ready. It was pounded yam, Egusi soup with chickeu. He went to the dining room. Limy was not there. "Lizzy, come and let's eat. I'm hungry" he said. Limy came in, Ade washed his hands Lizzy looked uneasy. "Let's eat. Limy said Ade. "Thank you, Ade. I can't eat now. I have fever." she replied "What sort of fever is this? continued Ade. "I mean the usual fever" answered Lizzy. Do. Lizzy, eat. You know I can't eat alone. I am very hungry and will want to enjoy the meal. If you will not eat, you wouldn't want me to eat. Just eat small of it so that I will enjoy the food.' Lizzy would not eat. She looked at Ade strangely. Ade was annoyed. He got up from the chair. Limy drew him down. "Please eat I'm not well. I have no appetite for food. Believe me, I can't eat when there is not appetite. I eat with you always. I have no other reasoa to refuse to eat than this I've given. Don't be annoyed. Since I am sitting with you, the meal will be enjoyable.' Ade was not impressed. He got up the second time. Lizzy held him back '.Well let's eat. I will eat with you." she said finally. Ade and Lizzy took the food Lizzy was not happy after the meal. She remembered what the doctor told her about the love powder which applied to the egusi soup. She thought that she had wasted time and money. If the powder did not act, she would not go back to the doctor to complain. She was strictly warned by the doctor not to take the food with her husband. Ade went in for siesta. At 2 p.m. he went back , to office. He was feeling out of weight. He managed to finish the job for the day. When he was driving back home, he noticed that all was not well with him. He cancelled all other engagements for the evening. On getting near the house, a friend gave him an information about a strong party supporter who had a motor accident. 65 �Bath of them drove to the place: From there they went to another friend's houseAde came back to the house by 11. 30 p.m. 'Before then, Lizzy had gone to bed. She had prepared supper of rice and stew io which she added another bit of the love powder. Ads did not want to wake Lizzy but took the supper and finaly went .. to bed. At 3 a.m. the following day. Ade felt uneasy. He saw himself in another world. "Lizzy! Lizzy! Lizzy!" he shouted. Lizzy woke. She ran into Ade's room to answer the call. Ade held her breatheless. She was struggling in his hands while he tossed her about in the room. "Don't kill me Ade. I'm dying! I'm dying1 Lizzy cried. Ade held her still After a long struggle. Lizzy managed to releases herself and ran out. weeping. Ade tore his clothes, destroyed his personal effects. He walked into the parlour and had the hanging pictures broken aod lorn into pieces. Lizzy couldn't come in for fear that she might be beaten. Neighbours were afraid to come into the house. Ade was handling a matchet. The chairs, tables, radio and gramophones had been destroyed. Passersby wondered what was really wrong. Many people came up to see what was going on. Ade became an object of ridicle in the eyes of the boys and girls who came to watch the tragedy. Lizzy's mind kept on beating. She thought of many things. She realised that she was the cause of the disaster. She couldn't imagine what other things or person could be responsible. The doctor had prescibed how she would apply the love powder. She applied it on tht luncheon and since she had taken the food with Ade, she was not sure there would be a better result. T ben she felt that she should apply more of the powder to the dinner which she thought would prove successful. Ade had elft the house with his cheque book. He withdrew two hnudred pounds from the bank. Before he got to the house, friends �and enemies had their shares and he came in emptyhanded. His relatives? heard the story. When they came in. Ade has retnrned to IKO, his home town. CHAPTER XXI Lizzy was left in an awful condition. She was afraid of staying in the deserted house. She was short with everybody who came in to enquire of the situation. She couldn't eat any food. She didn't know where to go and whom to meet. Lizzy went back to Ugochukwu. She told him all that happened. The juju was angry. Mr. Ugochukwu told Lizzy that the husband took much of the powder and that was why his brain was affected. He revealed to her that the husband would be madfor sometime. After sacrificing to his juju another doctor could cure him. Lizzy began t 3 cry. "What is this that you have done? Did I ask you to kill my husband or to make him love me? What must I do? Poor me! This is the hardest time of my life. There is no need for me to live to see all this. If you know you will not answer a querry about my death please tell me what to do to get my husband normal before long. "Your husband will bs alright. I will give you a protection charm against your enemies. Your husband's relatives owe you some grudge. There is no way in which you can defend yourself about your husband's mishap. With rhis charm you can move freely with all of them. I will give you another one which you will apply to your food. This powder will protect you against any poison you may take in through the mouth. With these two you can go to your husband's home. You will advise all they should do about his cure. If you tell them about me they will send your husband down to me for his cure. When he recovers everything will be well." �Llzzy could not make a head o r fail of this new de.11. "It makes no odds whether I am-liked by people or not. What I want from you is to get my husband normal again. Let me have all that you have for me for the cure of my husband." Ugochukwu gave Lizzy the two sets of protection powder. "Rub this on your face take this in your food. Then go to your husband's home. You will bring me a good result." Lizzy took the parcels and went away. She came to the house; This was another test. "I had not meant harm for Ade" she murmured. I only want to know who Ade is. I don't mean to kill Ade. God help me to have Ade's love and not his life." Lizzy went to kitchen. She prepared akamu . and added the protection powder. She mixed it well and took it with some AKARA. She packed her things in suit case, dressed up herself. She rubbed the powder also. She locked the doors. handled the suit case and was ready to go to IKO. She came out to waitfor taxi to take her to the Railway Station. It was not quite three seconds when Lizzy had ' some pains in the stomach. She could not control herself as the pains increased. She fell down to the gound. She was unconscious. "Help! Help !my sun is setting. She was shouting. The neighbours ran out to see Lizzy hopeless on t h e ground. One of them ran for a taxi and she was rushed to the general hospital. The doctor applied all the medicines he could afford. He invite someother doctors to help. The case was growing worse. Lizzy couldn't resist. She shouted for paper and pen. These were quickly brought. Lying face up in the sick bed Lizzy wrote:Take this news to Ade, my dear. Tell him Lizzy has her fear. That today is the last of days. And there is no news for grace. 68 �Tell Ade all I wanted was his love. It was the one problem I wanted to solve. The native doctor hid love and stole life. And that's why today I'm facing this strife. Tell Ade I meant no harm for him Before we met we saw in dream. Even at this crucial time of my life. Tell Ade 1 love him more than my life. Tell him the native doctor is the cause. 1 paid him money to let me know the cause. Why he appeared indifferent to me. I did this to test his love for me. And not to punish and kill him. It was the edge of love I wanted to win. Tell Mr. Cousin I close to love Ade. I found delight with him to stay. Tell Mr. Cousin not to be happy about today. For he will, some day meet me that,.way. Tell him I'm going to wait Ade yonder. And there our love to ourselves will be stronger. Now I must die as I cannot challenge death. ' This is the last drop of my breath. I will go to show Ade the reason. Why I had to say too late Cousin. Lizzy dropped the pen and that was her last day in life. The news of Lizzy's death spread all the length and breadth of the Garden City. T h x e who knew and heard the Ade-Cousin case were surprised at the death blow. The news of the death was out of the common. �CHAPTER XXII Everybody was anxious to know what brought about the sudden death. The Local newspapercarried the news after two days. It was then that Gracy believed the news. She ran to the hospital to have first-hand information about the circumstances sorrounding Lizzy's death. Gracy was disturbed. She decided to go to Iko to see' Ade. Her mother did not endures her proposal. She had serious objections to every word Gracy used to convince her to allow her to travel to Iko. Gracy did not want to beg the issue. She shut the door upon all her mother's reasons for refusing her request. "This time, I will do or die" she concluded. Gracy travelled to Iko by the suburban train. She quickly traced Ade's house at lko. On approaching the gate to Ade's Country House, she saw Ade hands in chains. Gracy stood dead dumb. She felt heavy about the situation. Ade saw her Gracy. He yelled. "Gracy! see your Ade in chains. This is the result of our affair. This is my fate. I have loved and died. I have fought and lost." Gracy looked deep into Ade's eyes and sobbed. "Oh life without heart. Is this your fate, Ade? This may end the story. That the mighty is now tamed hands and feet in chains. What can this mean? Ade in chains. My world is mud. My love is void. We will end the story here. Lizzy has done it and has had it. I cannot blame you Ade. I will blame father. I will blame impatience. I will blame mum. I will blame jealous heart. She fell at Ade's feet crying bitterly. Ade's relatives and friends who came to see him began to weep. It was a sorrowful show. ' Gracy made some approaches to the doctors who were giving Ade treatment. She was happy t o hear that there was hope for his recovery in a short time. She informed Ade's parents that she �would stay with them for some time to help in any way she could see that Ade was brought back to his normal state. By 8 p.m. Gracy was sitting besides Ade's bed. When Ade was a bit normal. He inquire of Lizzy. "Which Lizzy do you mean? she quicKly queried. "I mean Lizzy, my wife" replied Ade. "Have you not heard of the death of Lizzy?" continued Gracy What are you telling me?' cut in Ade. "I'm telling you, Ade, that Lizzy has died in the general hospital. Port-Harcourt. Lizzy had a date with a native doctor. It was the very doctor who gave her the powder she applied to your food that has brought you to this state. I am informed that she was sorry for your fate. She had to go back to the doctor to know what to do to bring you back to normality. But the doctor gave her a new mixture for her protection. As she got ready to meet you up here, she had a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. There she diedafter two hours. Before dying. I understand, she made out a letter for you. Ade was embarrassed. The news gave bim an extra blow. "Telling me that Lizzy is dead?" Ade asked. #'And Lizzy dropped a letter for me?' he continued. "Gracy, you will go to Port-Harcourt to get the letter. I want to read the letter. Go to the doctor and ask him to give me the letter. Don't delay. I am waiting for you." Gracy dressed up and took the passenger train to Port-Harcourt. Ade who had been uncontrolled became sobber. He fell into a deep sleep. His doctor was surprised to see him in that mood. The relatives were happy to see him in that quiet state. The visitors were not allowed to come into his room to see him. He was givcn a nice time for rest. �By 7 p.m. Gracy had arrived from Port-H-(court. As she stepped into the room, Ade woke. "Gracy come near and read the letter to me. My eyes are not clear. I can't read." said Ade in !he quietest state of his life. Gracy brought out the paper. She began to read it. On reading "I will go to show Ade the reason why I had to say too late Cousin," Ade held his breathe. He looked up to the ceiling. His eyes became blue. HE CRIED: And Lizzy, my lady of ladies is dead. And sent me news that she had'to die �So9 thief of my soul is dead. And leave me on earth to sigh. She said she had much to fear. And reminded me of That last of daysBut my fears she couldn't clear. Lizzy said she meant no harm for me. She said she had a problem to solve. She didn't think twice, she didn't care for me. Leaving my brain my heart to revolve. . Lizzy still claimed she loved me more. Yet she died and wanted me to live. This wonderful assurance is sour and sore Lizzy quickly forgot those days of strife. I trusted her and she obeyed the wind. I enjoyed the time, she blessed my life. We kept our promise and loved indeed. Why was it necessary to trim the love. When we had conquered threat and jsalously Why was it thinkable to blend the love. Which we inherited fully. truly in legacy. Tell Mr. Cousin not to rejoice todav. ' For I will go to meet Lizzy over there. Lizzy said she had delight with me to stay. Let me now die, no need to linger. In this world to suffer and to strive. I will go to meet Limy to know the reason. 1 believe the love there will be stronger. And she was right to say too late Cousin. Let me die, jet me go and not linger! "What's this you're doing, Ade?" asked Gracy. "And here you leave me to die. Come! Heavens! What am I seeing? Ade is dead!'' �Gncy ltft the room. She went near the we:I and picked a piassnva rope. She mn back into the rvom. She made a knot-;of the rope on the ceiling. She climbed through Ade's bed and put in her head. While her neck was held in loop. Gracy SANG:Why must I stay here to mourn. Ade and his Lizzy's death? We tlirze must die and let others to mourn 1 should go, I have lost all faith. I had given my love to Ade and him only. 1 have no other life to live without him. �- .Ade trusted me .and.>iovedme sincerely. But mum misconstrued- and misintepreted him. . . I have no-cause to blame. my fate. .. Ade himself knew I wouldn't live. . , . .. . Hence: he died and gave no date. .. , . . . To let me sigh; mourn and grieve. .. . Tell mum she is the cause of all this. ' . . . ,' If she accepted Ade and respected order. Ade couldn't have gone woefully amiss Ade now we go swiftly over the border. If mum 'didn't interrupt Lizzy wouldn't die. If ~ i didn't die Ade wouldn't die. i ~ If Ade didn't die I wouldn't die. Ade dreamed that I was hanging. Today is the fulfilment of the vision. . . ' , We must go and meet Lizzy waiting. We must go yonder to knowthe.reason. . . . W h y Limy had to say too late Cousin. ' . . Gracy breath her last. . The End. 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Title A name given to the resource The way to make friends with girls Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Madumere, Adele Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Onitsha, Nigeria, A. Onwudiwe & Sons Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 196- Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Nigerian literature (English) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3551 Description An account of the resource The strong feminist overtones of this fictional account suggest that the author, Adele Madumere, is a woman. Lizzy, the main character of this long story, is a strong and independent woman who continuously questions men and their intentions. In the pamphlet's opening paragraph Lizzy asks, "why are some men fond of interrupting women on high ways,?" (pg.6). The author also uses a gentle humor to look at the budding relationship between Lizzy and her suitor Ade:<br /><br /><em>There was no reply from either side. Passers-by wondered why the two people broke their journey on a high way. The popular feeling was that they were discussing an important matter largely personal to them. It was bad light. Lizzy could not continue to stand on the road unmindful of her appointment, </em>(pg.6).&nbsp;<br /><br />After Ade had waylaid Lizzy in the classic manner of Onitsha Market Literature, the author plays with those assumptions. To the main characters,it is clear that Lizzy wants nothing to do with Ade at this time, and it is only the bad light that keeps the other passers-by in the dark as to the nature of the interaction.<br /><br />Unlike many of the other pamphlets, Lizzy is not a naive young girl. She is separated from her first husband and does not want to commit herself to another man, even if she does come to like Ade, a politician. Lizzy and this new lover endure a scandalous court case because her husband, Mr. Cousin, has accused Ade of unlawfully detaining his wife and depriving him of his liberties. In fact, Lizzy did not leave Mr. Cousin for Ade, but rather left her husband because she did not feel like an equal partner in a polygamous marriage. She explains, "You know I had to respect you in all respects. I like your personality so dearly but hate your manners. I did all in my power to play the game with you as a comrade. You did not regard me as somebody in union with you but as a visitor," (pg.21). Thus, Lizzy left Mr. Cousin for herself rather than for another man. <br /><br />As Lizzy commits to Ade in the story, Madumere reverts to a more traditional plot and characterization of male dominance. When Lizzy becomes jealous of another woman, she consults a traditional healer. After this visit she inadvertently poisons Ade, and he becomes insane. In her desire to restore Ade's faculties, she poisons herself and dies. The tale ends with Ade and the other woman both committing suicide to be with their soul mates. Even though Lizzy, as a heroine, creates an interesting space in the story to assert both independence and moral character, in the end she appears to be caught up by her love for Ade and controlled once again by a man. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/e90535eb74e53520ad40f657581f5813.pdf d6b36aedefd6e04004f28c9b93193655 PDF Text Text ��THE LAST DAYS LUMUMBA (The Late Lion of the Congo) A DRAMA THOMAS lGUH Obtainable from:A. ONWUDIWE & SONS, R. 9 No. 6 Onitsha Main Market, P. 0. Box 214, - ONITSHA NIGERIA. 316 ~ e Price. t All Copy Right Reserved �CONTENTS PAGE Forward Characters In Mr. Lumumba's House 7 Gizenga and Mr. Everistus 9 Molongo in the uniform of an army commander 11 Lumumba arrives 12 The Angry Crowd surged to the road and halt the car 15 The first arrest of Lumumba 16 Lumumba is brought back as a prisoner 17 The trial of Lumumba and his men 18 Registrar. Usher and other Minor Official 19 Lumumba .is led to the box 21 Lumumba is drawn out of the box 24 Mr. 0kito was ordered to kneel down 25 Mr. Mpolo enters the box 26 The second day of trial 29 Lumumba is appointed Prime Minister 36 Enter Kassavubu, Moise Tshombe, Munungo and Kalinjo 41 The Scene opens In Parliament 45 Colonel Mobutu and his his men properly armed 46 PATRICE LUMUMBA 50 Lummba having been arrested with Mpolo and 52 Okito patrice Lumumba, Okito and Mpolo 53 The scene shifts to Katanga 55 About hundred soldiers carrying Lumumba 57 The picture showing how ~umumba was tied 58 President Tshombe's picture 59 Mr. Gizenga's picture 60 �CHARACTERS. PATRICE LUMUMBA The first Prime Minister of the Congo. MR. KASSAVUBU e;: President of the Congo MOISE TSHOMBE e yS , Katanga , e v , Kassai , MR. KALINJO COLONEL MOBUTU - Congo Army Chief. MR. OKITO LUMUMBA'S MR. MPOLO MR. ANTOINE GIZENGA .DEPUTIES MR. EVERISTUS I S ) MR. MUNUNGO. Katanga Miister KING BAUDOUIN King of Belgium JOSEPH ILEO - ,2nd Prime Minister of Congo ) Juliana Patrice LUMUMBA'S CHILDREN Francois y9 Brother MR. ALBERT MRS. LUMUMBA. MOLONGO CHIEF JUSTICE CROWN COUNSEL COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE MESSENGER LUMUMBISTS BELGIANS SOLDIERS POLICEMEN �PREFACE: THIS DRAMA (THE LAST DAYS OF LUMUMBA ) .IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO BRING HOME IN, TO THE READER THE MANhER IN WHICH PATRICE LUMUMBA WAS KILLED. THE DRAMA IS A FICrION AND DOES NOT IN ANY WAY. REPRESENT' THE TRUE ACCOUNTS OF THE LUMUMBA EPISODE. 1T IS ALL IMAGINARY.. THOMAS IGUH, (The ~ u t h o r ) . �A. ONWUDIWE & SONS P. 0.BOX 214, YLe ONITSHA ~Ya~yiryw t o r % - NIGERIA. o{ ONWUDIWE & SONS Book - Sellers and Publishers, Promoters of Nigerian Modern Novels. �COLONEL MOBUTU COLONEL MOBUTIJ THE CHIEF COMMANDER OF CONGO ARMY. �SCENE I IN MR. LUMUMBA'S HOUSE. PATRICE., LUMUMBA DISCUSSES INDEPENDENCE FOR THE CONGO WITH HIS MEN. Enter Patrice Lumumba, .Albert, Mr. Okito and Mr. Mpolo. They all take seats. Well done Mr. Okito and comrades. It is a pity that people like Mr. Everistus and others are not here with us, but I am afraid we must have to go ahead. PATRICE LUMUMBA: I see with you ~ a t r i c d we have for only an hour to go before' we proceed to the Market Square for the Rally. MR. MPOLO : k t ' s hurry up for the Market Square is already filled to capacity. MR. OKITO: Gentlemen, 1 see no reason why we should continue to delay this short meeting. So, I think I -won't be wrong if I declare it open. OKITO: Oh ! hero of the Congo! go ahead1 PATRICE LUMUMBA: - MR. . . PATRICE LUMUMBA: Stand up for prayers. (They all stand up). Oh! God of the Univer~e!Oh! Ye God of Africa We call upon -Thee to come to o u r aid. The Belgium have rapped and murdered our people in thousands. They . have locked up hundreds of our innocent once simply because they 'pointed their PATRICE LUMUMBA: �fingers at Belgium's'. Criminal face. We are now resolved to fight ,the battle hence we in the liame 6f 'our .;niotherliind have called for thy aid Grease t h e shoulders of thy . beloved ch~ldren who have resolved to challenge Belgium's atrocities against our mother land. We hope and trust Oh! Ye Mighty God of Africa; that you won't fail to give us your aid right from now! MR MPOLO AND OTHERS: Amen ! MR. OKITO: Well done Patrice, I pray that God may grant you a long lease of life that through you whom we the Congolese call our God, we,may one day be released from Belgium's chain of bondage and slavery. ALBERT: Here Mr. Okito Oh! you .great God of Africa ! Congo is burning ! PATRICE LUMUMBA: Comrades Mpolo, Okito and the rest, lend me your ears, for it is now that I am - going to issue directives which will guide you until the war of liberation comes to an end. For sixty long years have the Belgians enriched themselves on the exploitation of our motherland ! Most of you here have suffered one thing or the other from the hands of these white begots who call us slaves in our own motherland (he weeps) Never l never more must we see these things and let them pass unchecked. We can't allow our country to keep burning while we are still living. We must retaliate and if by retaliating, we shall all find ourselves in goal, well and good. This country is ours l we must not let it down! Belgium must pack away and that must be now or never ! MR. --. . Away with Belgium and her puppet MPOLO; King ! MR. OKITO:' Here comes Mr. Antoine Gizenga and . Mr. Everistus. ' �(ENTER .MR;GIZENGA AND MR. EVERISTUS) PATRICE LUMUMBA : Behold ! Here are the men we have been waiting for. ANTOINE GIZENGA: Pardon us gentlemen for being late. We had to stop at the market square,to cool. down. the hearts of millions of our people who are already there. MR. NERISTUS: Never in the history of this great country of ours have so many people of all walks of life gathered for same purpose. Infact the crowd we met at the market square is simply wonderful. ALBERT : What we want now is your command . for we are prepared to give up our lives for the cause of t h ~ s great nation of ours. MR. EVERISTUS: Bravo: Albert! I am prepared to die now for it is better for one to die for the cause of his nation than dying in the glory of sleep. MR. G I Z ~ G A : Our policy from now should' be positive action. MR. OKITO: Was it not Winston Churchill who said: "It is sweeter and more honourable to die in the battle field than in bed?" MR. MPOLO: For myself, it is a question of giving me complete liberty or I take death! PATRICE LUMUMBA: Are you all here with me prepared to execute any order I dish out to you? MR. EmISTUS: It is where you . die that I must die too Monsiuer Lumumba. ALBERT: This issue is to me a question of life or death. I either live in a free and self governing Congo or I die! m.OKITO: I know that this great battle in front of us will be a b 1 o o d y one, but let no one develop could feet when the hour comes 9 �for ever since we returned from the All African People's Conference held at Accra last month. I knew that Colonialism will have its history written in our country in a very short period from now. PATRICE LUMUMBA: From today, you must all bear arms with which to fight King Baudouin and his Agents. Every Branch of this great party of ours will be given five tons of Ammunition and that of course will be supplemented with weekly supplies. The Commander-in-Chief will be my self while comrade Gizenga will take the office of Deputy Commander - in - Chief Mpolo and Okiro will be FIELD MARSHALS while MR. EVERISTUS will be ' Chief Field Organiser. Albert will be my private Secretary. (HEAR HEAR THEY SHOUT) (AT THIS STAGE A GROUP OF A B 0 U T TWO THOUSAND LUMUMBISTS G A T H E R 0 U T S I D E PATRICE LUMUMBA'S HOUSE CARRYING BANNERS, PALM LEAVES AND A COFFIN. THEY SING SONGS OF PRAISE FOR PATRICE LUMUMBA) ' MR. EVERISTUS: What is happening outside comrades? (At this stage Mr. Antoine Gizenga rushes out to meet the peaceful invaders). (LUMUMBA AND THE REST LOOK ON). ALBERT : Time is flying fast gentlemen. c Enter MR. GIZENGA) PATRICE LUMUMBA: What's the big do Gizenga? MR. ANTOINE GIZENGA : They are all 0 U r men and they have come to tell us that all traffic have been stopped by the surging miIlions waiting �for us. I was made to understand that they beat up a Belgian Army Officer and set his car on fire. Excellent ! The hour h a s come and I am very happy that our country men are behind us. Now comrades. I want to leak a top secret to you: Ghana and Yogoslavia have offered us aid both financially and in kind. Guinea and Russia have sent in arms to us while we are waiting for shipment of food stuff and amunition from the U. A. R. So, as far as arms and money are concerned we are quite okay. PATRE@ LUMUMBA: Enter Molonga Dressed in the Uniform of an army commander. I am sent by millions of our people to tell you that they are ready for war. The scene at the market square is simply indescribably and they want you'to come and issue directives that the battle may start right away. MOLON~A : Let's be on the move my men for every inch of delay is a South Sea of discovery. PATRICB LUMUMBA: AT THIS STAGE PATRICE LUMUMBA MOUNTS ON THE BACK OF HIS HORSE DRESSED IN THE UNIFORM OF A COMMANDER IN CHIEF ARMED WITH A SWORD AND SPEAR HE IS LED IN A VERY LONG PROCESSION TO THE MARKET SQLJARE. (The Scene now shifts to the market Square) (The market Square is filled ten times the capacity) I1 �IN -.THE.THICK CROWD . CAN BE SEEN POSTERS AND BANNERS READING: "AWAY WITH BELGIAN RULE" "YOUNG PATRICE LUMUMBA IS THE KING WE KNOW. DOWN WITH BAUDOUIN" "WE WANT FREEDOM NOW-OR NEVER" "GIVE US LIBERTY OR G I V E LJS DEATH" DRUMMING AND GUN SHOTS CAN BE HEARD TOO. (LUMUMBA ARRIVES) 1 have come good brothers and sisters. So lessen your noise and listen to me for the battle of liberation is going to start from here. MOLONGA: WAR! WAR!! WAR!!! We want war! 1st CITIZEN: Away with the Belgians, their Stooges We want our freedom now or never. 2nd CITIZEN: BRAVO Young Lumumba, The 'second God of the world he is l MR. OKITO: Lessen your noise comrades f o r time is against us. 1st CITIZEN: We want to hear Lumumba please! 2nd. CITIZEN: Oh Lumumba! h e 1 p us for the Belgians have rapped our motherland enotigh! 3rd CITIZEN: My father was shot yesterday in his farm by a white man. I want to revenge Vengeance ! Vengeance ! 1st CITIZEN: Peace loh! Lumumba speaks! MR. GIZENGA: Play cool country men for we are going to............ : .--.ew.-.-.-....... MOLONGA: We want Patrice please! S p e a k Oh Speak Lumumba! We are tired of Belgium and her Agents. PATRICE LUMUMBA: Peace ! Peace ! Comrades !! 3rd CITIZEN: Watch! Young Lumumba is up again ! PATRICE LUMUMBA: �~ N CITIZEN:.. Speak Oh .ye .God of Africa ! D (Stretching out his haniis) My dear' country. men, it gives me much pleasure tb see all of you gathered.here today for the cause of our dear ,Co n go. We are, not wood but men, .and as much, it will be height of our foolishness a n d stupidity to continue to swa1lo.w the atrocities which these hunger stricken Belgian commit against our motherland, Their soldiers have shot down m i 1 l i o n s of o u r .people l They have rapped our innocent daughter and sisters and even our grandmothers! The peacock King of Belgium who claim is .he, is the K i n g of our people has not for a .single day visited this country since 1876' when they occupied. it. We have paid taxes and rates only to see. it sent. over to Brussells for. for the development of the King's Palace. What. a r u b b i s h and what a dirty . record ! It was Booker T Washington of U. S. A. who &id: . . ... "We are a l l . born, 'Free and 'equal, And are. the .slaves of no one." PATRICE LUMUMBA: ' , , ' Was it not that great Indian Leader in the person of Mahatmer Ghandi wKo. said: "The worst type of home rule is better t h a n the most benevolent colonial rule." We have been r u l e d and exploited by Belgium for donkey long years, but now, I am sorry to say that the wind of change will in no time. blow across this great nation of ours. Oh God ! 0 n c e. more we beg Thee for help, for T h o u at the maker of all man kind. �1st CITIZEN: Kill every Belgian:' Lumumba will be our King. LUMUMBA: SO good country men, I don't know what you think within yourselves but for me it is b a t t 1 e from now for I am already in my official war uniform. We are all born equal and I see no reason why one race should lord it over the other. Long, Long ago, when we were ruling ourselves, Belgium was a Country unknown and unheard of in the Continent of Europe. But as soon as they. came to our Country and we opened our doors to them, they began to grew thick, I. PATRICE LUMUMBA will never, never live to see this type of thing going on in my Country. If not for people like old Kassavubu former Gold miner Tshombe who pledge loyalty to Belgium every day, I . think things should have begun to take shape. So right from now, we have declared war. My party has ordered a general strike of all workers tomorrow, and this strike must never end until Belgium bows to our request for Sovereignty. But to start with, a r e you all prepared to strike 7 At this stage, shouts of War! War!! can be heard . from the crowd. CROWD: Yes! We are prepared 1 (They shout) 1st CITIZEN: Let us match to the battle field for this is the hour! 2nd CITIZEN: I shall wash my hands with the blood of a Belgian tomorrow! 3rd CITIZEN: I must carry home the head of a Belgian; PATRICE LUMUMBA: Peace Peace comrades. MOLONGA: PEACE LUMUMBA SPEAKS. , 14 . �NOW k t me ask myself this question: What does Patrice Lumumba's Party plan for an Independent Congo? The answer is this: My party will introduce a unitary form of Government for the Congo. We shall discourage Tribalism in very strong terms aod will make it a policy to see that every. adult is employed. In short, there will be no more unemployment. My party will fix the minimum wages at ten pounds and will reduce taxes. The Belgians will no longer lord it over us and they will then be relegated to rear in our country's political life. IST CITIZEN: What are we. waiting for ? Is the time' for battle not yet due. PATRICE LUMUMBA: ' '(AT THIS STAGE, A BELGIAN MILLIONIARE WITH HIS FAMILY CAN BE SEEN APPROACHING THE MARKET SQUARE IN HIS COSTLY CAR). IST CITIZEN: There comes the enemy! 2nd CITIZEN: Kill him ! Kill him !! 3rd CITIZEN: I'll offer his head to my Juju when. I get home. LUMUMBA: Kill him! Let him be an examble. for the tree of. liberty must be watered ' b i the blood of a tyrant. (AT THIS STAGE, THE ANGRY CROWD SURGED TO THE ROAD AND HALT THE CAR. THEY DRAW OUT THE OCCUPANTS AND SLASH THEM TO PIECES. THEY MARCH HOME WITH WAR SONGS WHILE PARTS OF THE BODIES OF THE BUTCHERED BELGIANS ARE CONSPICUOUSLY DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF THE INFORMAL PROCESSION). END OF SCENE I (Curtain Falls) �SCENE 2 (The First Arrest O Lumumba) f (THE SCENE OPENS IN A LOCAL HOTEL) ENTER PATRICE LUMUMBA, MR. ANTOINE GTZENGA, MR. MPOLO AND MR. OKITO: THEY SIT DOWN AND ORDER FOR BEER. PATRICE LUMUMBA: Yesterday's Rally was a great success. Wonderful! MR. MPOLO: AS Field. Marshals. Okito and myself were kept busy all the night. PATRICE L U ~ M B A - What is th;: Official death roll ? : MR. OKITO: It was at one hundred and ten by 8 a.m. this morning:- one hundred and seven Belgians three Congolese. MR. ANTOlNE GIZENGA: This is just the beginning for a day shall come when they will perish in thousands. PATRICE LUMUMBA A group of Youths Came to me this morning and showed me thirty bloody white heads which they took home as their booty. MR. MPOLO: What will be our next line of action now that every Belgian has taken up arm against us. MR. OKITO: We must be armed too. PATRICE LUMUMBA: Then I must issue an order for the distribution of arms to our men. But they must never attack first unless they are attacked. Enter four Belgian Police Officers assisted by a group of Congolese Policemen. They surround the table and ask Lumumba and his men to take their hands up at gun point. PATR~CELUMUMBA: On what compulsion must I! tell me I �PATRICE LUMUMBA IS BROUGHT BACK AS A PRISONER. HIS HANDS TIED BEHIND HIS BACK. HE SITS WITH CALM DIGNITY. �Chain these men with their hands behind them! They are international communists and murderers. INSPECTOR: Your sun is set Lumumba. You are all going to answer charges of high treason against the state and charges of incitation. (he kicks Lumumba witii his butt while other Constables rought handle the' rest. They are chained togather in one long chain and dragged to a waiting Black Maria. A. S P: . . (Curtain FUNS) END OF SCENE 2 SCENE 3 (THE TRIAL OF LUMUMBA AND H S MEN) I THE SCENE OPENS IN THE LEOPOLDVILLE HIGH COURT. THE COURT IS PACKED TO CAPACITY BY BELGIANS AND THEIR AFRICAN SYMPATISERS. OVER A MILLION LUMUMBISTS GATHER AROUND. A WIRE FENCE ERECTED AROUND THE COURT. THE COURT IS HEAVILY GUARDED). �Enter .:. Registrar, Usher and orher Minor Oficial. LUMUMBA AND HIS MEN ENTER WITH THEIR FEET AND HANDS CHAINED TOGETHER. LUMUMBA'S HAIR AND BEARD IS SHAVED , I N THE OPEN COURT. Enter Counsel for Defence - Barrister Leo und the Crown Counsel. (Enter Chief Justice) COUT~ !!! REGISTRAR: The trial of Patrice Lumumba and his comrades is billed for today! CHIEF JUSTICE: Call Up the case. REGISTRAR: M. 0. W. 12.57159. Patrice Lumumba and three others versus the state. (At this stage, ten constables armed with machine guns escort them to the dock). CHIEF JUSTICE: Read out the charges. REGISTRAR: That you on the 5th of July, 1958, abused the King of Belgium in a pubiic meeting contrary to Sub-section 94 of section 15, of the Criminal Code and thereby guilty of high treason against the state. Are you guilty or not guilty? (He asks them individually.) PATRICE LuMUMBA: Guilty ? ~ h a t ' ; rubbish'! MR. ANTOINE GIZENGA: I n the name of my dear motherland, I am not guilty. USHER: (AT THIS STAGE LUMUMBA IS BEATEN UP AGAIN BY THE BELGIAN POLICE CHIEF. THERE IS WEEPING AMONG THE LUMUMBETS OUT SIDE WHILE THE BELGIANS IN THE COURT ROOM MOCK HIM) 19 �MR. MWLO: That word guilty is foreign to me ! Oh ! God of Africa, I wish you were here with us today ! REGISTRAR: That you on the same day and place, incited the crowd to rage and mutiny which resulted in the death roll of one hundred and fifty souls. Contrary to section 75 of the State's Law. PATRICE LUMUMBA: We are not guilty ! REGISTRAR: The accused persons plead not guilty my lord. CROWN COUNSEL: I am appearing for state my lord. DEFENCE COUNSEL: I am for the defence my lord. CHIPF JUSTICE: What are the facts of the case Mr. Crown Council ? CROWN COUNSEL: Well my lord, the four. accused persons are the leaders of one political party which believes in the use of force for the achievement of their petty ends. This partythe M. N. C. was founded by the first accused person and ever since its inception, there had been a lot of trouble. It all began on the 30th of. June when Patrice Lumuniba asked his country men to resort to violence for the attainment of the so-called Independence. Having poisoned the minds of some illitrate Congolese, he called them .to a meeting at the market square and there, and then in the presence of these accused persons; the first wave of violence started. He ordered his men to kill any Belgian, that comes their way and to look their properties. As he was saying this (and the hearts of his few followers having been poisoned by lies and falsehood) they ran out to the road. halted a Limosine Car and Butchered the occupants, It didn't end there. He Lumumba, having b e e n dressed i n the Uniform of a Commander-in-Chief MR. OKITO: ' �marched then to European Sector of LeopoldvilIe where about one hundred and fifty souls lost their lives. This is a case that must be dealt with properly that with these men here, the wurt may lay an example to other prospective murderers and trouble makers. 1st BELGIAN: Kill them ! Kill them! 2nd BELGIAN: Burn them alive ! USHER: COW^ ! (he Shouts) CHIEF JUSTICE: Let the first accused person go to the witness Box. (Lumumbd L led to the Box) v PATRICE LUMUMBA: I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give in this case shall be the truth and nothing but the truth. CROWN COUNSEL: YOU are Patrice Lumumba ? PATRICE LUMUMBA: Yes, I am. CRCWN COUNSEL: YOU come from the Oriental Province of the Congo. PATRICE LUMUMBA: Yeh ! CROWN COUNSEL: What is your occupation ? PATRICE LUMUMBA: I am a student of contemporary international Politics. And the leader of the all-powerful Congolese National Congress. CROWN COUNSEL: YOU were once a Post Office messenger ? PATRICB LUMUMBA: I was n e v e r a Post Office messenger? CROWN COUNSEL: But you worked in the Post Office sometime age? PATRICE LUMUMBA: Yes, I worked there as an account .clerk and not as a messenger please ! CROWN COUNSEL: YOU address a public lecture on the 5th of July this year? 21 �.-On..that.. day, 1 .:addressed - a meeting .of my people in the market square in my capacity as the President General of my great party. CROWN COUNSEL: YOU.were putting on the uniform of a Commander-in-Chief on that day? PATRICE LUMUMBA: These questions will drive me mad! I know nothing about them! CROWN CCUNSEL: What was the theme o f your lecture on that .day? PATRICE L~IMUMBA: The theme was :- Congolist nationalism versus Belgian imperialism. CROWN COUNSEL: Did YOU not describe the King of Belgium as a pea-cock King on that day? PATRICE LUMUMBA: I don't know, May you know better ! CRQWN COUNSEL: Did YOU not ask your men to slay any Belgian that comes their way and did they not kill the Belgian occupants of a passing Car on your orders and in your presence? PATRICE LUMUMBA: YOU better sit down Mr. Crown Counsel if you have no more question to ask me. I am the lion and the impregnable rock of this country! CHIEF JUSTICE: Will YOU answer the question y o u vandal and murderer of the worst type! PATRICE LUMUMBA: If I am a murderer, I wonder what you and your Belgian brothers are. CROWN COUNSEL: I am sorry my lord, I can't go on with him any longer. CHIEF JUSTICE : His doom will soon be cast. .PATR~CE ZUMUMBA?:. PATRICE LUMUMB.4: No Amount ofpersecution will make me withdraw 22 �my cry, immediate Freedom- for, l...am not :people like Kassavubu and Tshombe . whom you have bought very cheap. This is my .motherland and unless you the Belgians pack -and go home unconditionally, I will never, never rest on my oars. (At this . stage, Lumumba. is hit again by a Belgian officer with the Butt of his riffle. A young Lumumbist runs into the court for vengeance, but he is immediately arrested by constable. The Crown Counsel sits down). COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE: YOU have never been better against Belgians as a race but against their way of administration? PATRICE LUMUMBA: Yes my lord. COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE: In your speech on the day in question, did you give orders to your men to slay any Belgian that came their way as was alleged by the Crown Counsel some few minutes ago. PATRICE LUMUMBA: That allegation is the handwork of a frustrated imperialist agent. I am being judged by them now but a day shall come when I will judge them rather. USIIER: Shut up, YOU blood thirst Villian ! ( Lumumba is beaten up again ) PATRICE LUMUMBA: ( carrying up his eyes ) Oh father in heaven ! into thy hand 1 commend my spirit ! COUXSEL FOR DEFENCE: YOUare fighting for the Freedom of your Country ? PATRICE LUMUMBA: Exactly SO. I will continue to fight for that cause whether death or alive. COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE: YOU are .not a murderer? PATRICE LUMUMBA: I am not a murderer but if 23 �one is branded a murderer simply because he identifies himself with the nationalists of his country, then I am one. CHIEF JUSTICE : Do you want to tell t h i s court that you a t no time asked your people to murder Belgians en-masse? PATRICE LUMUMBA : The hurricane of change is blowing fast across this great continent of ours and when it comes to blow through the Congo, I am afraid ....."... ......, -.-........ Any w a y , I have my consolation in the words of that English Author who once said : "The tree of the liberty must be watered by the blood of a tyrant." CHIFP JUSTICE : Take .that devil down ! (LUMUMBA IS DRAWN OUT OF THE BOX IN A VERY CRUEL AND INHUMAN WAY) ' (GIZENGA ENTERS THE BOX) CROWN CQUNSEL: . YOU are MR. GIZENGA : Yes. CROWN COUNSEL : ' Antoine Gizenga ? YOU are the first accused person's deputy? MR. GIZENGA : I am' the deputy president general of. our great party. CROWN COUNSEL : YOU are incharge of supplying arms to your men? MR. GIZENGA: That is arrant nonsense ! CROWN COUNSEL: Did the first accused person not instruct your men t o kill any Belgian they see on the day he delivered his devilish lecture ? We are men not wood. And as such MR GIZENGA: we must fight back'whenever our God given rights are encroached upon by anybody, we know our 24 �right and. if you deny us of them we shall take them by force when the time comes. CROWN COUNSEL : That's all my lord. (He Sits Down) DEFENCE COUNSEL: You never incited your men to rage and mutiny ! MR. GIZENGA : Never in the list my lord. This Belgians are responsible. DEFENCE COUNSEL : That's all my lord. He Sits Down CHIEF JUSTICE : DO YOU want to tell this court that you and your comrades are not responsible for the recent waves of evidence in this country? MR. GIZENGA: The responsibility for the recent wave of violence should be levied squarely on the Government of Belgium a n d not ourselves. In fact, t h e correct person to stand here ,in the dock should be King Baudouin and n o t Lumumba or m y s e 1 f. But time shall come when things will take shape. CHIEF JUSTICE: Take him down! ' (MR. GIZEPIGA IS DRAGGED DOWN TO THE DOCK) (MR. OKITO ENTERS THE BOX) CROWN COUNSEL : Yes, Mr. Okito you are an active member of the M. N. C. ! MR. OKITO: I am not only an a c t i v e member but a -Senior Official of the M.N.C. CHIEF JUSTICE: What Office do you hold? MR. OKITO : Lumumba I know ! Gizenga 1 know! but who are you? (At this staze, Mr Okito was ordered to kneel down .bur he rejicsed). CHIEF JUSTICE: Are you prepared to w i t h d r a w that statement? MR. OKITO,: 1 repeat: Lumumba I know! Gizenga I know! but who are you? �(Poor. .Okito is at this stage made a n , object of mockery. A piece of cloth is tied against his eyes after -which he is terribly beaten). MR. OKITO: What ever you do to me now will never move me from my stand. It will rather serve as a lubricant- to my elbows. CHIEF JUSTICE: YOU will very soon find yourself a, within the warm embrace of the l w take him down. (HE IS TAKEN DOWN) (MR. MPOW .ENTERS THE BOX) Mr. Mpolo, are you prepared. to answer my questions? MR. MPOLO: I shall .give you a suitable reply to any question you ask me. CRGWN COUNSEL: Am 1 correct to say that you are a l l looked upon by some Congolese as their leaders. MR. MPOLO : We are. the leaders of our people as the King of Belgium, is to Belgians, CHIEF JUSTICE : And your people look on all of you for .directives especially now ? MR. MPOLO : Why not for God3 sake ! CROWN couNsn : You gave the order that resulted in the death of almost two hundred souls? MR. MPOLO: My pkople fought back after sixty years of Belgian Persecution and Maladministration. We are no stones but men! CROWN COUNSEL: That's all my Lord. COUNSEL FOR D ~ C :ENO questions my lord. CHIEF JUSTICE: Have you ,any evidence to call Mr Leo? COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE : We can't intend to c a 11 any one for this case is o n e of such that CROWN COUNSEL: ' �for this. case is one of s u c h that can cause another world war if decided adversely. CHIEF n.sncE : I am afraid we must have to adjourn till tomorrow. Take the accused persons back to the Millitary prison yard. US'HER : Court (He Shouts) (EXIT CHIEF JUSTICE) THE POLICE AND THE BELGIANS). (Currain Falls) END OF SCENE 3 ��SCENE 4 (THE SECOND DAY OF TRAIL) The Court i packed as usual. s (Enter Counsel for STATE AND DEFENCE) Lumumba and his men are brought in amidst car calls and booing. ENTER REGISTRAR .4ND OTHER OFFICIALS ENTER CHIEF JUSTICE us=: CLO-U-R-T ! (He Shouts) CHIEF JUSTICE: Any more Cross Examination ? CROWN COUNSEL: NO my Lord. DEFENCE COUNSEL: I think we should start to address the Court. CHIW JUSTICE: YOU address me first Mr.. Crown' Counsel. CROWN COUNSEL: (Standing with one foot' on the chair) My Lord, as you must have seen this is a very serious case. It is a case that must be decided carefully or we shall have to write out invitations for more w a v e s of violence. These men in the dock no doubt are the culprits and in the name of all that is decent. I appeal to you to inflict the maximum punishment on all them .for if they are allowed to go unpunished, violence will start the very minute they step out of this court premises. Before I go any further, let me refer you to Section 7 1 of the law of Belgium. It reads: "Any person found guilty of inciting a Section of the community- against the order is liable five years imprisonment." ' 29 �. . . . ... . So my Lord, I am now asking):you to carry out your duties properly for thy, hands lay T the fate of over h a l f a million Belgians now resident in the Congo. . . . .. .. ' no Let me refer .you again to the trail of ~ e n ~ a t the."Burning Spear" of Kenya. It, i s . a ta case of exactly the same nature as this buiut,Kenyatta's pretence didn't deceive the Judge. In his record, the trail Judge - Justice Kevin recorded : ''Jon0 Kenyatta no doubt looks innocent but I am convinced that he.is the brain behind the whole ghastly affair. ' I found him guilty of managing the MauMau and.:...........u..............................u-.u.............. .. " . Sir, this is contained in the law of report book 'ot the Kenya High Coutt number 78 Subsection 5 to 7 of Section 10 page 125. If Patrice '~umumbaand his gang of vandals are left to go, they will try to avenge their fall a thousand times and ihat may bring about a situation worse than the notorious Mau -Mau of Kenya. These men are very dangerous; and again my Lord I ask you to imprison them heavily that they may c o m e out properly tutored and tamed. He once swore never to shave his b e a r d until the last Belgian leaves the Congo but alas! Here he is with his Juju beard already shaved. (He .:sits. Down) . ' ' ( S h o u t s of "Kill him ! Kill him! can be heard as ,the Crown Counsel takes his -seat. 30 �COUNSEL FOR .DEFENCE: (Striking his hand on the table).Oh Justice! Where are thou? My Lord, I only havc to ask you not to be misled by the weak citations of my learned friend w h o only citcd the weak points in law to confuse issues. How on earth can - one compare the charges under which these young ' men are charged to those preffered against JOMO KENYATTA? These men here in the dock are innocent and my stand now is to ask for their unconditional acquittal for no primafacie case has been made against them. The prosecution failed woefully to impress the Court on their guilty and I see no reason why they should continuc to suffer. , . In my fifty years experience as a lawyer during which I ' practise in all continents of the world, 1 never heard of a case as cooked and as concocted as this. I know too,well that anybody, can interpret the law to 'suit his own p u r p o s e but 1 have never seen any body playing with the' law as my learned friend did i n his address. This case is a test case and unless it is handed properly, I'm afraid things will get worse. The whole world have their eyes on you; so don't let them down' for the imprisonment of these young hand-. some men w h o s e only guilty is that they raised their voices against Belgium will pay no dividends. In fact, it is when they arc imprisoned that thcir followers will strike to kill!. . ..,.. . . . Let me refer you to' the t'r i a l of Warren .Hastings who was charged on similar offence against the . Rodilles of India. His trial lasted for. seven years.' It is in the law report book of the Privy Council No. 77911 1 Section . 91 verse 8-12 it reads :;.!'Warren Hastings is the most ill used man on earth .................................. 1........;................................... :. He is discharged and acquitted" �. Turn over' again to page 300 Section. 701 paragraphs 1 to 3 of the same book. It is about a case of same nature involving one Mallam Yakor of Singapore. His charges are exactly the same as that with which these young men are charged. The trail Judge in his Judgement recorded:- "I see no reason why Mallam Yakor should be b r o u g h t before this Court. He is discharged and acquitted." So my Lord, I most humbly beg you to discharge these men for they are as clean as the Ostrich. Their own case should not be an exception. If you are not yet satisfied my Lord, let me refer you to another book. It is Dr. Shaw's law report of 1765 turn to page 700 Section 91 Sub Section 112 verses 11-12 It reads: "Case of political nature are often concoted and having weighed ,the evidence produced by the prosecution, I see no reason why Mr. Davies should be brought to my Court. He is accordingly discharged and acquitted" So my Lord, 1 now look on you to discharge and acquit these men for they are not guilty. Even if they are guilty, I think they have suffered enough. I have nothing more to say than to sum up my address with the following words of Shakespears: "The Qudity of Mercy is not Strained. It droppeth as The Gentle rain $om Heaven. It is Twice Blessed. It BIessed Him that gives And .Him that takes ......................................... 19 (He sits down amidst, hand claps and Gation from over a million Lumumbists out side the Court . . premises.) �AT ,THIS STAGE. THE.. :RAIL JUDGE,. WRITES . . .DOWN HIS' JUDGEMENT CHIEFJUSTICE: My dear Lumumba, Gizenga. Okito and Mpolo - the four in one : your doom is cast! I am agree with the prosecution that you - are responsible for the wave of violence that has been devastating this Country. You all tried to prove your selves innocent but - I have my personal conviction. Your defence Counsel is one of the best I h a v e never met since I joined the Judiciary. The defence he put up is quite similiar to Cicero's defence of Miloni. But the Law must have its way. I found all of you quilty and you are all sentenced to two years imprisonment (each) you are not allowed to appeal. PATRICE LUMUMBA : It is a glory to me that I am going to spend eighteen months in the prison yard for the cause of my motherland. We shall come out and give you the toughest b a t t 1 e of your life. (As soon as the youths out side heard that their Leaders have been jailed, they broke into the Court and unleased several gun shots. The Trail Judge takes to his heels while Lumumba and his men. are carried away to the prison yard in a waiting Car. (Curtain Falls) ; END OF SCENE 4 SCENE 5 HAVING COMPLETED THEIR PRISON SENTENCES, LUMUMBA AND HIS MEN ORGANfSE ANOTHER LECTURE. ( I N THE hlARK@T SQUARE) (Curtain Opens) Enter Patrice Lumumba. Mr. Antoino Gizenga, Mr. Okito and Mr. Mpolo. : Bravo my men ! Bravo It is now about two years since I t a 1 k e d to PATRICE LUMUMBA 33 �you last. Oh well those days were spent in the prison yard from where I was released last month and where I planned the next phase of the battle should Belgium continue to subjugate and humuliate our motherland. But I am now very happy inthat I have won complete Freedom for our country. Immediately after our release from prison. the Belgian Government invited us to Brussels for talks having known that an unprecedented situation will arise immediately we step out of jail. In fact, we were taken right from the Prison gate to Belgium and there we fought vigorously. The battle wasn't easy for Belgium wanted to grant Freedom to only a Section of the Congo while she.retains the rest. On July 31st, we shall be free! free for ever! Free from white imperialism! Free from sixty years of bondage and servitude! We shall be free for ever on that day ! But another great battle still lies ahead of us. This will be a bhttle against black imperialism for men like Kassavubu and Tshombe have planned to plant themselves securely in the Government of an Independent Congo. And they are doing this with the complete support of Belgium. Do you want to be ruled by Ksssavubu? NO ! NO ! Lumumba is the man we know! MOLONGA: Away with those traitor ! 1st CITE&: Kassavubu will rule over my dead bodyl MR. MPOLO: Take it coolly my man for Patrice is still speaking. MOLONGA: Bravo comrades, Mpolo and Okito! PATRICE LUMUMBA: A general election to -elect the people that will rule the Congo after THE CROWN: 34 �Independence will be held in a forthnight. So I an1 .now asking you to vote s o l i d l y for my -party . candidates who are men of w o r t h if my party comes to power, it will be life more abundant for every body. We shall i n c r e a s e wages and make those Belgians. who choose to stay to work for us as servants and n o t as masters. We shall abolish the present provincial system of Government for a Unitary Administration. So my dear country men, every thing is left for you to decide on the polling dhy. (HE SITS DOWN AMIDST OVATION AND &ND CLAPS) TWOyears ago when we were being tried by, a Belgian J u d g.e, I told him that one day we the sons of this country will sit to Judge him and that statement will .in less than thirty days time takes shape. KASSAVUBU and his band of Belgian Stooges are now at work. It is their plan to sell the Congo back to Belgium after our Independence and he who ever does that is guilty of sabotage. They want to reap where they haven't sown for when we were sent to prison, this very Kassavubu and Tshombe engaged themselves with daily supper and dinner with our imperialist overlords. For sixty donkey years have we suffered ! For sixty years have our rights been trampled upon I And for sixty years have our great motherland been exploited and subjugated l Why then must we replace Belgian imperialism with black imperialism ? If you make the mistake of voting in these m e n with questionable characters then the fault is yours for Lumumba has done his best by 'securing unconditional Freedom for you 'and me. Belgium wants to remain . in the Congo under a new cloak and this must never happen for one can't eat his cake and have it . . .. . .back again. .MR. MPOLO: �So comrades I now appeal io you to cast your votes for the M.N.C. candidate whom as you know paid the actual price of Freedom. IST CITIZEN: Kassavubu is a stooge and Tshombe a traitor ! ~ N D CITIZEN: We must kill them all. MR. GIZENGA: Comrades! We are free and free for ever but that Freedom-that hard won Freedom, won't be safe if placed in the hands of traitors like Kassavubu and Tshombe. So I don't have much to say except to tell you to get ready for the polling day for on that 'day will be the battle that will decide the fate of the Congo. MoLONGA: Any body who votes for Kassavubu or Tshombe must be killed and his blood used. for watering the tree of eternal liberty ! PATRICE LUMUMBA: - Oh mother Congo! Oh ye gods and godesses I come to the aid of your beloved children ".."........ ................................................ ...- ..... ..... ..... MR. OKITO: VOTE FOR YOUNG LUMUMBA! VOTE FOR HIM! (Curtain Falls) END OF SCENE 5 SCENE 6 THE ELECTION HAVING BEEN OVER, LUMUMBA IS APPPOINTED PRIMEMINISTER WHILE KASSAVUBU IS THE PRESIDENT. The Scene opens in the newly elected Parliament in Leopoldville. (Enter King . Baudouin, Patrice Lvmumba, Mr. Kassavubu, Antoine Gizenga, Moisr Tshombe, Mr. Mpolo, Mr. Okito and other elected members. The gallery is filled by anxious Congolese who want. to witness the proclaimation of Independence) ' �~ ~ ~ - ~ u D Mr. , Resident, : o ~ I N Prime Minister and Deputies. It gives me much p 1 e a s u r e to be present here with you to-night. This c o u n t r y otherwise known as the C o n g o had been under the administration of my Government since the time of King Leopoldville. We have been governing it from 1876 and now as I sit here with you, I can see a lot of exciting developments and improvements. Before your country came under the rule of Belgium, history tells us that things were as dark and crude as hell. But right now, things have changed. We have taught you modern Architecture, we have built Schools, Colleges, Hospitals and even Universities. To be candid, it is with a lot of regret that we are allowing you Freedom f o r it puzzles my i m a g i n a t i o n when I start to think of what Belgium's fate will look like when h e r most important .arm is out' off. - You are going to be self governing as from today and that will mean exposing this g r e a t country of yours to all amount of c o m m u n i s t infiltration and indoctrination for a 1 r e a d y I can sport a lot of communists in this parliament. Though you are going to be self governing, we in Belgiums will extend to you the right h a n d of friendship so that a cordial atmosphere will continue to exist between the two countries. About all, I want you to treat my s u b j e c t s who may elect to say in your country as friends, and brothers and not as enemies for without them, t h e Congo would not have been whht it is to-day. . The elections have come and gone ! that won't make me not to express. my great disappointment at the results for no single party won. e n o u g h . �seats to .:form ..a. government' Anyway,. after : long:: and protracted' negotiations, Mr. . Kassavubu h a s been. appointed President while m y bearded friend Lumumba is the Prime Minister. Finally, I hereby declare your country Independent. . . (He Sits Down) . . PATRICE LUMUMBA: (HE PULLS HIS BEARD) Mr.' President, honourable deputies, my Joy today is simply wonderful for my eyes h a v e .seen the salvation of my dear and beloved Congo. We the nationalists who. suffered all amount of deprivation of God given liberty and persecution right in the very nose of the. Belgium K i n g, know too well that the battle wasn't easy. M o s t of us h a v e been jailed serveral times; others have had their properties confiscated. All for the sake of Freedom which we have now won and which I will assure you will be properly pres e r y e d. As the Prime Minister, it falls under my potfollio to appoint my . Minister and that I have done already. Mr. Gizenga that Keg of Political g u n powder is the deputy Prime Minister while Mr. Mpolo is the Minister of Youth. Mr. Okito is the Vice President of the S e n a t e and others which I will have to announce later. Our country is now free and it is o u r duty to m a i n t a i n this hard won Freedom that the Congo may one day be a nation to be reconed with in Africa and in t.h e comity of nations. I t . is a great disappointment t o . note that a country as big, and as populous as the C o n g o has no single indigenous Doctor. No single .lawyer a n d not even a graduate. We have not enough Schools and Hospitals. .. . �We have no .trained Teachers and Nurses. And yet still, this shameless pealcock King of -Belgium in this proclaimation of Independence said that Belgium boasted our social and economic position. 1 wonder what they did for me! The shameless monhrch bragged that he built Schools and every thing for us forgetting that his hunger stricken country men have for sixty good years fed fat on the rich mineral resources of our country. Yesterday was their day but today is ours! The Civil service, the 'army and every brand of government. activity must be Africanised that . we may show this bragged Jungle King 'that can rule ourselves properly without the help of this hungry brothers and sisters. Let those white bigots who feel too proud and who feel they can't work under the African pack and go with their King tomorrow for an Independent Congo has no. room for nonsense and redundancy. Our foreign policy will be one of none alignment with any power block. We shall respect any fiation that respects us. Let me cease this opportunity to announce that the Belgian head of the army will have' his appointment . terminated tomorrow for general Lundulrr has been appointed to head the army. This is one of series of appointments aimed at nationalising our civil and armed services. Let no one look on me to say thank you for granting us Freedom for we all were born free by God. Right from today, there is nothing again like the "European. Sector of Leopoldville" or "European Clubs" for I see no reason why Belgians should come from five thousand miles away to lord over 14 m i 1 l i o n Congolese. Again . I repeat; yesterday was their day, today. is ours! �I shall be a very good man to order the arrest of every Belgian and the confiscation of their properties for that was how they treated us when we were under their rule, but we are God fearing Leaders. It is only history and prosperity that will tell. .(Lumumba sits down amidst great ovation. The King of Belgium who had been listening to Lumurnba's speech having grown annoyed walks out of Parliament before the scheduled t i m e for his departure. .MOISE TSIIOMBE : I' fail to agr:e with Lumurnba ! The Ministries must be shared ! If my party is not given three ministries, 1 am sorry we shan't team up with the government. It is a question of must. PATRICE LUMUMBA : That is arrant n o n s e n s e! Complete rubbish ! I am the Prime Minister and -it is within my entire jurisdiction to appoint any body to any Ministry I like. I am not prepared to take dictations from any body. MR. MUMUNGO: The Ministries m u s t be shared You either agree or YOU count us out of your government !PATRICE LUMUMBA: Gone are the days when you got every thing you wanted from your Belgian friends ! I am now the Prime Minister and you must either take to my orders or you are doomed! MOISE TSHOMBE: We the Katanga block are not prepared to form a government with you unless our request is granted. I .see no reason why Katanga which is the bad rock of Congo wesllth should be excluded from the cabinet. PRESIDENT KASSAVUBU : Listen Mr. Tshombe; You must not give us head-ache for it is �Within the authority of Prime Minister to appoint::any :-body Minister. -MOISE TSHOMBE: Katan~ais no more in the Congo! We are going lhome to form 'our own government. LUM'UMBA: Congo must be one, one Congo! one God! one Africa! If Tshombe thinks he can carry out his threat successfully, let him try and see if he doesn't get . him under , the warm hands of the almighty law. TSHOMBE: We of Katanga are no more with you ! We are going home and should I find any one of y o u within t h e . boundries of Katanga! woe unto that fellow. (AT THIS STAGE MOISE TSHOMBE LEAVES THE PARLIAMENTARY BUILDING WITH ---HIS MEN) PATRlCe LUMUMIIA: the Congo must bs one! it must be ruled from Leopoldville! MR. OKITO: One Congo One Government! MR. MPOLO: Shame! Shame! Tshombe. MR. ANTOINE GIZENGA:' Tshombe and his men are traitors. They have already sold Katanga to Belgium. (Curtain Fldls) ~ --- ~ - - - - END OF SC~NE 6 SCENE 7 (In Leopoldville) MOISE TSHOMBE DISCUSSES WITH KASSAVUBU IN THE LATER'S HOUSE. KASSAVUBU AGREES TO SUPPORT TSHOMBE IN HIS REQUEST FOR THREE MINISTERS. . (CURTAIN OPENS) -. (Enter ~asshvubtl, Moise Tshombe, Munungo and Kalinjo) PRESIDENT KASSAVUBU: Well Mr. Tshombe, I have invited you to my house that we might sit - ' �.. tQ&ther and,.: solye ,.qu$,.things. ourselves. It will be a mighty: shame to us if we begin to . fight ourselves now; It is quite a pity Mr. .............. .....,....... 'Lumumba is not here but .............u MOISE TSHOMBE: I. will walk out from the meeting if I see him here.. Christ and Devil cannot occupy a single soul! Lumumba is a satan and I can't afford to sit in a conference with him!. K~SSAVUBU: YOU are asking for three Ministers isn't it ? TSHOMBE: by right, we should have more than that, but. due to the fact. that many parties are representated in the parliament I decided to ask for only three. KASSAVUBU: Should in case I compel him to concede one to you ? M U N V N ~ O : Why should we allow ourselves' to be dragged to the. rear ? What claim can that mad Lumumba put forward. tb show that he is the most suitable fellow to occupy the Prime klinister's chair. While people like Ileo,' who '~shombe, myself and a lot of others began playing .politics when Lumumba's father had not been born, are still alive; you thought it fit to appoint him your Prime Minister. What a n insult ! What a mese up ! Down with Lumumba! KALINJO : My own point is thht my party should also be in the cabinet. KAS~AVUBU: You must try to considerate Tshpmbe, if you are given .three ministers how many will be left? MUNUNGO : We want three important Ministries and thats all. Without that we of Katanga will secede. ' ' - ' 5 �KASSAVUBU.: . If Katanga. which. is-the -soulcof..Con: .. . go's.. ec6noiny.'.!secedes,: what then will ..be left .... . . . ... of Congo? TSHOMBE : It's because..we are the bad-rock of the economy :of. the whole.. Congo that we are asking. for three important Ministers. It seems you underatec! the 'importance of Katanga when you were sharing the Ministers. KASSAVUBU: You people have begun to give me a lot of head-ache. Anyway 1'11 do my. best. When parliament is in session tomorrow, I will raise the matter myself. We shall give . you three Ministers but not important ones as you have been describing it. TSHOMBE: If YOU do that, 1' 1 be Very grateful to YOU. 1 MUNUNGO: Thank you very much Mr. President But what is the position of Lumumba, is he still in the cabinet? KASSAVUBU: We shall discuss about that later on. TSHOMBE: Cherio Mr. President. We meet tomorrow in the Parliament. (EXIT KALINGJO, MUNUNGO AND MOISE TSHOMBE) ' (ENTER COLONEL MOBUTU) (He salutes the President in. the oficial manner) KASSAVUBU: Welcome Mr. Mobutu, Anything wrong? MOBUTU: I have come to discuss the trend of events in our country with you. rAssnvusu: Mr. Tshombe has just left. He told me' that he wasn't prepared to join in the government unless he is given three Ministries. MOBUTU: Lumumba is not prepared to give him even one! KASSAVUBU: I know too well. But if we allow this situation to continue, it all means we are scaring away investors. We are yet under 43 �developed and anybody doing anything calculated to scare away oversea investors is the true ' enemy of Congo. MOBU~U: How-be-it, we must not allow this state of affairs to continue. Lumumba must either agree to Tshombe's request or we deal with him severely ! KASSAWBU: That boy is actually mad ! Even in cabinet meetings he has never has respect for me, knowing fully well that I am the father of the state. MOBUTU: Why don't you sack him and appoint some other person ? KASSAVUBU: It will be very unconstitutional if I do so. His friends in Ghana, Tunis, Russia and other countries will fight us. MOBUTU: Every thing must be settled tomorrow when Parliament meets. Lumumba must either agree to Tshombe's request or the army will step in. KASSAVUBU: I think that is what we should do. but it must be planned. You will be around with your men properly armed, so that if Lumumba refuses to grant Tshombe's request, you come in with your men and neutralise the house. MOBUTU: That is a nice idea. but who will ibrm the government after the neutralisation of Parliament ? KASSAVUBU; You can't appoint University Students to do it under my direction. MOBUTU: Lumumba will meet his waterloo tomorrow I (Curtain Falls) END OF SCENB 7 �SCENE 8 THE SCENE OPENS I N PARLIAMENT. (Curtain Opens) ENTER KASSAVUBU, LUMUMBA: GIZENGA MUNUNGO, OKITO, MPOLO AND OTHER DEPUTIES. TSHOMBE: Before this house discusses anything; I want to know what the Prime Minister's opinion is about my request for three Ministries. PATRICE LUMUMBA : That matter is gone and gone .for ever ! I told you last time that as long as 1 remain the Prime Minister, no Ministries will be alloted to your party. KALINGJO: That is rubbish! You must either share the Ministries among all the parties or I' m afraid..... ....-..-... ........................... .q"..-.. ............................. ". ..,..... ......... GIZENGA : We want one Congo ! . MR OKlTO : Away with Tshombe a n d his gang of ex-miners! MR MPOLO : Tshombe doesn't know he was gambling with fire when he threatened to secede from the Congo. He is not serious but if he feels he is, let him try and see what becomes of him.. KASSAVUBU: I see' no reason why all the Ministries should be held by the Prime Minister's Party.. The present Ministerial set up must be reshuffled if there will be peace in this country , of ours. PATRICELUMUMBA : I won't be happy with Mr. president. if you poke your nose'into a matter that is entirely within my authority. 'You are only the President and nothing else ! KASSAWBU : YOUmust either share the Ministries as demanded by minority parties or you get' it hot. ' 45 �a . With the. powers confered on me by Section 909 of the Congo Constitution, I thereby sack Mr. Kassavubu as the President. He is. no more the President and no one should from this very moment address him as such ! MR.. MPOLO: Bravo! Bravo! Lumumba! May the Lord God spare your life that you may lead. the Congo to an enviable position. KASSAVUBU: What right hive you to sack the man that appointed you Prime Minister? You , might as well sack 'the whole members of this . house. PATRICE LUMUMBA: (ENTER COLONEL MOBUTU AND HIS MEN PROPERLY ARMED) I, general Mobutu the. Chief of Congolese Amiy hereby declare this house . neutralised. You are unable to rule the country and now - the army wants to take over. Will everybody please walk out of this building! KASSAVUBU: ~ a k e note general Mobutu; Lumumba is no more the Prime Minister. from today. I have appointed Mr. Ileo to his post. LUMUMBBA: That is ............................................ ........-...-..-... MOBUTU: I don't want to hear anybody talk! From to-day I as the Chief of Staff of our army have neutralised all politicians and Parliament. My men will occupy the Parliamentary building from now with the order to shoot anybody found within the radius of 50 yards. So walk out everybody or we f i e ! MOBUTU: , (At this stage everybody including Lumumba is pushed out of the Parliament.) . . ' �(PRESIDENT KASSAVUBU IS CALLED BACK BY MOBUTU) Well done Mobutu. You have done a nice job. MOBUTU: What will become of Lumumba? That boy is a wild beast and if we leave him alone, I am afraid he will cause more damages. KASSAVUBU: What do you want us to do with him? MOBUTU: Left to me, I should suggest his immediate arrest. KASSAWBU: YOU can do so for the whoie machinery of government is in your hands. MOBUTU: 1 aIli going home to send two hundred of my men to arrest him! That fellow is some body .that should not be allowed to exist. KASSAWBU: But he is already under the protection of Ghananian U. N. Soldiers. MOBUTU: Then I m u s t send my men to watch him too for he can easily stow away to Stanlyville un-noticed. If he is allowed to get there, then it is good-bye to peace and harmony in our newly Independent Country. KASSAWBU: I have no objection M o b u t u. We must do away with that boy now or never. KASSAWBU: (Curtain Falls) END OF SCENE 8 SCENE 9 THE SCENE OPENS 1N PATRICE LUMUMBA'S HOUSE IN LEOPOLDVILLE. Oh God l How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished! Why oh good God should you let me to be treated like LUMUMBA: 47 �this! What sins have I committed against you and motherland Africa! If I have sinned, forgive me, Oh! Ye God of gods! ..... MRS. LUMUMBA: What is wrong my dear?' Did ' Nkrumah. o f ' Ghana not suffer . as we are suffering now ? Why should you pronounce such touching words? . . Oh God! Give me the strength to withstand what ever comes my way for I am now in the hands of my enemies! They are working fast against me and I trust you will show me the way! P A ~ C E LUMUMBA: . . Never 'mind'Patrice for a day shall come when your words will be the Supreme order 'of the day. . . GIZENGA: . . . . Mother Africa ! Where are you! .Or .have you not heard the. cry of your beloved son -. Lumumba? MR. MPOLO: 'This is the state of man. Today he puts on:'the tender .... leaves of hope .-................. Tomorrow bossems....".- ,..... ........ : On the third day comes a frost, . . A killing frost, And when he falls, He falls like lucifer, Never to.rise again !'' MR. OKITO: ; .. SPIRIT: ' LUMUMBA! -LUMUMBA! where are you? ' PATRICE LuMUMBA: .. .calling me. - . Listen gentlemen, somebody is (He listens carefully) 48 . ' . �SPIRIT: LUMUMBA ! LUMUMDA!! LUMUMBA !!! PATRICE LUMUMBA: Who are you please? I can't see you I SPIRIT: I am the Spirit of the Lord and I have come to pass words to you. Are you listening? ( A t this stage, Lumumba kneels dowr; near the walI from where the invisible voice comes). PATRICE LUMUMBA: SPIRIT: ,In I am listening my Lord ! less than five minutes from now, your opponents will come to arrest you. But they will be kept out of your house by the U. N. Ghananian Troops guarding you. You should arrange for the immediate removal of your three children to Egypt-the land of Freedom. If you remain in this h o u s e for five days more, you will be killed with your men. So you must be prepared to escape too a s soon as it is 5 a. m. tomorrow. That's all and byebye. (The voice of the spirit dies away.) MRS. LUMUMBA: With whom were you talking dear? PATRICE LUMUMBA: I have just received a message from God. We are instructed to send Francois Patrice and Juliana to Egypt for Mobutu's men will be here very s o o n:; So you better leave now to the Egyptian Embassy through a private out let with them all, the Ambassador will see them through to Egypt. FRANCOIS: Oh father Luniumba, You h a v e been treated as a wild bush animal. But be rest assured that God will pay those traitors back in their own coins. JULIANA: 1 am a little child out but my advice is that you should face every odd that comes your way with confidence. ' �p~nuce: Woe unto he or she t h a t will cause the lose of a single hair of my dad! I shall give that man the toughest battle of his life when I'm grown up. (At 'this stage Lumumba carries them one by one in his arms and gives them fare well kisses. He weaps as his wife takes them out through a back door). PATRlCE LUMUMBA: "The air is dry and cold as marble, The 'weather bleak at freezing point, But still my plucky voice can marble A song that can not disappoint. The waves are rough and fierce and tameless. The ocean mad with raging gale, But still my gallant heart, so doubtless Will face the storm without avail, The world, it seems, has turned against And I am left to face it all, I can with spirit determined see The wonders of this earthly ball. The grim reaper may come so closer Entanging me so needlessly, But still my fate can be a poser Which can its subterfuge allay." �Yes, the world lras turned against me but I hope and pray that a day shall come when I will sit in my glory to pay the shameless traitors back in their own coins. MR. MPOLO: What shall we do? Oh thou hero of the Congo! We are being hunted like thieves simply because we won Freedom for our country. We must either swim together or we sink together. MR. OKITO: We must escape from this house and .move straight to Stanlyville for we are not sure of our lives as long as we are in this part of the country. PATRICE LUMUMBA: I have just been told about ten minutes ago to escape to Stanlyville. MR. MPOLO: There are Mobutu's men outside! Oh God! Why should you foresake us in this hour of great trial! What sacrileges did we commit against you and our motherland! MR. OKITO: Since man is so inhuman. To his fellow being, And I am left To face the trial alone ".-........ ..............-.... .--...... Since ... PATRICE LUMUMBA: Come on comrades, and get set for the escape. If in the cause of it, we are killed, then must we know that we have been destined to die in active Service for our dear Congo. MR. OKITO: Then will our names be a household word all over the Congo. MR. MPOLO: I will be a million times happy if I were to die for my country. (At this stage led by Lumumba, ' Mr. Okito. Mr. Mpolo and Albert escape from the house un-noticed) (Curtain Falls) BND OF SCENE 9 51 �(THE SCENE OPENS IN LEOPOLDVILLE PRISON YARD) (Lumumba having been arrested with Mr. Mpolo and Mr. Okito is brought to the prison yard). His enemies mock him. �.. . ... . ENTER .. . . (CURTAIN OPENS) .i PATRICE LUMUMBA, MR. .. AND MR. MPOLO. i , ' - OKITO . (Three of them :are chained together. Lumumba has his head shaved). They are led into the yard by a thousand soldier. They are made to sit on the floor in the prison yard. , Enter ' ~ a s s a v ~ b uMobutu. Zleo, Munungo, and Tshombe. MOBUT~: a soldier) where is thit mad dog? SOLDIER: There they are Sir. (he points) KASSAVWBU: I told him that he would one day sign his own death warrant. TSHOMBE: Today I am a very happy man. Can you talk to me a g a i n as you did last week in ' Parliament? (he asks Lumumba after w h i c h he, spits on his face). L~JMUMBA: why should' I not! The worst you i n ' do is to man-handle me1 On the last day God . will not ask thy racer Nor will de see& c w birth! But alone he will demand of thee, What hast thou done on earth ! KASSAVUBU: (He kicks Lumumba on the face) Shut up! You devilish idiot! If you talk more. 1 will order my men to give you twelve strokes of the cain on your bare bottom. MR. MPOLO: Woe unto you Traitors! Woe unto you enemies of the Congolese people! MOBUTU: Give these men twenty four strokes of the cain each! (They are all stripped naked and punished severely). PAIRICE LUMUMBA: Oh ye black race of Africa! . Belgium has s t a b b e d you: I am happy, I ' skin^ 53 �have won Freedom for my people. He w h o ever causes the loss' of a single drop of my Blood will be called to order by our people. Are you prepared to beg for your pleasure? PATRICE LUMUMBA : O n what compulsion must I? Tell me! The worst you can do is to kill me and that won't bother me at all. ,Was Mahatma Ghandi of India not killed by the people he spent his life saving for? Was Solomon Bendaraniake.of Ceylon not shot to death by the people for whom he secured' Freedom ? MR. OKITO: Today is your day but no one knows who owns tomorrow. MOBUTU : Shut U ! p TSHOMBE: If this man is left 'here I'm afraid he will escape again. But if he is handed over to me it will be very, very impossible for .him to escape. KA~SAVUBU,: I support you Tshombe for if he is left here in Leopoldville, he won't find it difficult to'plot the overthrow of my government from the prison cells. Take him right away to Katanga. KALINGJO! Yes, You are doomed Lumumba! For Okito I say good bye and to Mpolo 1 say a happy death. At this stage the three men are taken to the Air port from where they are flown to Katanga. MUNUNGO: Moise, Tshombe and Munungo join the same Plane. KA~SAWBU : I instructed Tshombe to get Lumuinba killed, the minute they get to Etizabethville. MR. ILEO: Thats nice Mr. President; ,We are now free from trouble and anarchy. �(THE SCENE SHIFTS TO KATANGA) (Stepping down from the plane) Lumumba should be driven in 'one o f the army jeeps to camp 1. When you get there, tie them individually against those pillars outside. I am coming with Munungo to give him his place in lie. TSHOMBE : SEXGEANT: Yes Sir; (he shouts) At this stage, Mr. Munungo and Moise Tshombe ride away in a waiting car. Immediately after their departure, Lumumba and his men are dragged down from the plane by Katanga army officers. They are made to dance the entertainment of o v e r a million Katanga people who gathered around t h e Airport. They are later driven to the army camp. (THE SCENE SHIFTS TO ARMY CAMP 1. IN KATANGA). IST SOLDIER: (he slaps Lumumba) Do you think you are in Leopoldville where you sit in your house to talk any rubbish: You are all gone; gone for ever; Tshombe will teach you a lesson when he comes. Enter Tshombe, Munungo and Kassavubu who flew into Katanga to witness the slaughter of Patrice Lumumba and his co-nationalists. Where are you at last Lumumba? Your doom is cast; You are now going to pay the price of your past astrocities. TSHOMBE: YOU can do whatever you like now. But .remember you must account for our lives on the last day. PATRICE LUMUMBA: �KASSAWB~: . . How MR. OKITO: . . . TSHOMBE: are the. mighty: fallen Thou Traitors ! : .' . . I 'am going. to. make you die the most ignominous death ever known l You must be killed for lions like you shouldnot,be allowed to exist. The best place for you is the grave and very soon you'll find yourselves there. . . . . : The evil that men do lives after them1 F Z v a n t to. .reap where you didn't sow ! MUNUNGO: Shut Up ! YOU beast 1''. Officer ! (he shouts) . Yes Sir 1, . TSHOMBP:. OFFICER: , Slap each and every one of them'! (The army officer carries out the duty assigned to him by -his President ) LUMUMBA: This. is not enough, for here lies the . . .other. side .of. my face. T S H ~ B E : .It is now time '~umumba. You have lived enough and you have confused the ...' world enough. You can no longer go to Leopoldville to fool - people as you like. MR. MPOU): Oh! Mother Africa I we are dying for thy sake! MR. OKITo: Africa will revolt against' ' this act 'of human massacre. PATRICE: My dear comrades! Though I .am. left . here alone to pay the price of Freedom and 'Liberty ! Nevertheless, I am sure you are all here with me in spirit. My heart is sour not ' because I am going to die, but because the machinery .of Government will soon .fall into the hands of sinners and day light killers. TSHOMBE: 56 �I have been mocked 1 I have been beaten up several times! I once asked for wate; and. .I was, offered,poison I What - atrocity is it that has not' been committed on me ! When the contemporary history of this nation will come to be written histotriaus will not fall to write against everybody's .name what his deeds on earth were. Some of us will be Saints while others will be satans. Though my head. is going to be cut off, my name will remain green in the panteon of Congo history I I am being killed not because I have stolen or lied but because I refused to compromise with traitors and evil doers. TSHOMBE: A= Where is the' axe man? MAN: 1 am here Sir. TSHOMBE: DO your job1 (AT THIS STAGE, ABOUT HUNDRED SOLD- IERS .CARRY LUMUMBA AND'- LAY HIM ON THE GROUND WITH HIS HEAD LAYING ON A PIECE OF.WOOD ) I repeat; Though my head is going to be cut off, my name will be written in diamond letters when the History of the Congo will come to be written. PATRICE LUMUMBA: 57 ��PRESIDENT TSHOMBE PRESIDENT TSHOMBE WHO INSTALLLD HIMSELF AS THE LORI) OF CONGO. 59 �MR. GIZENGA MR. GIZENGA. ONE OF THE LUMUMBA'S CHIEF DUPUTIPS �Yes I know 1 a m . a sinner, but you . have no power over me as I have over you now. You must die. TSHOMBE: What is it that is fearful about ( As death ? What is it that ........................................... he was about to complete that sentence the axe rose and fell on his neck. His head is cut off and he is dead. May poor Lumumba's soul rest in peace. Amen! After this cruel death, Mr. Okito and Mr. Mpolo were held and killed in like manner ). PATRICE LUMUMBA: OFFICER: Where shall we bury them Sir? Burn their. bodies. Make sure they are all burnt to ashes before you leave the spot. remove their heads to the department of antiquities for they will be preserved and taken round the whole villages. TSHOMBE KASSAVUBU: What shall we tell the world Tshombe? 1 am going to announce to the world that Lumumba escaped from custody and was killed by angry villagers who refused to surrender his body. TSHOMBE: Mpolo and Okito will also be mentioned as having been killed by the angry remote villagers. That's good Tshombe, see how that fool shakes like a caged rat. He is gone and gone for ever. KASSAVUBU: (Curtain F d h ) END OF SCENE 61 10 �SCENE 1 1 (In Katariga) (TSHOMBE CALLS A PRESS CONFERENCE) Curtain Opens Enter Tshombe, his Ministers and Belgian advisers Enter press men. TSHOMBE : Welcome gentlemen, 1 have summoned all of you this meeting and make an important announcement. Patrice Lumumba and his two comrades escaped from their cell today by 2 p.m. It is understood that there were seen heading towards Stanlyville in a black car. The sum of two thousand pounds will be paid out of the National Bank of Katanga to anybody that can furnish information that will lead to their arrest. The Army and the Police have been altered and they are now searching for them through air and land. They over powered the three guards looking after them and ceased their riffles. That's all. TSHOMBE: MESSENGER: (Enter Messenger with a letter Who has that letter? lt's for YOU Sir. . (TSHOMBE READS THE LETTER) I have just been informed that Lumumba and his men have been arrested and killed by some angry remote villagers? Isr PRESS MAN: What is the name of the village ? TSHOMBE: That is none of your business. TSHOMBE: �( EXIT. PRESS MEN,. TSHOMBE AND HIS 'MINISTERS ) The Scene Shifts to ~eo~oldvill;! IST LUMUMBIST: Tshombe has killed our leader,! We shall revenge his death a million times. 2nd LUMUMBIST: Where is Lumumba ? Your traitor -Kassavubu 1 You have killed him ! 3rd LUMUMBIST: Come on comrades ! Let's be on the war path. ( The Scene Shifts to St~nlyville ) MR. GIZENGA : ( addressing a mass rally of young Lumumbists,) My dear comrades ! the long awaited press release has just been published ! Tshombe, Mobutu and Kassavubu have murdered Lumumba. They have not only murdered us here in Stanlyville but the black race as a yhole. We must revenge his death and even if it will cost us our blood, let no one be worried for they who are greater than us are now dead! We are going to declare Stanlyville the seat of the official Congo Government and right from now, shall we have every Belgian arrested and killed for it is them that will pay the price of the blood shed by comrades, Lumumba, Okito and Mpolo. So let everybody go and get set for this is the hour of great battle. 1st LUMUMBIST: Woe unto he that killed our LUMUMBA! Tshombe and Kassavubu must be killed. GIZMGA : Are you all ready to fight the enemies? Yes ! Yes ! (they shout) (Curtain Falls) - END OF SCENCE I 1 THE END 63 �LUMUMBA AND HIS CHILDREN From left - right are Juliana, Francois, Patrice and their Father behind them. ��BOOKS PUBLISHED BY A. ONWUDIWE & SONS' 3s : 6d Love in Infallible Tshombe of Katanga 3s :6d The way to make friends with Girls 3s :6d The h b o u r of Man ls:6d Boys and Girls of Nowadays 2s : 6d Mabel the Sweet Honey that Drops Away 3s : 6d To Rule is a Trouble 2s : O d d 2s :O Agnes in the Game of Love Miss Rgsy ,in the Romance of True Love 2s :6d Family Birth Register 3s :6d Dr. Zik in the battle for Freedom ' 3s : 66 The Disappointed Lover 2s :6d The Last Days of Lumumba 3s :6d The Sorrows of Love 2s : 6d How to Write Love Letters Toast 3s : 6d and Business Letters How to write Successful Letter and 2s : gd Applications . Elizabeth my Lover 2s : 6d How to know who Loves you 2s : O d Others in Preparation Printed by TRINITY PRINTING PRESS, Y MOORE STREET. Net , , , , , , , , , , : . ,, ,, , , , , , , , , , . , , , , , ,, ,, , , � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The last days of Lumumba (the late lion of the Congo); a drama Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Iguh, Thomas Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Onitsha, Nigeria, A. Onwudiwe & Sons Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1961? Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Lumumba, Patrice, 1925-1961 Nigerian literature (English) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3302 Description An account of the resource This play is a historical drama by possibly the most prolific playwright of Onitsha Market Literature. Iguh writes in his preface that the purpose of the play is to inform readers of the last days of Lumumba and the manner in which he died. He then declares his work fictional rather than a true account. Although many of the pamphlets make similar claims, it is a curiosity as to why Iguh made these two contradictory statements.<br /><br />The pamphlet contains many photos of Lumumba, Mobutu, Tshombe and other political players. These photos appear to be taken from newspapers and other accounts of Lumumba, the coup and his arrest. Additionally, scenes appear to be taken from court proceedings or parliamentary records. The photos and court proceedings add weight to Iguh's initial statement about informing the public,but they also seem to contribute to the fictive quality of this play.<br /><br />With these photos and court proceedings, Iguh creates a fictive Lumumba who is Christlike. In a court scene before the Belgian colonial officials, the counsel appears to be a Pontius Pilate questioning a militant Christ who is much more the lion than the lamb:<br /><em>You better sit down Mr. Crown Counsel if you have no more question [sic] to ask me. I am the lion and the impregnable rock of this country! . . . I am being judged by them now but a day shall come when I will judge them rather,</em>(pg.22-23).<br /><br />This scene follows a triumphant procession of Lumumba riding a horse into the market square with his followers who wave palm branches and proclaim him King of the Congo. It ends with Lumumba commending his spirit to God and declaring that he will fight the Belgians dead or alive. Thus, Lumumba's role as savior does not end with the Belgians leaving the Congo and his ascension as Prime Minister. Rather, it continues into the postcolonial state after his death.<br /><br />While the characterization of Lumumba is Christlike, Mobutu, Tshombe, and Kassavubu play Judas in order to complete the biblical imagery and comparison.The spirit of God speaks to Lumumba and foretells his arrest by Mobutu and his subsequent death. The spirit also advises him to send his family to Egypt, the land of Freedom. Lumumba and two of his "disciples" are placed on wooden boards, beheaded and burnt. The play ends with a press release stating that the three were killed by villagers. The Lumumbists declare that the "black race as a whole" has been murdered and they shall be revenged. <br /><br />Iguh's play has a definite message that appears to be carefully crafted to create a distrust of corrupt governments throughout Africa. In an essay published in the <em>Journal of Modern African Studies</em> in 1964, K. W. J. Post argues that the attention paid to Lumumba as "the martyr, saint and [...] god" (pg.406) reflects an educated, Pan-Africanist reading public, but even more importantly, this reading group is deeply suspicious of and "opposed to the Nigerian status quo," (pg.413). He also argues that it is significant that this play and other pamphlets about Lumumba "have almost all been published in Onitsha, a town on the River Niger which is the 'gateway to the East," (pg.411). This play was originally performed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the eastern region and revived for a production in Lagos, (pg.405). Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/a6eb1222cd735b0cb19ffeb1d7743f39.pdf 2dc4c14a01841a20263cc9b194d56daa PDF Text Text LEARN TO SPEAK 360 INTERESTING PROVERBS AND I ��360 I N T R E S T I M G PILtOVERBS AND Know Your 'I'rue Brother 'BY C. N. EZE Price 3s 6d net (All Rtgh!s Reserved) ��CONTENTS Forward Page 2 How a brother planned to kill his brother 3 and plunge him into financial distress How a family was ruined by the bad 5 attitude of one of two brothers How a brother ruined the career of his brother 8 , 1I When do we know our real brother? Explanation of the Parable , 13 Present Day Tendency , 13 , Decision of the Villagers , IS , How educationally, did they cater for the unfortunate poor boy? r) 17 The unique decision of the villagers , 18 , ,, 19 What happened to the boy? The boy's university education 93 20 Let. us ase t t ~ zinfluence of the tide 9, 23 of time Why you should hate enviousness 26 Primary Education of the two children . ,, 27 The squabble between James and John , 28 , The result of the Poison , 30 , Love of Brotherhood $9 30 An advice to Richmsn , 32 , General Instruction ,, 34 Prrverbs ,, 35 ,$ $ , 1 , ,$ �FOREWORD I n this edition of the maiden appearance of this.book, I.have tried to write exhaustively, giving instances. where the "hono'urable name of "~rotberhood" has been :devilishly left to'lag in the sea of purblind ignorance, and, where it has ,be& really made manifest in'the visible world. It therefore my honest coviction that my ardent readers.will find a profound interest in this book;. Not only wili the realistic experiences which i t embodies. be invaluable but also, its. brotherly inspiration.mill :be immense. I am ready to welcome . the criticisms of' the reading ~ublic.providqd their points are constructive so .that. :modificatiens may be made in the. second edition. . C N. EZE . �CHAPTER ONE How a brother planned to kill his brother and plunge him into financial distress. Appearances are often deceptive is a proverb of first class reality. The story goes that a man had two sons-, James and John. James was the elder. The man had no money but due to his influence he was able t o borrow money with which he mauaged to train James, the elder in Ukaf training College. When James come out from the training, he w s employed as a teacher under St Meket Primary a School. John was then a t the age of ten and it was then that their Father thought it riped to send him, John, to School. He (their Father,) first asked James t o give consent. J a m e s bluntly refused saying that John did not help in his training. Their Father was confused in mind and being out of his usual high spirits, he fainted and died instantly. James, seeing that the whole of their Father's compound would become his if he made John useless, took immediate steps to plan ways of ruining John's life and career. But John, with his naturally strong spirit, tried t o bear his brother's folly with lovely looks, while James was going here and thcre searchin for means of killing John, he, James, tried to tel John that he loved him very much. He showed John a portion of his Father's most firtilo land. He bought many good things for John all of 7 3 �which were in pretence that he loved J u h while his n ~ i t ~ d engrossed in a wicked pool of blood. was One day, alter he hnd linished cvcry arraagement to get John out of their F a t h e r's Compound, he asked John t o follow him to his (James) Farm at thc backyard of the teacher's premises. John had, by then, been able to know that his brother, James, was showing him the black-side of love and, that James did not love him as he (James) pretended or professed. But being a dependent boy, he followed James to the farm at the backyard. In the farm, John saw too firecely, angrily looking men. Insttcntly, James made the evil sign to these men. As John's conscience made him to understand the situation, he said in no time "Sios, I have the pleasure to be sold to you this day by my honourable brother. My brother has been the root cause of my Father's premature worldly departure. He has been trained by my Father but owing t o his educational prissism, he resented my Father's refind wish to train me and my Father, being plunged into low spirits by my honourable brother's inhumanity to me gave up the ghost (i.e he died). Since Father's death, he has shown me signs of having love in me but, I, with my psychological mind, have know all the signs to be unbrotherly; to be feigned ones". As John finished his sorrowful speech to these men, James was struck dumb about what to say because he did not know that John would be bold �enough to wash his diriy linen in the public. After a daep silence which ensued, J m e s said, "Yes, 1 have heard what charges my brother. John, has been able to present before you. I ~csllybrought him to you, Cientlemen, t o see that you make him financially low, because of my ignorance. .Having seen my bad plans to ruin my brother, financially, brought to light to you, Geullemen, I apologise, from the bottom of my heart, for my foolishly fatal plans and, I firmly promise that 1 will not stand adversely to his way of economic and social progress. I regret lr~ynonsensical attirude but I will soon make good rile wrong." Thcse men were thrown into a boiling a n p r brclu~e they had planed to kill the boy and the plan was made with the boy's brether who bad just promised to redress the wronghe had done to his brother, John. Then being moved by the sorrowful speech made by John, they gave James a stern order that if be failed to. redress the wrong' just a s he had promised, they would kill him, (James). Here they all ‘departed with pleasant laughs in cheir cheeks. Infact, all that glitters is' not Gold! we have seen what a brother was able t o do to h i s brother's life and career. I t shows no true brother. ' CHAPTER TWO How a Jamily was ruined by .the bad attitude bj une o j two brothers. I n January 1956, two brotbers started irading business with the almighty sum of £6,000 5 �( i thounsmd pounds). Tney made an arrangesx ment that non of them would marry/buy anything c o s t i n g more than - El00 (one hundred pounds) until the money was swelled to £10,000 (ten thounsand pounds). An arrangeme:lt was made by them to see that whatever one wished . to buy, the other must be aware of it. As the business progressed, one, called Onycmacnwu said to the other also c d e d Obiechefule asked him, "why?". Onyemaonwu replied that many weil-to-do business men had started to do so. Obiechefule asked Onyemaonwu to recall their solid arrangement conce.niog the running o f t h e business. Onyemaonwu said that since every law embodied in their business terms, was made by them, it could be easily altered when necessary. A t this point, Onyemaonwu asked his brother Obiechefule whether he knew the meaning of his name "Onyemaonwu". Obiechefule said that Onyemaonwu could mean "who knows death", "or, can it mean more than this;" he asked indignantly. ?'he ensuing day, Onyemaonwu went to h g o s to claim t.heir goods. When he got Lagos, he planned the way of embezzle some of the money. He found that he could invest the money in the Bank and tell Obiechefule that it was stolen. This he did. On the day he was to return, Obiechefule went to unload the supposed goods to be brouhgt by Onyemaonwu. To his utter surprise he f o u ~ d that his brother returned without the goods. 6 �''What?"" I'On~cmaonwu, did our gocds not return' according to our invoice?" "Or---?" "Are you waiting for me?" Onyemaonwu asked furiously. "Yes," answered Obiechefule-with his usual brot.herly sn>iles beaming in his cfeeks. Onyemaonwu showed soma. signs o f one who had done something wrong. His'eyes and .face s became pale and , h ~ 'heart, engroesed in his ivicked .mind, was beaiiug fast. There was a painful s~lence. Obiechehle seeing that his brother's coadition was beeomiug grave6 worse, made evey possible effort to take his unfaithful brother home. When thdy returned to their yard, his brother, Onyemaonwu became mad. Remorse ef consicence made him mad. The whole people in the yard became fused with, fears. Obiechefule had to relate ..the.' story of the sorrowful situation to the people. in the'. yard. The peoplejn the .yard said. thatthey would have told Obicchefele that Onyemaonwu was not a good,' reliable brother;, "We have been watching biS movgneats. i17e have fouad him to be bad .brother but we feard:to acquaint you with the 'fact". They said. "If he has been. a good brother, - s he business-:terms should have. beene'left as they stood"; They deolared:. Before these men could' 'finish with their speeches, Onyemaonwu showed the bank cheque given to him at Lagos and instantly departed form this visible world. Obiechefule was mad with fury .and having lest all hopes of success, he qnoringly went ta the other world. ' �Ladies and Gentlemen we can easily picturc the mind of our brother through his actions and the way he talks, laughs and responds to situations. Please try to know when your brotber laughs from his re&l mind and heart. 'l'hough if you are not psychological you cannot know wicked laughter. Your brother may hide his vic~ous looks and present loving ones and he may ruin your life and cripple your career after he shall have mastered y6ur honest wags. lnfact, things are not really what they seem. CHAPTER THREE How a Brethsr ruined the Carear o his f Brother. It was in wakkiland of fools that a rich man promised to help h ~ s Brother and Godson who was e student at Laffe Iostitute of tecbnology. The boy had not any other person who would help him to further his education. As the boy had spent the whole money he bad, he went to his brother and Godfather to fulfil his promise to help him (boy) financially. When the boy asked thia honourable gentleman to help him just as he promised thia man who was living in foolish richness shamelessly refused to lend hand as he formerly promised. This was the most stinging lamentable disappointment ever. The boy thrown i n b a bystercal out-burst of fury and seeing no alternative, he decided to pursue agriculture. �There was a station of the boy, and this man the relation was living at NyawundK The boy went to this his relation who is also related t o his other brother who had disappointed him. When this relation saw the boy, he was moved by sympathy and he instantly lsked "Has our brother done 'one of 'his wicked deeds to' you?" The boy had not even told him the story of 'their rich' foolish brother when he reckoned through the boy's pale face that something wrong must have occured to 'the boy. ' This boy, being fussed with boiling teats because of the money he had spent a t the Institute of technology, sorrowfully narrated the agnosing incident to his man who was full of good knowledge of the queer things that happen quite often. After he had finished telling the painful story, the relation said. " ~ ~ r i c u l t d ~pursuit is good but sinae yo:u ;ll have entered a college, I must try my very ,hist t o see that'you fioish up." You can picture the boy's reaction, to this firm promise. The boy's school fees was instantly given to him by this relation. When the boy happily went back to his college, he sent a letter of congratulations to hi8 new benefactor, the relation. ' Ater a couple o f weeks, 'the wicked Brother of the bop heard that a relation of theirs had �started helping the boy financially. He became very angry. He was confused about the step to take in order to ruin the boy's career. As the days gone by, he decided to tell the relation who has undertaken to help the boy, to stop helping t.he boy since he (the relation) and the boy were not of the same parents. , . . 'IYou don't know, that the,boy--may become rich :.'if,you.,help ,. him and ,there by, rival . you financially''.. He wrote ., to: the:, rejation. The relation being dogged at helping the boy decided ; t b t since the -die was cast, it was cheerfully ,and cowardice.to turn 'back. 'This honourable man did /not. see 'any. other possible way o f ruining 'the boy's ':life: and >career than . t o cajale the boy .wherievef he s a i him. When ever . this.. boy. returned ,.ha& ,o n terminal holidays; this honourable man and, his sil~y,. ,beautiful,,nagging wife would. !oak a t the . boy with' one of their .disdainfully wicked and ostensibly friendly.looks and smiled; . . One day, .the boy saw his cold b r o t h e r .at b f f e ; His.cold brother asked him (the boy) :his where abouts pretending to ,.show.love for the boy. The boy be'ing well waxed in psychology, told him' that he was thinking in terms of.learning carpentry "There's good" replied his honourable cold,. brother. "I would b e grateful to hear.you do,as you have just:said," he added, ' �At. this. juncture thp.. boy la.u,phed a t .his century old wretched,,crooked; ~old'byothei and they presently left the spot :and departed, from :... one another.. .. Boys and Girls, you have seen. how queer: tbc world is. Trust nobody untit..you face a,sharp adversity; It 'is when:you are in.':adversi@. that you 'will know how-,:far a -.man or R . \\omen loves yeu. Facial uppearance isexrremely deceptive and it kbetter to study men and women, brotl~cr and::sisier before shouinp and buildingconfidcnae in them. CHAPTER:.. FO.UR . This is a yuesrion.which. I am sure most.o? the reading.public who .had seen many .,!hidgs..will not fail to give the expected answer. 'Those who are well experiencedh psycholngy.will easily find solution to above question. .I will. give you -th.e answerweryeasily tecausel ti~ve.:~:2s,sce,n m-a.n;y things happen on many cccasiontx Well, Ladies and ~i~jtl&ne~":: I'%vould Chis.question by quoting. .o,yr'Lerd's parable:'bf the Good Samari:an.Chapter Vx. V 25-37,. On'orie occaiou it happened that a &ertainLawyer wanted , t o .tempt our Lord. He asked ,our Lord, wbat he (Lawyer) would, .do :to 'inherit Fternal' life Our Lord replied by asking the Lawyer what was writteniq the LE,W .and how far the Lawycr was 'igading" the Law. 11 �The Lawyer answered that in the l a w , he read:that we should love our Lord our God with al1;our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strenght, and with all our mind; and our neighhour as ourselves.-Our Lord said that the Lawyer had answered rightly. Our Lord asked tbe Lawycr to go and do what he (Lawyer), had read for it was through it only. would the Lawyer be shved. This our Lord's answer did not* satisfy the Lawyer and he continued t o ask our Lord wliom his neighbour (Lawycr) was. In order to see that the Lawyer's curiousity was properly satisfied, our Lord used parable of the'good .Samaritan in answering it. The parable reads: Acertain man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho and as it happened, he fell among robbers who severely beat him and left him half dead. As it oceasioned, a priest and a 1 e v i t e passed and saw him but showed no sign of human sympathy. Presently, a Samaritan came and when he saw, was moved with pity. He instantly took the unfortunate man bound his wound and took him t o a nearby inn. After caring for him properly, he asked the innkepers t o be very careful of the man and went away. Our Lofd them asked the Lawyer of t h e three men who showed neighbourhood to the man. The Lawyer said that it was the man who bounded the unfortunate man's wound and cared for his feeding (i e the good Samaritan). �Infac:, without furt:,er exp:al;ation, I am very sure that the reeding public will have pictured the unhidden answer to the aboved 'question. CI-IAPTER FIVE Explanation o f the Parable It is a pity that most rich men do n a t remembrr thcir hungry brothers and neiglibours. From this parable or proverb, we can see that are one and brotherhood and E~eighbourhood should not be confined to any one cycle. We must be generous to every one. \Ve must be honest to every me. Wr. are expectrd to help our brother who is in any type of dstress. If we overlook our neighbour who is in social or economic unest, we.bhall certainly be punished by our ever merciful Fatt er-Creatcr God. It is when you hclp a person who is in a digressed situation that you are said to be doing what you are divinely expected to do. Remembcr that you are doing your community no gaod if you fail to disentangle your brohers and neighbours who are under the yoke of economic or social unrest. provided, of course, you are ' sufficiently able t o do so., A real brother will be obviously seen in time of adversity. He will not depart you are in diEculty. He mill. from you w h e ~ always stand you in good stead. CHAPTER SIX Day Tendency It has been observed that most people are Present . 13 �untrust worthy. For-inslnnce, in the little village of Wakki, there was one man who had a son and a daughter. H e was the poorest of the poor. As it happened, a died premature and was survived by the two children. He had three brothers who were to look after his children aud his wife. Ask me what . happened after this man's death. Terrible ! Terrible !! Terrible !!! Shame ! Shanie !! Shame !!! these three G e n t 1m e n started t o quarrel among themselves' as to whose rihgt it was to look after their brother's wife and children. They started to disown some of the customary rights of the eldest son amongst them. They bluntly refused the identity o f Tradition in Ibo land that in a family, the senior son in family has greater share of their dead brsther's telongings in accordance with I b o custom and idedogy. T h e quarrel gathered momentum. and burst into a feeding which brought about deep rooted enernity in 'the family. They quarrelled to such a n extent that the pcople in the village w e P e compelled to intervene as gudges. These villagers said that it was the right of the senior man in the family to look after t h e , children and wife of their dead brother. The two disfavoured brothers did not agree and were very unbending. It was from tbls .their long drzwn quarrel that outsiders (villagers) were able to realize that what they were quarrelling about was not only w h o was to look after the woman and her unfortunate children but also who was to receive the dowry of their dead brother's daughter. �.Infact, these - men . were . no worjby -..to. .be cdled the brothers of the deadman for if they were to be entitled to answer such rt n a h c "Brother", they would kave been truthful to themselves, reliable, human and sympathetic.; They were no more and no less cadous smugs and prigs. CHAPTER SEVEN 1)rcision of the . Villagrrr. After &he villagers h .a d . search'd, col!cert'e facts, frmn Traditionn and Customs, they .decided that fnst sonbamongst, the three:Was fully'cutitled to look after the wvman and her children. This decision did not meet the approval octhe other two who were disfavoured. They (Fwo) thinking thiit they had been deprived of the right to the dowry of their dead brother's daughter, because deadly mad with, anger. The quarrel began afresh and was idtelisified when one brought ''out a matchet tp matchet the first son on whom .the whole right. was conferred. '.But beforoyhe was' able to matchet him, .he' was diabled by. a , clever .villager. Inorder to see ;hat the.si'tuation was rectified the villagers reassemb1ed:and evrdtoally decided that only the woman was to belong exclusively to the ,first son hut the daughter and the son were. to be. cared for by all: It was also. decided that. tbree of - them were to cater for the b o y educationally. There was n o , objectionJ:to this second village decision. The gentlemen.were then 15 �satisfied hecause, they were entilkd'to the dowry .. of the girl. .They turned up a new:le'if. . . They i l l con!ihued t o live id" haramony and catered for the 'boy and the girl collectively. Hy the time tbc girl was ful1y:matured to marry, the boy had got bis first Scllool Leaving Certificate hfany Suitors stormed the h o u s e of these gentlemen, The men,.perstladed the girl to marry so that they could get money with which to start caterbg .for the brother. This girl baving 'the welfare of her brother at heart, did not waste time to marry. She readily submitted to , . the wishes of her family. . , The bride price of the girl was settled. at £200 (two hundred pounds). It was &greed that lhis amount was to be paid a t a stretch since money to finance the brother of the girl who was preparing t o go t o a Secondary School was needed T h e would. be. husband of the girl paid tho amount as embodied in their agreement. Now. in the division of the money, t h e three kotbers agteed that they would s h a r e the dowry of the girl equally. They made a verbal arrangement to see that they divided the five 'years which t.hq were duty bouned to cater for the boy in a secondary school. The dowry s o paid was eventually divided into three and the five- years which the boy was to stay in the -secondary school was verbally divided too. Those o f y o u who are mathamaticians no doubt, know how much each recie{ed. �CHAPTER EIGHT How. educationally did thry crrter, [or .unfortunate poor boy?, the Having divided the dowry of the girl, these gentlemen took their fabulous shares and went to their defferent cabins. What of the mother of the girl? The bitter answer was that a woman had no right to share her daughter's dowry. ?he boy was asked to take entrance examination to e sewndary school. Thia the boy did with success in the first attempt. The boy was wked to c o m e for an intarview with a deposit of f6 (five pounds). When the boy saw and read the latter embodying. this imformation, he ran hastily t o the three brothers and notified them about it. Thcse Gentlemen reccived the news with disfigured smile suggestive of disappoi11tm:nt. The follworng day, the poor boy went and called. three of them together and interviewed them on the issue. They t 0 d the boy to prepare for the interview thinking that the boy would fail the interview so that they might see possibility of evading the respomibility that devolves on them. The boy prepared very well for the interview. But the question is did they give him that required deposit of £5 (five pounds)? The answer is in the bitter nagation. On the day of the interview, the three brothers started to quarrel as was formally the case. The bone, of contention was who was to pay the £5 five pounds deposite alone? As none of them volunteered to pay the money, the boy was d o u b t l c s ~ l ~ left in a lurch. He had no possibility of getting the money. You ean just picture the fate of this poor boy. The boy wept bitterly. As the boy was guided by providence, he did not hesitate to call the villagers who made the deciaion that the boy was t o be trained by his cousins in the event of his entering secondary school. When the villagers came, the boy boldly stood up and said vehemently. "My dear fathers, I thank you all for hououring my call; knowing that I am a small boy but yet to reflect 17 �that yo3 all have abundant milk for human symputby, you all tried to put u p appearance. Fitticthers1 humbly wish to bring it t o y o u r no~icothat my cousins have deviated from the iecision which you all made in connection with niy mother's stay with my cousins and I.and my sister. in general. They have refused m e entry inio a secondary school just as you have said. 1 fannot say with any degree of certainty the factors which might be respons~ble for the aititude of honour or dishonour. Sirs, I am implyiog that your fresh decision on the isue would be welcomed '. CHAPTER NINE The uniqur decision o the villagers. f Having heard the boy's main purpose o f calliag them together, the villagers asked the three bro:hers t o give their reasons for dragging the boy into horns of decimma. The three brothers indulged in one of their selfish manner of awwering of questions. When they saw that public opinion was strang against them, they started to reciminate themselves. The quarrel which had been abandoned for some time, mas reborn with more intensity that it was not pozsible for tbe villagers t o decide anything. Becausu the day was marked with utter confussion, the villager$ were forced to depart from the men. When the villagers went away, the brothers were engrossed in a docply b der thought of how to make away the boy's hfe. They busied rhemselve~considering and planing possibilities of evad~ng public cenaure. 18 �This boy was very much beloved by other villagers and was bald in high enteem. A spy came to the boy and his mother and told them the cv~l plan which the three brothers were giving much thought and how adverse its, .effect would be if the three brothers were allowed to. dilate their plan. When the spy went away, thw boy Went to the oldest man in the village and had the whole story told to him. This oldest man heard tho story with r profound feeling o sympathy and instructed tha boy to f run to the protection 01 his (boy) grandfathcr, This boy took to his advice immediately. The grandfather of this boy saw him with joy but when ahe boy told him of the incident, he was ahdced. He did not k m whit t a do hecause he bad no adequate nwney with which - t o start carring o n the respona~bility. Ifrot you can just imagine the condition and &ate of this boy. This hoy grew mad with sorrow: CHAPTER TEN Whai happond to the boy?' The grand father OF this; tmy,had. a very od f r i e d ' ?bu ' it,, He went to this his friend and told him &aot The friend war not a t all happy a t the nrwa and so, La gave his. F i n d Ohc s a d f a t h e r o the boy).a firm promise f that he would cater financially foe the b o p Both the boy and h i s gran,&theher became very happy w8e.n this promis* was m d e . 'The bay was then asked t o airer the Principal of the college and telL him the r e a m why be did not put up: appearance o n the day. oE int*~vi.w.,When the box went t a , t h e cdlega, h dsrsatd. tho whole story ta the Pculcigal who heard i t with a filling.oP sympathy. The Principal asked the boy. to go home and. get the deposit, The boy ran kucrledly to the friend oE his grandfather who, as the boy told him that his ' interview with. t b : P~incipalwas a fuccess, joyfully. gave .the deposit ta th* boy. The boy u c a t and paid in this drpo& to the Pdnoipal. �' The Principal gave a prospectus of the college to this boy. When he came back he presented it t o his grandfather who gave it t o tho good man. This man saw the required outfits and tried to buy them for the boy without further request. On the reopening day, the good friend of the boy's grandfather, gave the boy rchoolfees and extra amount as the boy's own money for emergent canes. So well and so truthful was this man that he catered for the boy for the five golden years with out owing the boy any grudge. At the end of the five golden years, the boy took his cnntnb, and being guided by Providencr, he was able t o snatch grade one. The boy's benefactor was so pleased that be asked tha boy to find admission into a University where he was t o do Doctorate degree. The boy, with out any hesitation, wrote an application to Columbia University. The application waa favourably replied. All the time, the boy did not see those three gentlemen who had refused him help. The honourable gentlemen heard that the boy had been catered for by his grandfather's friend and, that the boy had got his cantab, but they did not hear tbrt the boy had started to look for admission into a University. You can think what was the influence of this news to those gentlemen. Infact they wero at the most agnosing mood for they began to think what would be the boy's feeling about their rhame1:rs ingratitude to the boy's dead father. They began to wrde letters to the boy asking the boy to forgive them for their irresponsible attitude towards him. The boy did not even reply to any of those foolish letters. CHAPTER ELEVEN The Boy's University Education. As the boy waa fully ofired admission into a University, his benefactor asked him whether he would like it if many people (including the bog's three honounblo uncles) were invited to the boys send-off ceremony. The boy replied that since hi: uncles had deed rooted hatred 20 �againrt him, he would not like it . if many poeple (inclusive of these men) were invited. "They. will even -plan. to kill me if they hear.of it". the boy alleged. This suggestion by the boy, ,met.approval of all the good men and the plan was adopted eventually so that the boy's proceeding to tke Uoiversity was concealled F:m the n ~ i c i : of his relations. O the day they wkrz to.resume, the boy n was finaacirlly equiped. You can just picture the atmosphere which must have permeated 'into the mind of the boy. You can imagine the mood in which the boy was when he left home for the University of Columbia. He was so well guided by God that he passed the many terrific seas without trouble. . Throughout the seven years he was to stay in the University, he mas not troubled by any mzntal or physical weakness. Money was aent to him whenever it was necessary to do so. All his concern was only to see that he studied hard to pet his full Doctorate Degree thus reflecting the sol? aim of his well-wishers. This he did. He ably did his practical and theoritical studies leading to Doctorate Degree that at the end of his Academic Course, he got first class honours in Doctorate. Wben his certificate was given to him, he made every possible effort t o send a telegram to his well-wishers telling ihem that he had finished his acadamic years with a very tremelrdous succrss and he was preparing to return on the following week. 21 �As tbis good man and his friend (the boy's grandfather) heard the joyful news, they became very happy. Providence was still at work. Before the date on which the boy was to return, he was asked by,the Nigerian Government to. work under any aovernment Hospital of his own'choice. The boy agreed to do so and rightly.chosed a Government Hospital of his own choice. CHAPTER TWELVE On the day the b6y was to return from the University, everything needed for his reception was still provided by his grandfather's friend. The news about his return from the University began to transpire all. over the town. .Infact, it was until the news of the boy's .return began to circulate. about the town the boy's uncles heard that the boy had gone to a university. And had it not been that many wellwisherS of the boy's, .were invited and this made these gentlemen to become away of it., The Gdvernment bought him one Ope1 car at Lagos, the car was handed over to h ~ m when he landed at Lagos. Hurrah ! Hmrah ! ! Victory is for the men of God. Y,ou q n easily imagine what was the fate.'bf the uncles of the boy. You can, without being told, picture the distorted faces of these unworthy uncles of the boy. One ironical thing wae that the uncles of the boy wore asked and cordially invited Ito attend the reception ceremoney in honour of the'bqv. Immediately the boy returned, the whole : 22 �invitces capered with joy,. The. occasion was marked with cheer extravagant merriment. The. highlight of the occasion was the' group .of photographs taken by all the p e s t s present. While the well:wishers of the .boy saw interest in tHe. occasion, the callous, priggish, smuggish and, impish uncles of the boy; showed a gloomy page. Although they laughed when others were laughing, their laughter was. :black.. They ate with others, but their stomach was: nor all that normal., They, drank with others,, Eutunfortunately, their belly was troubled in such a way that it was not possible for them to make the proper use of their excretry organ. I n ' short, all .they partook with others, caused them much injury physically. While other guests who partook the edibles. with them went home untroubled, they suffered stomachache. This brought their death. Their children suffered the same evil and this was the most birter side of it. As the rivellry was over, all 'went away mil the boy went t o work in the Government Hospital of his own choice. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Let us see the influe,nee o the tide of time. f Ladics and ~entlemen, am resuming that L you are following the story. You '?kemember the death of the boy's farher, the quarrel which printed bad impression on thier life's page, how the boy's: uncles. left Mm in . financial difficultyl 23. �You can easily remember how the boy's grandfather sent him to a friend of his (ie. the boy's grandfather's friend) and how the man proved and manned the identity of brotherhood. The Univers~tyEducation of the boy and his resulting graduation and return. Now. let us see how the uncles of the boy approached him. One day the uncles of the boy approached him. One day, the uncles rof the boy had a meethg and their main topic was tbe possible way of appeasing the boy's anger against them. They were unable to make any reasonable decision and so they had to disperse. On the ensuing day, they gathered together for the same thing, but no good result. Because there was no real'decision on how to meet the boy amicably. One of the boy's uncles slipped away from his brothers und went to the Government Hospital where the boy was working. When the boy saw him coming, he was startled. He did not expect that any of his uncles would eveen come to see him or contact him at all. As he hadmo knowledge of the man's visit to him he kept quite watchiog the man t o know why he (the man) came. The man (ie. one of the uncles) was fearing the boy and so, he did not approach him immediately. After what seemed a legion of hours, the uncle said, "Good Morning My firother". Because of the fact that the boy had bacome well educated and had learnt to be associative, he did not hesitate to respond to the aalutation of 24 �his uncle. "Do you come to see me?" he asked smiling. "Yes" was the answer. The .uncle had then got a little bit .of chance to talk to the bop and so he said, "I have come just t o tell you that wheh you passed entrmce to a secondary school, I tried to persuade my brothers to dip in their pockets and contribute towards your educational .advancement-but tliey were unbending. Myself, seeing no alternative, dtd not carry on the whole responsibility alone." ''Sorry" was a noble leply from the boy. "1 have forgotton all about it9'..The boy took him in and gave him whisky and other' types of .costly wine wbich he knew his unwhorthy uncles had not smelt of. When the uncle went home, he did not t ~ l his brothers who were at home l that he had heen'sble to meet the boy. Corrosive remorse of ' conscience betwitched his uncle's mind. ~ h l other two did the samli : and the boy gave the same entertainme?t t o them. Infact. it is really justifiable ,to say that it was . the pricks of conaience that caused their agnosing death. From this incident, we gather that once God destines the state or position of a person, all -ehvious efforts to dupe him of it would .be doomed to 'a failure. �CHAPTER ' FOURTEEN Why you should hate envieusnerr. A man has two wives Mary, and Anna. He was a poor maker of silk mattrasses. He used to 've his wives five shillings each everyday. Un ortunately, his first wife tbok it a privellege and so she did .not try to do something in order to get her own pocket, The second wife of the man was so wise and energitic that she did a lot of farming and trading. In course of time, the first wife gave birth to a male baby. She Bas well looked after by her hustand and the second wife of her husband, Anna. After two years, Anna was conceived and as it happened during the time of her delivery, she also gave birth to a male babe. I t was a pity to reckon that it was only her husband who looked after her. Here was enviousness in the open air. Mary did not even tell Anna that she (Mary) was lacking what t o give to her, Anna.'Because of Mary's jealous looks. at Anna's male child, Anna was not happy with Mary'a bad manner this brought a serious disunity between the two. Their chiltren grew in this disunified atmosphere, When they reached the age of attending school, thejr father decided to cater for two of them. As they started schooling the same year, Mary and Anna began to particularise instruction to the children. Anra instructing her child James to study hard and try to be first in their class and Mary did the same thing to her son John. f' 26 �CHAPTER . FIFTEEN PRZ.MARY EDUCATION OF TRE TWO CHILDREN. There grew a qurrel in the home as to whether James would be the first to go to , a secondary school if he (James) happened to pass std. six before John, his senior brother. When Mary saw tbat James was very britlliant and was topping John in theijr terminal examination, she grew very envious. She began to find means for bewitchiog Jame's brain so that her son John might topple James. Anna, the mother of James. knew about it but being a kind and humble woman, she did nothing to revenge, James continued t o topple John in all their examinations and consquently, James passed his Std. six while John was in Std. four. Their father decided to send James to a secondry school immediatly. Here, Mary brought out her envious motives. She opposed her husband's decision in to saying that her son John was their husband's first son and therefore, John must go to a secondary school before James. All the time, Anna the mother of James, was very calm and was looking at the folly of Mary. Their husband was not influenced by tbe story words of Mary and her urging. He still persisted in sending James to take entrance 27 �exami,mtion t'o a secpndary school. -James did so with success.. Their father did not waste time in paying for James in the secondary school. The mother-of James, Anna, being an industrious woman, was able to give h e r Husband E200 (two hundred pounds) to use it in-catering for her son. . EnviousnCss, the bame of human beinzs! It is a pity to note.that when James was e finalist in a secondary schodl, John was then in standard six that is, when Ja es got his Cambridge Overseas School Certifi ate. The mother of John told. him that James and his mother must have been the cause of John's fnilure and mental dullness. 1? ' CHAPTER SIXTEEN .THESQUABBLE B E T W E E N .JAMES . . AND JOHN ' As John' had been told by his mother that James was the cause of his mental weakness, John started t a quarrel with James. Everyday the mother of James was troubled by the mother,of John. Their Husband decided to send John to a secondary school as well but John, being a narrow minded boy, was'sby his mother's words. . . As.time went 'on, the. two brothers John. -and. James become 'potenrial enemies. �Their father. did not find any possible way of unifying them as long as the mother of John was alive. Because of this, it became. impossible to foster unified Spirit in the home. John busied himself in possibility of killins James (his'brother). He called a Native. Doctor and instructed him to poison James for him.;This the Native Doctor prepared to do after John had given him the sum of sixty pounds (£60) which was the cost of the poison, for killing James. When the Native Doctor was preparing to make the medicine for poisoning James, John instantly felt ill aud on the day the Native Doctor secretly, put the poison in J a m e s mother's drinking pot, John's illnrss grew to the point of resulting death. ' The Native Doctor.. sveing the reactionary fatal effect of the poison, told John to tell Jamea not t o drink the poisoned water, “otherwise", he said, "you would face your death". John was unable and infact, very reluctant to tell ,James what the Native Doctor said. He John, thought that the NativeDoctDr was sympathaising James. Their honest father did not know that the enemity had satukated to the point of giving birth ,to this vicious iocident. As he became aware git, he was lost in agony of fate but seeing that he could not make any amendment to the situation he gave up struggle for Unity. �CHAPTER.. SEVENTEEN The ' ~ e s u ho f the poisin It is unfortunate to reckon that immediately James returned from work and. being th'irsty drank the water in. which John:s Native Doctor had put poison, John died at once.. It war; .at the Death of John that JdnIcS was made.known to understand by the Native Doctor that John had..planned to poison him (James) but .fortunately'. for James, all John's devilish plans ended in a smoke occasioning . James :Death. Infact. without further explanation. we have all sew bow enviousness io the bmr of human beings. All-knowing sees all our movements and can therefure, p u n ~ ~ h whco 1r.u do not think us ii possible. What gain have we when we deliberately'poison our brother or our neighbour? 'CHAPTER ;EIGHTEEN Loor 06.~iotlcsrhood .. .:From .what we have just gathered as coqtains in. tbis pamphlet, it'is evident that our' first duty towards our. neighbouri is to .Qve them with all our loving spirit.and kindness. Love has no �limit as the parable of the good Samaritan, shows us. If your brother o r your neighbpur is in financial ditficulty, it is your first and formost task to find possible ways of freeing him. It does not necessarily .mean thai .you will -steal in order to realise him, (your. poor brother) but your kind advice is a really healing medicine. It is not only financial problem that befalls a man, but also, your brother might be wounded in mind due to irresponsible at~itude of an enemy; where this is the caw, it then falls on you to pacify both ends. If you see any possible way of admonishing the two enemies, you should not htsitate t o do so beca!~se if'you try to mollify their anger, you will then be able to fraternise them. Once they are made to feel the oneness of brotherhood, your brothe.'~wounded mind will he freed and that ,of his previous e n m y will tie normal. Thus fosteriug ah attl1ostph:re of good-understanding and neighbourliness between your brother and his former enemy. Infact, if you d o not reconcil $our brother and his enemy, yon are indirectly sowing an unrootable seed of enemity because. the children of both your brother and his enemy, will to be potential enemies. Your leaving your brother to continue t o antngonise with hip enemy does nor show that you haved the life o f y o u r b r o t h e r a t ?Iea,rt. �I say 'this bekuse . it' has been observed that maiiy .;people.: who are not in: good terms, use t o poison themaalves. Your brother's -enemy may poison him if you' fail to unify them. Your brother .may do likewise to' his enemy and where he does that, you have the greater share of the blame. CHAPTER . NINETEEN At, ~ d u i c e to. Richmen. Please if you are rich, it is your duty to help your brother., That you are rich dozs-not necessarily mean that you must be a millionaire or .own a car before knowing th@ you are duty bound to help your brother.. No! You must help your brother whenever you see that you rank morally.and financially higher than your brother/ neighbour. "Make friends by t,he mammon of, unrightiousness" is a wise saying by Our Lord. You'may be 'at an annual jncdme of two hundred pounds (£200) while your brother is at twenty pounds (£20) per.annum,. .really you .are, by duty bound to help your poor brother whenever he embarks upon a project that is reasonable .. .. enough. Not only financisl' assistance will be given to t&s 'yourspoor 'brother, but also your keen advice is very important. You may tell him to save a substantial amount out of his .,poor income. .You may slig.ges~ gooapaying hobby any t o him. When you see that your poor.brother ?2 �or neigbbour is mis-using his .poor earning, you must not fail to advice hini on the right way of apportioning his income t o his different desires to ensure that he'gets minimum satisfaction. Where your brother does not heed your advice, you may call a family mecting and tell the members of your family what ,is happening. It is a common saying that "Good words are not heeded. at first and are even bitter" but persist in telling him. A day will come when he shall realise all you told him and must repay you. But where he fails-to repay you, God, who sees all good works with inspiring mercy, will. not fail to repay you in heaven. If your brother is poor but does not know. that he is poor, tell.'him that he is p ~ o r ,if he fails to rccognise his. poverty stricken slate, infact, you are free to leave him to fool himself.to the brim. He must someday come to realise that he is in the hours of financial or moral dilemma. When he inevitably comes to know this, also not neglet to show sympathy to him knowing that to err is human, and to fo-give is Divine. �CHAPTER TWENTY General Inrsiruction Ladies and Genetlemen, boys and Girls, it is my ferrent hope that you might have experienced some of the facts contained in this pamphlet. I heve just written this pamphlet merely to ma e you awvre of many a moral pit falls which will continue to bring bad atmosphere in our homes if you fail to eraditcate them. I am nursing the hope that we must now !decide to turn over a new leaf by showing that God knows what'he meant by creating us many. If d l men were short, tall or dwaffed, the world would be ypside down and so, if wc wish to be of a parent before recognising that we are brothers, we mould be making an unhappy mistake. If we can try, for justice sake, to extend our hands of fellowship and brrjtherhood to all men not minding the happy fact that we are not of a parent of the same age. grade, the world will look brighter. Live and jet live should be the. key word of every ?@xed community. k �1 Hard work is the grand secret of success. 2 Nothing but rags an< poverty can come of 3 4 5 6 idleness. Elbow grease is thc only stuff to m a k e Gold with. . No sweat 'no sweet. He who would have the crows eggs must climb the tree. Diligence is the mother of Good luck. 7 Idleness is' the devil's bolster. S Great greediness to reap heips not the money heep. 9 Slow and sure is better than fast and flimsy.. enriches a man far more than fits and start8 of fortunate speculation. . . 11 Every day a thread makes a skein in a' year. 12 Brick by brick houses are built. 10 ~erseverance, by its daily 13 We should creep before w e . walk, walk' before wa run, and run 'before we ride. I 14- In getting rich the more, haste the worse. IS Haste tripe up its own heels. �~ast~'. climbers have sudden falls. It is bad to begin business without capital. 1t..is hard marketing with empty. pkkets. We want a nest eggs, for hens will I a y where there are eggs' already. You must bake with the flour you have. stay'as a journey man till you have'saved few pounds. You must fly when your wings have a got feathers. ~radin~ without capital is like buildins a house' without bricka, msking a fire without sticks, burning candles without wicks; and.it leads .men into tricks and laod them in a fix, Give tmt not a small business till you see that a large one will pay you better. Better a poor horse than' ah empty stall. Better half a loaf than none at all. Better a little furniture than an empty house. W b o can sit on .a stone and feed himself had better 'not move. From bad to.worse is poor improvement. A crust is hard fare, but none at'all is harder. �Don't jump out of the w i n g pan into the fire. A little trade with profit ie better than a great concern at a loss. A small fire that warms you is better than a large fire that burns you. Large hares may be caught in a small wood. He who undertakes too mucb succeeds but a little ln a great river great fish are found. Where will the ass go that he will not have to work? Where can a cow live and not get milked? Where will you find a land without stones or meat without bones? Everywhere on earth men must cat bread in the sweat of their faces. To fly from trouble men must haveeagles' wings. Alteration is not always improvement. A rolling stone gathers no moss He who cao wait long enough will win. This, .That, end the other, anything, and everything, all put together make nothing in the end. �4 lazy fellow quarrels with hi's tools. All traders are good to good traders. A clever man can make money out ofdirt. :You cannot get honey. if you are frightened a t . bees. Patience and attention will get on in the long run. If the cat sits long enough at t h e hole she will catch the. mouse. .. . Sleeping poultry are carried off by fox. Fools a s k ' what's 0' cldck: but wise men know their. time. God sends every bird its food, but.. He. does n i t throw it into the nest. God gives. us our'daily bread b u t it is .through our own labour. .The morning hour carries gold in its mouth. , He who drives last, in a row gets all the dust in his eyes. Rise.early, and you will have a clear start for the day. H needs have a long spoon who would eat, e . . . of the same dish with Satan.. h'evei ruin yourself for the sake of pelf. �. Take nothing in hand that will bring you repentance. Better walk .barefoot than ride in a carriage to hell. . The mouse wins little by nibbling the cheeie if it gets caught'in the trap. Where the carcass is, thither will the . eagles be gathered together. Good advice is poor food to a hungry family. Most men who go down hills meet with Judas before they get to the bottom. Every traveller throws' a stone where there is a heap already. All the cooks Sastc a fat pig. I n times of prosperity friends will be plenty but in times of adversity not one in twenty. All aeighbours are cousins to the rich man but the poor man's brother does not know him, men must not dispair for ' ~ o d is yet alive. A good man may be put in the fire but he cannot be burnt. While there's life there's hope., 1f you've tumbled off the back of prosperity, do not lie in the ditch but u p with you and try again. He who is down has a grand opportuaiky for lusting in God. o own 39 �A fualt.faith can on& fioat in good smooth water. A . true faith like a life-boat, is at home in stoms. New company makes people new men. Sweet to yau and sweet to your enemy. Mr;'Facing-both-ways. Mr. Fair-speech and Mr. Two-tongues are neighbours who are best at a distance. Religious deceivers are the worst of vermin. Some of the dear old !Mrs. Goodbodies want a blessed almshouse. 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. He who tries to. cheat the Lord will . be quite ready to cheat his fellow men. Great cry generally 'means little wool. Some men,%windmills, are only put-crackers. Better be a dead dog than a live hypocrite. If a straight line will not pay, a crooked one won't. What is got by shufling is very dangerous gain. The devil tempts genuine christains. .Through bad company good men cYlange to be ascruel as death and grave. , �Charity actually begins at home. It is not all that sing loudest that praiae God most It may give a moment's peace to wear a mask, bur deception will come home to you and bring sorrow with it. Honesty is the beat policy. If lion's skio does not do, never try the fox's. Try to be as true as steel. Let your face hands, like the Church clock, always tell how your inner works are going. Better be laughed at as Tom Tell-Truth than be praised as Crafty Charlie. At last the upright will have their nward, but for the double minded to get heaven is as impossible as for a man to swim the atlantic with a mill-stone under each arm. Plain deeling may bring us trouble but it is better than shuffling. Times never were good for law prodigals. Ready Money must be quite a curiosity t o some men and yet they spend like Lords. There are more asses than those with four legs. Fellows who have no estate but there labour, and no family arms except those they work with will spend their little hard earniogs at the beer shop or in waste. �106 Drlakipg water neither makes a man sick, nor in dept, nor his Wife a widow, and yet some men hardly. know the flavour of it. 107 Thost who wear the shoes know best . where it'.pinches them. 108 If fools did not ga . ta marker bad wares would ..never be sold. 109 With mohey best articles are taught. 110 When there are five eggs a penny four of them are rotten. I l l Poor m e n often buy in very small quantities and s a pay through the nose. 1 1 2 " ' ~ u a & t ~ buyers puichase with cheapest prices. 11'3 Looking for smalt eaviogs people 'for& greater things. 1.14 ., Penny w h . and p m d foolish are very .had man~qements ,116 . ~ h a one does not want is d e a ~ h i s i ir, eyes at a,:fatfhing. . 117.. Fint dpsirxg. makes a great h b in poor o . . .. people's means, , . .+. 1J8' .. must"not'm&e a puppy fw a Rase, .. .You. 119 Buy wh~t suits you to wear and if it doei ndt' suit other pcopk ta l o ~ ka t let them cbsc their eyes k2Q AU' wqrjlcn arc s o d ! eikher; for something or for. nothing, their dresses will telb yciu which. �Never allow your money to be your master. He who has a Eest wife always has his money best spent. The husband may earn money but only the wife can save it. A wise wife buildeth her house, but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. A man cannot prosper till he gets his wife's leave. A thrifty house wife is better than a great income. A good wife aqd health are a man's best weahh. Nothing coma out of a sack but what was in it. An empty bag shakes nothing but wind out of it. He who knows nothing is confident of everything, hence he is bullheaded beyond measure. Every clock, and even the Sundial, must be set according to their watches. The Lord's dear pcople havo a lot to do t o keep their doctrine sound. Any fool may have something to s a y against the best Minister in Nigeria. No man can make bad language in the pulpit. All lmguage arc bad which common people cannot make head or tail of. - 43 �136 Nobody would carp at godly, sober, decent, plain words. 137 A countryman is as warm in fustain as a king in velvct. 138 Truth is as comfortable in homely words as in fine speech. 139 If hearers are better sermons would be bztter. 140 Hungry men leave dishing the meat to the w o k only let the weat be sweet and substantial. 141 N o piper ever suited all ears. 142 Thoughts are not facts. 143 The sprab thought itself a herring, but the fisherman knew better. 144 Dogs, honever, always will back, a n d what is worse, some of them will bite. 145 The worst wheel of the cart creats most. 146 . One fool makes many. 147 Those who are at the bottom of t h e mischief have generally no part in the matter of true godliness. 148 One dog will set a whole kennel howling, and the wisest course is t o keep out of the man who has the compliant-called the grumbles. 149 H e that hespatters others t o generally rolls in tbe mud himself before long. 150 The fruit of spirit is love. �151 Keep'not lit1 toinorrow' what you can do today. l52 , Time and ,.tide vait for nobody. 153 They who would not plough must not expect to .eat., 154 They who waste the i spring will have a lea^. autumn. 155 He that till he be fed, will gape till he. be.dead. 156 'with exemption of poverty and dirt nothing can be got without pains. 157' Hares never run intd the mouths 'of slceping dogs. 158 He that hath time, and looks for better time, time comes that he repents himselp of time. 159 God. helps those who help themselves. 160 Niether the, wise nor the wealthycan help him who has long refused to help himsdf 161 There is no sunshine without some shadows. . . 162 A horse that is week in the legs may not stumble for 8 'mile or' two. ,163 Whatever is rotten will read and cracked pot will leak. 164 The cleanest' field.'of wheat 'has its share of weeds. 165 The most careful driver one day upses the cart. ' ' 45 �166 By mistakes t h a . cleverest cook spills. a little broth. 167 One may,get rid of one eyed nag and buys a blind one. 168 Thwe who live in the glais house, should n o t thjow stones. 169 Other peoples imperfcctio:ls can show us our imperfections. 170 If there is an apple in my niegbour's eye, 'there is no doubtone ,in mine. 171 Faults are always 'thick "where love is thin. 172 'A white horse is all' black i f your eye chooses to make it so. 173 If ,we aiiff long!.enough .at rose water, we shall find out that it has a bad smell. 174 Two heads are Setter than one. 175 Many. littles make a mickle. -176 sq light thbue& mike a great weigl~t of sin. 777 Neve'r.'all'oy .yout. 'thoughts to turn to be . your enemies. 178' , ~ < 'thougnts are the maxrow of Sin. l 179 Vain thoughts will knock at the door, but .,.. . we must not open to them 18.0. ..Eventhough. sinful thoughts rise they must not reign mauy �181 He who turns a n~orsel over and wer in his mouth, does so because he rlikes the fluvor. IS2 I-:e who meditates upon evil, loves it, and is ripe to commit it. .*. If you turn your thougl~ts 0 - 3 towards sin, your bands then wi!l follow. 184 An arrow may fly through the air and leave no trace. 185 The ill thoughts always leave' a trail like a serpent. 186 Where.there, is much traffic of bad thinking there will be much mire and dirt. 187 Every wave of wicked thought adds something to the corruption i88 If you nurse sin on the knees of thought it will grow into a giant. 189 Good thoughts are blessed p e s t s and should be heartily wellcomed and well fed. 190 Holy thoughts are hopeful evidences of a renewed heart. 191 It is wise and prudent to have the mind stored with choice subjects for meditation. 192 A blind man has nothing to 'do with a looking glass. 193 He is drunk that preaches to drunken men 191 Coachbox is not ment for a cat. 195 Men who do n o t fit to be a minister should step down. 47 �~ 1 1 u man is, that he will be. t A maid servant should act as a maid servaiit and not as a mistress. Working without tools generally loses the zeal of a worker. Dont fight if you can't. Flute is made for man and not for a pig or for any animal. What is worth doing at a11 is worth doiag well. Impossibilities should not be aimed at, by wise people. He who fires at the man in the moon wastes his. powder. A sensi'sle fellow dont carry water in a sieve. &oney worth. not loosing should not 6 handed over to a set. of .knaves. Fools only can perform any unnecessary thing. He who knows better should not praise a proud man. How could a fish wear a clothes? ~ n y t h i n gin good colour needs no paint. Pretender alone comforts a conscience that. makes n o 6onfessioa. ' �Sunlight ha6 nothing to do witb a candle light. Blockades can prove thing that no-body doubts. Who ever attempts a thing which will cost more than it is worth is a 1001 at forty. People should avoid Wig penny wise and pound foolish. He who would not worth the amount of a dog-tax is not wortby to live. A wise man need not convince a mao against his will in matters of no consequence. He need not Se angry if he wishes to e i d a quarrel. To quench a fire one should not throw oil into it. A wise man never apes with a mad dog. Do unto others as you would like to be done. Never interfere between 8 man and his wifeA Noted debtor is a noted liar. Keep debt, dirt and the dei4 out from your house and then you be a good house keeper. Good wife, good house boy and good master and good children make a good family. �226:: .A ipersm in debt.-is .alwayrj degraded.. 227 Always remember that poverty is:hard, but debr is horrible., 228 A smoky house and a scolding wife are .. :the two -worst. evils of. our life. 229' . A &or man.has.more respect than a person i n debt.. 230 Other people's huge sum-bf money is very in': the~:.cjks::of an,:bonest. man. 231 A b d r i o ~ i .ai'iys ' i ~ a ~ 'ricky . cpitly i n r ks ihe p ~ 6 i i c gatherings?. 232 ..fie:ihac lives be&nd. his incart% is ruining hitksklf. 233 He ,that..lives,, extravagantly Ties so t o hh/hcr' sha'ine and sorrow,. 234 The poor. needs not desirc .style' a n d ,. and smartnessif 'he wishes to survivi, 235 Wk must be conte&ted'&thwbt we haw. 236 ..If frogs' try t o look a i . big rts .b& the; . will b e 'iure"to bu&. 237 A f&tunate:m&nee& not burn candle bn b~th en'ds. . : .. 238 Economy may be ,considered as half the battle .i.n life.. .> : 239,. Spend well if.you earn well'. _ .. , . 240 He that wants nonelet him not.iyaite any. ' I- �Poor mans wives .should not all learn to fry fresh fish. You. appear to manage well if you fare .. according to your earnings. Who conld not pay according to hisjliei promises is 3 noted deptor and k liar. . Be out from debt 'if you .want to be free from lies. . Where the hen' laid one egg there it i 0 likely. to' lay another. who ever makes it his'habit .to borrow one penny will be sure of borrowingone pound. A pig in credit always grunts. Owing and borrowing are bramble bushes full of, thorns. He that borrowed the neighhour's spade never feel better for the fear of breaking it. He never grow rich that never 'fail. Honesty first before generosity. Better go to bed without your supper than to rise in debt. You will know what you are worth by paying what you owe. Petty expenses a t times cause people's downfall. An empty sack never stand upright. �Spiders web never catch anything than flies. Nether Tom nor Dick should like to bc neiboughs to a barel of powder. We must not try to rub Peter to p.iy Pual. Never try to shave an egg, or pull h.airs out of a bald pate. It is easier by paying depts out of an empty pocket than shaving an egg. or pulling hairs out of a bald pate. Although Samson was a strong man yet he could not pay debts without n?ong. 13e sure to snswer a good man if your words binds as an oath. He that stavesoff payments by false promises deserves no mercy. A hundred years of regret pay not a farthing of debt. Never allow the advices being given you to go in through one ear go out from the other. He needs buy a dear repentance that refuses to have cheap advice. A word may worth a world to one who is beginning life. . He that goes a borrowing may as well go a sorrowing. Any kind of bird must love its own nest.. The way 'to my home is the best bit of road i n the country. 52 �271 ~eoplc:think the smoke from their own chimney better than the fire on olller peoples own hearth. 272 The honey suckle at iny own door is 'the sweetest I ever well. 273 East and West h6me is the beat. 274 Leave the cock to crow on its dunghill. 275 A dog acts a s a lion when a t home. 276 When the cat is away from the house then the rat governs. 277 Reershops are the enemies of home. 478 Anything that hurts home is a curse. 279 If you are incharge of a home try and make it happy and holy. 280. .If you make your house wretched be not annoyed if you are called a bad man. 281 Married life is not all sugar, but grace in the heart will keep away most of the sours. 822 Godliness and love can make people to sing among thorns and heriers. 283 Both the husband and wife always enjoy an average pleasure. in their playing. 284 Self rules make the home happiness a mere cham. 285 A yoked couple will find their load very light for them. �286 I t i.s 'not every a o u p 1 e that is really a pair. 287 ,%lt true homes that make the families is happy. 288 A..home should be a Bethel and not a Uabel. 289 .,Heis not a hiisbind if he cannot bind &ll 290 291 292 293 294 295 236 297 298 299 300 together like a corner stoner but not crush everything like a mill stone. Unkind and domineering husbands ought not to pretend to be christians, for the act clean contrary to Christ's commands. Homes not well ordered will hecome a Bedlam and be a scandal . t o the parish. If the father drops, the reins, the. family coach will soon be in the ditch. . Harshness and softness alone will not keep -home in happy order. Home is no home if the children there are not, in Obedience, it is a pain and. not a pleasureto be in it. Happy for you if you .are happy for me. Evil to him who evil thinks. 'All 'fathers are not wise for some do epoil their children. There has never been any body wiser than . Solomon. Those who never give their children t,he rod must not wonder if. their children become a rod t o thorn. Men who strike in their anger generally miss their mark.' �' 301 .When home is ruled according to God's word angels might be asked to stay night with us. 301 'stre . is a wicked wife who drives her husband away by her long tongue. 303 Majority of our women are angels h the streets but devils at home. 5 : Home is the grandest of all institutions. 0. 305 H e who never sees something W not know N ,something. 306 Eggs, are eggs but some are rotten. 307 Hopes are hopes. but many 'are delusions. 308 If you are alive .never tell anybody to die. 309 He who hunts after legacies had need iron shoes. 310 H e that waits for dead men's shoes may long go bare-foot. 311 He who waits for his unlce'a cow need not be in a hurry to spread. the butter. 312 Re who lives on and hope has a slim diet. 313 It is to a mans sheer folly if he hopes for impossibilities. 314 You should not look for crops if y o u have not sown seed. 315. A wicked fellow should not expect good if he has not done good. �316 Who marries a slovenly, dressy girl, and hopes to make her,a good wife, might as well buy a goose and expsct it , t > turn out a milch cow. 317 A master who attends b a r with his boy should not expect to be called a good master 318 If you 're sick have hope . till on the last . minute. . . 319 Teach a child to lie, and theri .hope t t k . . he will grow up honest. ,320 Put a wasp in a tar . Barrel and wait kl . it makes honey. 321 -A sensible fellow .is not exrected 'to Ecanderlise young ones.' . 322 Wishing somethiag is not hoping for. it. 323 Maw are turn in^ their faces lo bell and , hope 70 get to heaven. 324 Hopes of heaven are solemn things, and should be tried by the word of God. 325 "He that believeth in Christ hath everlasting l:C-97 IllG . 326 Presumption is a ladder which will break the mounter'a neck, so try it not if yout love your - soul. , . 327 Who hideth his .band in 'his bosom; it grieveth him t o bring it again to his mouth. 328 A sluggard is wiser in his own cqnceit. 329 One man's folly i s as plain as the sun in . . the sky. 330 . Hit a sluggard hard if you know that he can bear it. 9 �331 Rave patience and pity Tor p o e r t y but to lazinesa beat with a long whip. 332 Sift a sluggard grain by frail1 acid yo11will find him all chaff 333 Me who is worthy to live must g r u d g e laziness. 334 Tile rankest seeds don't grow in tbe mind of the wicked. 3.35 Every crcaturc on earth likes to increase and hatcs decreasing. 336 Woman is the worst temtation in the man's days. 337 Who wastes his times and strength in sloth offers himself to be a target for the devil. 338 One with evil spirit plays while he should work. He who plays not and works not is the workshop for satan. 339 Have stomarch for work if you have for eating ant drinking. 340 The drunkard and the glulton shall come to poverty 341 Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 342 An Idler knows not what leisure means. 343 By the door of sluggishness evil. enters the heart more often. 344 A sluggard is a fine raw material for the devil. 345 i t is belter to kill a lion while it is a cub. �346 A wild goose nevcr ldrs a tame egg. 347 All are not hunters that wear red coats. 348 Live and let live except the sluggard, for it is said that those who could not work is not expected to eat. 349 The more a moukey climbs the more its tail is seen. 350 Sluggards idleness is noticed as long as he lives. 351 The more a Sluggard lives the more he is ashamed of his idleness. 352 A butterfly is no butterfly if it could make no honey. 353 Better die an honourable death than live a good for nothing life. 354 Better get into my coffin than be dead and alive. 355 Evil done is rewarded at the end. 356 Free will is the guardian of morality. 357 Love is blind and it knows no bounds. 358 The little children of yesterday will be the adults of tomorrow. 359 Determination is the mother of success. 360 Evils in town is the profit to the doctors. �Notice: This Pamphlet has been an honest production of a persond conception.of-many a queer conducts that characterise the day. It is therefore given as a general information !hat a reproduction of any part/whole of the Stories contaiccd in his yamphlet, must. be through a peru~issionfrom the author. �GREAT OPPORTUNITY OFFERED TO YOU Charity Printing Prea C A L L I ' N G !! All the ways lead to )O. charity Printiog Press PRINTERS, PUBLISHERS & BINDERS 36 New Market Road; Onirsha. We are the Printers of high prestige, you can progress with us. No job is too small or loo big. Just send your jobs to us and we can give you absolute satisfaction. A TRIAL WILL SURELY CONVINCE YOU. W print the f&owings a t moderate charges : k Phamphlets, Membership cards, Invitation cards, Labels, Hand bills' Receipts, Periodicals etc. etc. ALWAYS SEND YOUR JOBS TO US. ��BOOBS BUBLBSWIED BY ' .HIGHBRED 'MAXWELL 1. Our modern ladies' characters towards boys 2s 2s 2. Forget me not . 3. Guides for engagement 2s 4. Ideal pocket & Happydays diary each 2s 5. How. to make meetings 2s 2s 6. The Joy OF life and its nierriment 7. Wonders shall never end 216 8. £9000,000,000 Man still says no money 216 9. Public opinion on lovers . 3s 10.' About husband and wife who hate 11. . themselves ' 3s I?. How to write good letters and applications %3s 13. Story abt ut the. Gentle Giant Is 14. Money palaver 116 15. Awo.and Akintola i n political battle . 316 drama (in print) 16. Dr. .Chike Obi's mcrld Ph. D. mathema- . . tician (in print) . . j/6 17. How' to write business letters, Good English, Applications, Telegrams and Important invitations. 316 18. Beauty is a trouble 316 19. How to be tbe frieflds of girls 316 net. a Order your copies of these, .and m'anp other iaterehing educative novels from WBGWBRED .MAXWEILL STUDENTS O W N BOOKSHOP 17 BRIGHT STREET, ONITSHA-NIGERIA. Pi(1NIED IN NlaCRlA BV Charily Prlntlnx Pnrr 36 New Market Rnsd. Onnrha. ��I LEARN TO. SPEAK. 360 PROVERBS, � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Learn to speak 360 interesting proverbs and know your true brother Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Eze, C. N. Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Onitsha, Nigeria : Highbred Maxwell Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource ca. 1962? Language A language of the resource English Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3287 Description An account of the resource Providing almost one proverb for every day of the year, C. N. Eze offers several intriguing messages about wisdom, justice and morality. In the first 19 chapters of this pamphlet Eze discusses how "brotherhood" has both lagged and manifested itself, (pg.2). He cleverly ties the meanings of some proverbs to the act of knowing your true brother. For example, Eze reminds readers of "a proverb of first class reality" -- "Appearances are often deceptive," (pg. 3). Thus, "know your true brother," as the title suggests. In addition, he draws on social justice themes in proverbs such as, "All neighbours are cousins to the rich man but the poor man's brother does not know him," (pg.39). And bear in mind: "Good advice is poor food to a hungry family," (pg.39). Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">ttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/30cc4304c093c0f91e2f91c3b9a74be9.pdf ea627112d6166c77e63c361e3e2120f4 PDF Text Text ������������������������������������������������ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource In our time Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Eneanya, Nonye Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Onitsha, Nigeria : University Publishing Co. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 197-? Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Nigerian literature (English) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.b10475 Description An account of the resource This play is unique in the Onitsha collection for several important reasons.It was written just after the Biafran War, described by the playwright as "the shooting war," (pg.2). Additionally, it has a definite production history. It was performed for two short runs in Onitsha and Enugu where Nonye Eneanya and Mrs. Ngozi Egwuatu are identified as the producers. It was presumably performed for and/or by Onitsha's Anglican Girls' Grammar School that was destroyed in the war. There is also clear indication as to how the set at one of the performances appeared, for as the introduction notes "the classroom scene where some of the pupils sit on cement blocks and use their knees for a desk recreates a clear picture of the plight of pupils in damaged educational institutions," (pg.2).<br /><br />Nonye Eneanya, a member of the teaching staff at the Anglican Girls' Grammar School, uses the conventions of realism to attempt to document the war and its aftermath on the area. The play's language is a mixture of English and Igbo,and many high quality woodcuts and illustrations enhance the story. However,the play does have significant problems, possibly because it was written "on the spur of the moment" by Eneanya, (pg.1). Time and a sense of causation are underdeveloped at times. Yet <em>In Our Time</em> relates a strong message about the effects of the war when stage directions and set descriptions create a sense of place and time.<br /><br />The prologue provides much of the context of the Biafran war and its aftermath. The narrator creates an atmosphere of hopelessness and optimism:&nbsp;<em>Brother had plucked yet another brother in the course of a fratricidal conflict that had been raging for nearly three years,&nbsp;</em>(pg.5).<em> For an observer of the Nigerian civil war the picture was still real as at January 1, 1970. He therefore believed that the Nigerian conflict would never end...But it did end, miraculously too . . . the soldiers threw away their guns to rush into their opponents [sic] arms in warm embrace,&nbsp;</em>(pg.6-7).<br /><br />This play appears to be very much influenced by these bipolar impulses. The Dimgba family has suffered greatly from the war. They were a well-to-do family that lost their livelihoods during the war and moved away from Lagos. Their children are unable to attend school throughout the war and the schools in the area are destroyed.<br /><br />The play opens with the announcement that the schools are reopening and no fees will be charged. However, this is a promise that cannot be kept and the children are eventually kicked out of their classes because they cannot pay the school fees. The husband, unable to cope with the shame and his inability to provide for his children, reacts violently. The wife provides solutions and demands respect for her daughters and herself. She will not let her husband marry them off and get drunk from the money received from their future husbands' families. In its use of realistic conventions, this play calls for respect for women and their contributions to the family. For example, Mrs.Dimgba confronts Mr. Dimgba and retorts: "You scold and howl at me like an outcast. Why should you shout on me? I'm neither your housemaid nor you slave, mark you," (pg.16).<br /><br />However, the two scenes that are the most realistic do very little to actually move the story forward. In the first, Mrs. Dimgba visits money lenders to secure school fees. Two of the lenders are hostile towards her, presumably because of their positions during the war. A relief organization is mentioned as well as an amnesty act. However the scene does not develop this conflict or make it an important part of creating a sense of reconciliation between the two sides.<br /><br />The scene in the classroom emphasizes the devastation to the schools and the poverty of the students and teachers. One of the science teachers has a blackboard image of a chemistry experiment that she is teaching the class. It is apparent that she does not have any of the equipment for the students to actually do the experiment, and consequently the students are unable to learn the concepts of this experiment. This scene does not have any of the Dimgba children in class. So there is no sense of consequence, causation or development that could lead to the play's overly hopefully ending. The play ends on an impossibly optimistic note as all of the children excel in school and receive scholarships while Mr. Dimgba gets his job back. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/a42d121c0650954a4045744ae6d1718b.pdf 4c144477140ce970b087810ea96f43a3 PDF Text Text .. 'I. I. .. '4 LADY'S GUIDE (To be read before marriage and afier it) PHILIP d2 AGNES; "We are in our honey moon'9 Copy right Reserved Net price 31- �REMEMBER THE BIG FIGHT IN ' NIGERIA TIGER-NJLLMER FIGHT lOTH AUGUST 1963 L I B E R ~ STADIUM ~ . IBADAN WES%% NIGERIA,- DICK TIGER WON WITH A KNOCKOUT. - Fullmer started with great attack but Dick took over and "hammered him at the head and body." :. , i ROUND WQ. Here at first 'it was a punch for a punch but in the end Dick . took ., Fdmer to a corner - and ''re.ally battered . . .ROUE~D,,. .. , ONE. hiin." , THR*. The batCeriqg continued Fullmer started. to run but D~ck Tiger chased ' :' *hiin .. 2nd coJitinuc?$t,pu.nishng Fullmcr.for "ROUPJD MUR. This round I was a hell. i ,Fillher. There wr's a cut above the, eye . .hnd the blows, from Ttger were meiciless. 2 R O ~ mve. Fullmer mnagrd to come out D :: &r this round and .enly.cndured till the end of the round. R&ND SIX. It appearkd that' ~ u l l m & was out to recounter but Dick Tiger "continued hls i, s.h.u~ter." ahurn SEVEN. Red face. battered eve brows ,ROUND ' " % , �THE AFRICAN BACHELOR'S GUIDE AND LADY'S GUIDE Cy. Diala Obtolmbk hhh NJOKU di SONS BOOKSHOP, 4 0 6 Are-Ndizuogu Street, FUiCfE ONITSHA. - rice 31- �CONTENTS Pages Chapter 1. why do b o ~ s and girls marry 5 Chapter 2. The importance of prayer in searching for fi a girl to marry. Chapter 3. How to approach a girl for marriage 8 Chapter 4. What you must do before you seek for a wife, preparation for marriage 11 Chapter 5. Questioas and answers on preparation for 12 marriage. Chapter 6. How to c h o ~ s e girl for marriage. a 15 The kind of boys most girls like to marry 17 Chapter 7 . Why boys make friends with girls 19 Chdpter 8. How bachelors should dress their room 2 0 Chapter 9. My 20 advices for bachelors before marri22 age. Chapter 10. My 13 advices for girls bef6re marriage 25 Chupter 11. The disadvantages of living in a room 26 with a friend. Chapter 12 How to write engagement and marriage letters. 28 29 Miss Agnes replies to Philip From a friend to a friend congratulating h ~ m 33 upon his engagement. From a boy t o his chap inquiring why she has 34 not written him since long time Chapter 13 The ten commandments of love for boys 35 and girls. Chapter 1 4 Toast for the bridegroom 36 Chapter 15 Look after your skin 37 Chapter 16 Bride price, is it right or wrong 48 Chapter 17 Marriage. 40 44 Chapter 18 Beware the siren spinster. �PREFACE Hipp Hipp Hurreh! Hipp Hipp Hurreb! Hipp Hurreh!! That's okey You have warmed up yourself now. Well then, get every ready to go through this book, particularly originated to guide you and make you have fun out of reading. l This book gives a g e ~ e r a advice to all bachelors, unmarried girls and including those people already in marriage. The answers to the questions in this book, represent the advice of the author out of the questions. There is no doubt that the. reader will find this book most useful and helpful to him or her. I wish you every good luck and happiness in marriage. �FOREWARD I am very glad to recommend this book t3 all couples and would be couplss to read and zssimlate.' The book, though pamphlet it is, deals with vital aspects of life which people always neglect. The theme of the book is "LOOK, BEFORE YOU LEAP" Mr. Cy. is a gay boy and he is one of. the writters I can rely on his suggestions and expositions, because he writes from the specialist eye view. I wish every young man and woman should possess this pamphlet of the well versed writer. �Chapter 1 WHY DO BOYS AND GIRLS MARRY 1 Boys marry in order to get children. 2 To satisfy the nature's desire. 3 It is pressing debt that every bachelor should pay to his country so, it must be paid. 4 A wife is a hooourable property. It is to complete our properties. 5 Wife makes us big man. 6 Wife gives honosr, respect and happiness. 7 Wife avoids useless expenditures. 8 Wife makes us to be wise. So marry the girl you love and who loves you for such marriage lasts and brings good luck and high happiness. FOR GIRLS 1 Girls .marry in order to get children. 2 To satisfjr the natures desire. 3 A husband gives honour, respect and happiness because "A woman's pride is husband". 4 It is a pressing debt that every girl should pay. 5 It has been noticed that girls depend upon husbands for their needs. 6 For safiy sake, m a r r i a g e they will because walk without about when �they are up to the age to get money to buy their needs. So, girls try to marry a boy you love and who loves you foisuch marriage lasts and brings high happiness and try to respect husbands because it is from them that your progress depends. And you should not forget that a woman's pride i s her husband. And a girl's pride is her boy friend, husband is your second father: and mother, Therefore honour and respect your husband more than your parents. Chapter 2 THE IMPORTANCE O F PRAYER IN searching for a girl to marry When the tbuoght of marriage comes to yoh begin to pray thrice a day so thHt the supreme being the God of Isreal. the God of Africa and the God of ,the world and above may give you a good wife. The wife who would love you, the wife who would be tolerant to you, the wife who would love your people, the wife who would come with good luck, a wife who would be quiet. intelligent, serviceable, sensible, mannerbd. The significaoce, of the prayer by a bachelor during his preparation for marriage is obvious. Without the prayer, one may be unfortunate �and make a wrong chcice. and then marry "another man's wife" whose destiny is incompatible with the person. A mistake in marriage is a danger in a man's. life. When you visit a wife and her husband who is not living well, you would hare marriage in its'entirety, but when you call at the house cf a husband and wife who hve with love, you would borrow money and r a r r y at once. Some wives are tqlkatives, quarrelsome, "over sexed" and troublesome and an obstacles to their husbsnd's progress, due to the wives' bad lucks. Any bachelor should pray against three things when gettang ready to choose a girl for marriage. Bachelors are warned to avoid mistakes in marriage as this kills the spirit and happiness of a husband. TO GIRLS NOW I now call upa'n the unmarried girls to pray three times every day * ~ h e e her marriage is soon-forth coming. You must pray to get a good husband a kind and sympatbetic husband, a husband who may love you and your people, a progressive husband, a quite and tolerant husbadd. The importance of the prayer by the spinster during the time he mainage is reaching is obvious. Failing to pray, you may get into the hand of an irresponsible man. Some husbands are inrresponsible and 7 �wicked. They treat their wives as house boys. Some get money but can't bring out enough chop money for tbeir house holds. The irrqponsible husbands prefer to show their wealth in hotels. They sterve tbeir wives. They cart't cloth their wives and they have the means. Somz of t,he irresponsible husbands are hot tempered. They beat their wives as if they are beating their servants. All this is the reason why any unmarried girl should pray to God so that, she may get a gentleman who is not igoorsnt cf the right and previledges of a wife. When you call in a home where a husband respects his wife, things use to go well in that family but when you visit a home where the husband terms any thing rhat his wife does, "woman sense" or woman affair" the public gathers every day to stop fighting in rhat family. Chapter 3 HOW TO APPROACH A GIRL FOR MARRIAGE Qne. When you see a girl, yon love to marry how will you approach her? Ans: I have to request a friend to accompany me to meet the girl, or 1 go alone. Que. What is the necessity of the friend's accompany to the girl? A&: To join me study the girl psychologiczlly. Qne: When going, how will you appear in dress? ADS: I have to dress very well. I will tidy my hair and keep my teeth very c I e a n. I will cut down the nails of m y . fingers �and toes, if any. Inshort, I will appear as a gentle boy. Que: When you meet'the girl what will you tell her? Ans: I will tell her all I can t o convince her, but will never boast of my self. First of all, I will introduce myself and my partner t o her. Que: But if unfortunately, she tells you that she has been engaged, what will you do? Ans: Then I have to go, without trying t o tell her to change her mind because of me. Que: If she tells you that she has not been engaged but has not made up her mind to marry, what will you tell her? Ans: I will ask her several questions and find out the reason why she has not wanled t o marry. Que: If a girl tells you that she does not like to marry you, will you beg her? Aos: God forbid! 1 will never beg a girl to marry me. Immediately, I discover that a girl is not interested or enthusiastic of my material approach, I will give up further approsch. Qee: If you meet a girl for marriage and she tells you that she wants t o think over your approach before saying yes o r no, what �will you d o ? Ans: I will welcome her thinking over it. I will give her time to think over. When I see that she is hesitating to answer yes or no, 1 will send a person who knows her very well, t o tell her the type of a person I am, and recommend me t o the girl. Que. Do you know that some girls need to be spoken too much before they may be moved to consent to a marriage? Ans: Yes, I know that some girls are to be told a lot of words before they can agree marriage. Some girls use t o reftlse marriages not because they don't know the characters of their approachers. It is there fore very important to get a middle man (intermediary) during an approach to a girl who don't know you. The duty of this middle man would be to tell the girl all about you. He is to praise and eleviate you before the girl. Que. If a girls demands some gifts from you during your approach t o her, will you meet up with the demands? Ans. I will not. I will regard the girl as a person with "long throat". But if the girl does not ask for the gift, I shall buy something for her voluntarily Que. In case you are attending R. C. M. and the girl attends Anglican Church, and she tells ycu that she will not marry you, unless you change �your religion, will you agree to change it? Ans: I will dot change it. If the girl refuses to .change her's then I forget a11 about her and look for another girl. Chapter 4 WHAT YOU MUST PO BEFORE YOU SEEK FOR A WIFE. Preparations for marriage. Qae: What preparatiens will you make if your marriage remains six mouths? Ans: I will gel sufficient dresses myself. I 611 furnish my house decently. I will try t o hzve some savings in the bank before the marriage takes place. Que: When the marriage has taken place, what will you d o ? Ans. I will send the girl to an advanced married woman for training in domestic science. She will stay about nine to twelve months with her. Que. After her training what will be the next thing? Ans: It is wedding, if at all you are prepared. Que: But if the girl has been trained in domestic science in her parents house, what other training will you give her? Ans: T h e n I have to live with her in my h o u s e . a n d she will be �ettending sewing institute rod after the course I will wed with her. Que: Will you like to miggle with her during this time she attends sewing institute? Ans. I shall not do so if nature helps it. I will not like her ro be pregnated while doing the course as her pregnaocy and delivery will stop her doing the sewing course. Que. That means to say that you will have the miod to forget all about sexual intercourse during her course? Ans. Yes, if nature can allow. Chapter 5 TO SIRLS NOW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON PREPARATION For Marriage. Que. When a man approaches you for maniage, what will you d o ? A w : If he comes, and it happens to be a person J like. l will ask her severel questions, after which I will tell her to give me about two weeks to think over ibe marriage but if the man that I don't like comes, 1 will tell him that 1 have been engaged. Que. But if he presses you too much to tell him yes or no at once? Ans: I must not answer him yes or no at that first approach, b e c a u s e I must satisfy my conscience quite alright and seek the advice �of my parents o r brothers before saying yes or no. Que: In case, you love to marry the man bu your parents or your brothers refuse, what will you do? Ans: Personally I'don't want to go against the advice of my parents o r brothers in marriage. If I love a marl but my people do not see with me, I will have no other alternative than to supress m y , love on the man. Que: What is the bad effect of a girl marrying a man her parents d o not like? Ans: If any dispute arises between the man and and the girl, the parents can never care about it, because the girl has gone contaray t o their warning. The man will then treat the girl as he likes since he has known that the parents are not in good terms with the girl. It is therefore not good for any girl to marry against the wishes of her people. Que. How will you live with a husband. Ans. I will love my husband, obey him, serve and help him. Que. In case your husband becomes hard on you, what will you d o ? �Ans. I will protest against it. Que: r u t if hs persists to be h ~ r don you, what will you d o ? Ans: I will call attention of my parents. Que: What step will your parents take? Ans: They will intervene and look into the matter. Que: But if after tbeir intervention and looking into the matter, your husband presists to be cruel t o you, what will you d o next. Ans: I will by this time know that a real trouble has come. 1 will consider the gravity of his cruelty on me, if it is bearable, then I can still live with the man but if it is not bearable. I will divource the wicked man. Que: Supposing that you have got up to three children for the man, will you leave the children and go away? Ans: Yes, 1 will leave the children and go away. It is not wise t o slay with the cruel men and die before the natural time because of the children. However I will be visiting the childrer! from time to time. Any time, I have money, I will buy some thing and send to the children. X will also be watching their interest, but I will not because of them, endanger my life, by staying with their father. Que: H a w will you train your children in case you are p e a c e f u l l y �livina with your huiband. Ans: I will be giving them moral instructions make them to be a serious Christans, train them to be, respectful to tbeir parents, their elders and other people deserved to be obeyed and respected. I will train them to be intelligent and sensible, to be clean and fashionable. Que. much? ~d you know what' annoys husband very Ans: Many things use to annoy a busband, one of them includes.giving a husband chop at late hour. It is good to cook in time and well too. Qae: When your husband calls you what willyou answer him? Am: I will answer him "Sir" Infect that interests many husbands. Chapter 6 HOW 'I0 CHOOSE A GIRL FOR MARRIAGE It is hardly necessary for me to venture to ~uggcst to you what type of girl you may hope to,.marry, bearing' in mind the multi-coloured divergence of human views. Nevertheless, I will try to suggest to some of you for caution p u r p B s e, the probable pit falls which are often over looked b y anxious would ,be h u s b a a d �wheu choosing life partners. Prominent among there is the much talked of but equally often misconstructed choice of marrying beautiful charming girls. Nature. I am sorry to have to mention this, is so cunning in her workmanship that she lendssome sort of disgusting character-traits to those girls that are exceptionally beautiful such as stubborness, insurbodination; down right thick headedness and the like, while to those decidedly unpresentable, she allots submission, humility and obedience. It is to be clearly understood that either of these character-traits, for good or for bad, depends so. to girls coocerned. By this, I do not mean to advocate the acceptance of an ugly duckling for a wife. What I really.mean, is the danger, if it is a danger at all, of engaging a girl without bluffing and without provocating exchange of words. I must warn right now that if you are not an acceptable young man and are not well to do, ( a suicidal combination of two curses) please for goodness sake, do not under such circumstances, arrange for a very beautiful girl. She may condescend in a trick compliance with her parents wish to be your wife, only to change her mind after few months stay with YOU, for somebody else. �I cannot say more than this. Before you marry pray to God and think twice before you arrive at a decision. A well bred ugly girl, is of course more preferable to a charming b ~ stubborn thing. t In writing this, as I have done, I do not forget that it is the declared hope of so many bachelors to marry beautiful girls whose charming looks may be all enough to add a thousand sparks to the personality of their husbands in social circles, in all places 1 belong to this class myself. We must never forget also that a girl's ugliness could be tramsformed into a glamorous look if there is money. While beautiful girls stubborness is z disease to human being tact and diplomacy are employed in your dealings with such a wife. Before I conclude this chapter, I must warn again against the blindness of marrying a very young girl. This is dangerous and disadvantageous in several ways, which I think you already know, And lastly, in your choice of wife, find your standard. THE KIND OF BOYS MOST GIRLS LIKE TO MARRY Girls are really very funny while at Aba I amused myself a great deal by asking some of my girls t h e i r opinions a b o u t boys, w i t h 17 �panicular regards to their choice of boy friends, or in other words what type of boys they would like to marry. Their responses were so funny that I could not help laughing whenever I recollect some of them. I will now endeavour to record a few of their comments verbatim. Adamma said, "boys who are always cheerful and are ever ready to co-operate with life, with eyes on decency and attractive living apartment. Agnes said "I always admire thz company of young, handsome boys, 1 know I am not all that presentable, but I detest the compay of ugly looking young men. So I like to marry a handsome boy. Comfort said "I am prepared to get into the hands of any young man who is prepared and can satisfy my material desire and not one who claims to be extra-ordinaryly handsome, but scratches his head when I ask for a few shillings. Anna said " The young man who is social, sociable and intelligent is my choice, most especially the young man who is very fluent in English and popular among decent circles. You have hezrd the kind of boys, girls wish t o marry, therefore if you wish to be loved by girls or wish to marry any, you have to attract them in all ways. �Chapter,:7 WHY BOYS MAKE FRIENDS WITH GIRLS I very much doubt; if 'why we fall in love with girls some times, is more than - to enjoy . the 'iexual . intertourse. If this ' i s not why you go. a hunting sometimes, it' is precisely why I do sb. I have noticed that several young men fall in love the wrong way. They look upon their so called swtet-hearts as their exclusive or bona-fide properties, aqd tries to rrevent another man from meeting their girl friends of which islooked upor! as a crime unpardonable. I have so maoy times wa~ched the action of certain youog men over some girls who must undoubtedly have more than three' or even more other boys, but may not disclose them for security reasons. The most stupid thing to do theiefore is for any young mah to ban other youpg men from establishing association with his so-called girl friend. This greatly contravenes the social code of decency. Nevertheleis, it is very annoying of 'any young man human beings being what they are, who, has so much on his girl, to- find another person enjoying his exclusive property, their love making is in as 1 o n'g 'as �progress. When you are i d o v e with any girl, do not trust her too much. She may naturally deceive you by. branding herself as your own alone and may be pleasing.herself from other people. It sometimes amazes me to find some young men, despite the anqoying treatments beir~gdone to men narrated in pubs and fire-sides, sacrificing their own interest to satisfy the needs of girls. It may pay you great dividend to test the. sincerity of a girl who professes to stand for your interest and well-fare. You can easily employ methods to test her seriousness, if you are wise.' Chapter 8 WHY BACHELORS SHOULD DRESS THEIR Room.. his items I have to treat dependson individual taste and capability 1 have included this item i n view c f what I have seen.of so many young bachelors who have been able to acquire quite a l o t of furniture but nrr'acge th'em'zig-zagly furthe~mor?,it inintended for a n y young man who cannot afford for a room a par.lour.and who therefore occupies a room, in a premises .where.tbereis no kitchen accomodation for' domestic uitinsils.Let -me start off, set your bed in any suitable corner of the room, preferably at corner not easily sightable by any' passers-by near your door. If your gup-board i s a polishable stuff,-stand it exactly opposiie:., y o u r main d o o r and avoid p I a c'i n g unnecessary 05 s t a i o e d pieces ' ' �of .outdated magaziries or periodicals or some soup stained plate on top of it. Your reading table should be at any co~spicous corner of your room with a chair to match driven inside the bottom space when i t is out of use. ~ h r ecushion. chairs at .the opposite i side of the bed with one following the other is not bad. A rohid table ought to be placed exactly on the ..centre of the room. Then one end of the bed should be your store for plates, buckets, soup-pots and all what not. Shade them from any visitor. You can shade them with about four yards of cloth, so that any visitor caunot see them, you can afford it, you can arrange with a carpenter for ply-wood with which to fashion an enclosure. Your bed cross should under no circumstances differ from the stuff you use for your door or windows, a little alteration may be necessary, if you bave seme. The most annoying combination is a yellow cloth for the door, a black one for the windows and a red one for the bed-cross which is too bad. If you wish to. keep with the times always try to survey the rooms of your friends when you vist them while some may be questionably bad, others may supply the model which may appeal to your interest. One more word. It's safer to own two spare pillow cases if you bave only two pillows, one .or two spare bed sheets, and two heavy blankets rugs. If you �are careless, or if your locality is the comference halls for mosquitoes net, which may not cost more than 18s o r so, the cost depending on the quality. If you taxinot afford for one, cover your white bed-sheet with a blanket or remove it entirely only to replace it accordingly the followiog morning. It may not be pleasing to a visitor sense of decency to find under your bed all odds and ends. One part of your blanket evenly drawn down to a few inches above the floor could easily conceal all these. Do not for heaven's sake. Chapter 9 M Y TWENTY ADVICE. FOR BACHELORS before Marriage. 1 Never you tell algirl whom: you will marry that you are a rich man, you have a car, bicycles, f6000 in the bank, that you will give her many servants while you are as poor as a church rat. Then when she comes and fails to see under mentioned things you promised her that you had. She will become highly offended and will regret and may even run a way from you. 2 ' D o not marrya street girl if you wish to get children easily. �-3 D o not attempt to marry while you are very young because, you will become old after the marriage D o not attempt to marry while you have not enough money so that you may not go hungry with your wife. 4 Do not marry because your mates had married because you do not know how much they have. 5 6 Never attempt to g o to any woman while you ;lave a wife, by so doing you teach your wife a lesson to d o like wise. 7 Do'not take your wife as an angel, by so doing she will brain you and you d o what ever she says with out thioking twice. 8 D o not steal to maintain your wife. D o things for h e r a s you can. 9 D o not love woman more than money but love money more than woman. 10' D o not think for money and a t the same time think for woman because two can not arrive a t the same time. Think how t o get money first. Then when you have got enough money you can then think of marriage, because it is a natural desire, that a man must think of a wife when be is up to the age. 11 if you wish t o be looked as a well dressed young man, .always watch the dresses of persons in the public.. �12 If you wish to be respected, first respect your self. D o not be a tdkertive. 13 If you would not like to live a poor life, this is your time to work hard against your old age. 14 1fyou wish to be mannered, watch how people act in their homes and out side. 15 Do not live high life, enjoy your self but know that the world is too hard. I6 Never you forget that woman liquidates a man. They only love your mooey and hate your life. 17 Always bear in your mind that ones. greatest friend is also ones great enemy. 18 Never attempt to marry a run-a-way wife, Such girls bring trouble and bad luck. 19 n o earn all you can, enjoy all you can and save all you can against future. 20 D o not fight your wife because by so doing your wife will not respect you and fighting has gone. 24 �Chapter 10 MY 13 ADVICES FOR GIRLS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 1. Any good wife should greet her husband good- morning, good-evening, good-afternoon every day. 2. A good wife should greet her husband thank 3. A good wife should not befriend any other person for ex-sexual intercourse. 4. A good wife should not fight her husband or jlou sir after each meal. any body at all. 5. A good wife should not be a lalkertive. 6. A good wife should not be wicked towards her husband's servants. 7. A good wife should call her husband master, mine, dear, my-heart, or my honey and should answer Sir, when ever she is been called. 8. A good wife should respect her husband and obey his instructions, because a "woman's husband". 25 pride is �9. A .good wife should not demand too much of chop money from her master. 10. A good wife should always call her master mine, dear, dearest, smiles always. 11. A good wife should cook in- time. 12. A good wife should know when her master is annoyed and tries to comfort him. And should know when to request things from him; 13. A good bouse wife should not go in bad company with other women. Because a bad apple spoils others. Chapter 11 DISADVANTAGES O F ,LIVING IN A ROOM with a friend. Whether you are living in Ooitsha, Aba, Enugu, or Jos do not agree to share a room. with a friend when you can conveniently care for, one. The disadvantages are as follows:- (a) Reading incoveniences; your partner, if he is a dog in the manger, may not allow you to read in the night when you feel like reading a book. 26 �(b) The annoyance of being turoed out because your partner is engaged could bs better imagined than described. (c) The offensive words of some wicked and ill-natured fellow who may come to visit your partner, is a sufficient lesson to you. (d) If your partner has already acquired sufficient furniture and other home equipments, you will have no sight to arrange for your own. and may remain only with your wearing apparels and no more until you will be asked suddenly to vacate the room for ne just cause, after which you will face the discomfort of packing to a new quarter witbout any furniture. (e) You may have the chance to entertain your. visitors as you may wish, and will have no chance to please .yourself. In short, the disadvantages are so many that I begin to suspect some young men who live on with friends for quite a long time. In writing as I have done, I don't advise any young man who has just started life to arrange for a separate accomodation. Unless he is been aided by his parents. (f) A friend divided a room with his friend who was fond of women, for a stretch of nine nights the other friend was turned out because his partner who happened to own all the furniture in the room was to enjoy a nice time with his lady-friend. �Chapter 12 H O W TO NRITE ENGAGEMENT AND MARRIAGE LETTERS From a man to his old girl friend for marriage. Udi Hill, Enugu. 99 26/7/63. Dearest Agnes. What 1 may say in this letter may come as a surprise t o you or may not. I will never miss such a person like you if you are willing. Indeed it seemed to me that you held up hops and encouragement still in me. Since we have been separated my dear, it was been absolutely crystal clear t o me that you are the one woman, 1 need in my life as a partner. T o enjoy life at your side to have the right look a t your pointed nose and your smiles. Do, will you agree t o be my wife? If you can say yes darling then, I can work and wait patiently until1 you finish your course. At the moment as you know, I am dependent upon my own earning, and these are not large at the present. Before, you finish your course, 1 must get a enough money to marry you. Write t o me as soon as you can s o that I may know myelf. Yours loving, Philip. �MISS AGNES REPLIES TO PHILIP Accepting. Bida Road, No. 44 Assa, 26/7/63. Dear in heart Philip, Your letter to-day has made me the happiest lady in the world. I wanted to dash out into the street and shout at the top of my voice, to let every body know thqperson whom I thought that had forgotten me have written me again, requesting me to marry him. Oh!' " ~ h l n ~ s not what they seems". lnfact, are on that'day I walked 'io our College it was like walking in the air. Ftdr ndt, my dear, 1 will write t o you soon. and Just now 1 am too happy to.~!~ink..straight canno know what to write due to my happiaess. Always your' own, Agnes. , This ~ e t t l comes' from a young man .to the girl he r loves to ,marry. ,His letter reads:Bank ,of West Africa Ltd. Q 0. Box 18, . 1LOR. 4/4/60. Dear Martha, I ,-have'the pleasure toask you whether you wgdd lige to marry me? �I love you too much. I am the senior .cashier of the : ~ a n kof West ~ f r i o a ,Ilor branch. I am a W a native'.of the place. I think I have not much to say now till you reply. Expecting an urgent' reply. Yours, Nathaniel Ugwu. This fetter 'comes from M s Marthn Ibekwe to Nathis aniel. Miss,Martha U g h is sorry that she has been ' engaged to a man who purchased an engagement ring worth o f £10 : 101- (ten guineas) for her. His letter reads:Ministry of Health, ..Geperal Hospital, Igwla. Dear Nathaniel Ugwu; I thank you very much for your letter of the 4/4/60. However, I am very sorry to let you know that I have been eogaged to a gentleman, Joseph okpala, of the Ministry of Education here. He I bought for me an engagement ring worth of ten ,guineas. �I cannot disappoint him for the sake of anybody. Thank you very much Yours, Martha Ugcvu. This letter comes from Obi Kalu to the girl he loves to marry. The letter reads:Kingsway Chemist, Onitsha; 2/5/60. Dear Emily, 'May I know whelher or not you have been eagaged. When I am furnish with this information, I shall write or not again. Yours, Obi Kalu. The girl Emily Uche replies. Her letter reads:Teacher Training College, Owerri-Nta, E~stern Nigeria. ' 10/5/60. Dear Mr. Kalu, I have the pleasure to inform you that I have not been engaged. .3l �Thank you for your enquiry. Yours, Emily Uche. The man, Mr. Obi Kalu writes again-to Miss Emily Uche. ' His letter reads:Kingsway Chemist, Onitsha. 18/5/60. Dear Emily, e, Thank you very much for your answer. Y s what I want to tell you is that I love you and want to marry you if you would agree. Please what is your opinion? Yours, Obi Kalu. . The girl Miss Emily in her opinion on the marriage wishes both o f them to have time to enquire about the manners, behaviours o f each one, before the marriage may get head. The reply reads: - Teachers' Training College, P. 0. Box 143, Owerri Nta, Eastern Nigeria. - 26/5/60. Dear Mr. Obi, I am interested to marry you but it must months take me good three �to make some investigations about you. Your manners. bebaviours, etc. You can also make investigations about me. I cannot just marry you because I see that you are atll, handsome, o r works in a big office. You should not also marry me simply because I am rather fmrly beautiful. We must know ourselves quite alright. I hope you will sre with my points. Yours, Emily Uche. FROM A FRIEND TO A FRIEND CONGRATULATING HIM Upon his Engagement. ' Owerri Road, Oyo Nigeria, 26/7/63. Dear Charles, 1 was very surprised to read in the newspaper this morning of your engagement aod could have wished that I have learnt of it first from you not through the press. 1 trust my dear friend that you know what you are about. Marriage is really a serious under taking even nowadays when so many young boys seem to embark dpon it very lightly. I know nothing of your fiancee personally, but I do feel that you are very young with career still to make, and ought to besitate before you embark upon the responsibilities o f marriage. I trust that your fiancee is the kind of a girl who will be a real help to you. Hoping to hear from you soon. I remain, Yours affectionately, Robert Uju. �FROM A BOY TO HIS CHAP INQUIRING why she has not written him since long time. C. K. C. Ogwo, P. 0. Box 6. 26/7/63., My beloved, It is, nearly three weeks since you wrote and I am so worried in case some thing is wrong. But I suggested that you are ill or have met with an accident. Still, I can not help worrying and imaging the case and even if all is well with you, I still feel cause to worry and wonder what is your reason for this long silence. Do write soon and tell me if any thing is wrong for 1 shall not rest till I hear from you. Yours always, Jack. REQUESTING A FRIEND TO BE BEST MAN Highway Shop, Box 66. Umuahia. 26/i/ti3. Dear Angus, I have fixed the 18th of Nov. for my wedding day and I am writing to ask you to do me the honour of being "best man". It will mean a ' great deal to me if you can do me this great service, so, I hope you will not disappoint me. The w e d d i n g will �take place ,in.,-.-. .-.-. -.-......and. I hope you will be free to stay with me for a. fey davs before hand. Yours. Henry Jackson. ' Chapter 13 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE FOR Roys and Girls. 1 Bring to the alter of msrrying,a healthy body. 2 Treat your. partner as an equal counselled with, aod work togtther in solving mutual problems. 3 Show appreciation. 4 Pappy love relations are similar to business b bargains as both parties should gain . j them. 5 Preserve self-respect. 6 partner. Do not upset the self-esteem of your 7 Do not have or .expect a rigid routine. Surprise can bring .much happiness. 8 Have eoafidence in sex.relations. Perfect love casteth out fear. 9 Control your sex life. Do not be a slave. 10 Respect love for its worth. It can be of the biggest factors in your. happiness and success. �Chapter 14 TOAST FOR THE BRIDEGROOM Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I have the greatest pleasure and respect to say something about the bridegroom, Mr..-....., ............. 1 know him from the immemorial. He is a gentleman, a man of his wordr, a quiet and God fearing fellow. However, he is pivious and irritable when crossed over too much. I am proud to s a y that since. my association with him, we have not clashed in anything and it has not come to my knowledge that he bas got trouble with anyone. His policy is not to worry anybody, and does not like to be worried. .(applause) I must tell his wife that God loves her too much to has given him this kind of husband. She is lucky very much. She is going to live with a husband who is simple, kind, sympathetic, generous, God fearing. She is going to live with a gentleman who is a friend to all and enemy to none. The large number of guests in this Hall has confirmed my re., " ---..-.---. "--.,.....-. marks on Mr... . Let me tell you, were it to be that he is a female, I will commit suicide if I don't marry "him" (Long applause); 36 �Chapter 15 LOOK AFTER YOUR SKIN I wonder how many girls give as much attention'to their skin as they do to their hair and figures. A fresh skin, glowing with health, is the basisof beauty. Remember that the care of your skin begins under the surface and a perfect skin goes hand in hand with general good health, a balanced diet and sufficient sleep. Those continueas late nights reflect on :ven the best and most perfect of' complexions. The skin is made up of several layers. The epidermis, which is the top layer, is composed of many paper thin layers. This is the layer that is most affected by cosmetic ingredients. It should be kept very very clean to help prevent spots and blemishes, dandruff falling onto the face is often the cause of spots so, check that your hair is free of it. Blackheads are the result of clogged pores and a force steam bath, or the process of "pelling" which we will discuss later, is a quick and rewarding remedy. Herr are a few ''DO'S" and DON'T'S" you on your way to a lovely skin. 87 to help �1 After washing your face with warm water rinse with cool water to close up the pores and give your skin a smooth appearance. 2 If you wear make-up clean it off every night, no matter how tired you are or how late it is. Cold cream is the best for dry skins and a liquid make-up remover for oily skins. Remove every tracs of make-up otherwise your pores will become clogged and enlarged. . . 3 Wear sun glasses if the sun is strong as constant squinting will encourage premature "crow's feet" around the eyes. 4 Nevcr pick a spot as this will only make it worse. Just dab it with an antiseptic lotion and leave it to heal. 5 After washing, don't use cream on the face immediately. Give thc pores time to close up properly. 6 Finally a gooa intake of water every day deeps your skin looking fresh and dewy. Remember beauty starts from within. Brenda Bucknor. Chapter 16 BRIDE PRICE: I I RIGHT OR WRONG? S T Only recently, The Federation of Nigerian Women's Organisation made an urgent call to all institutions concerned to denounce and abolish as a social evil the payment or demand of bride price in Nigeria as an essential part sf our institution of marriage. �This call at once sparked off a current of contro. oversial comment in the Press, the Radio and even in pubs and educational institutions. To understand the matter more closely and perhaps to give the arguments a more educative approach we have organised a series of inter secondary and college debates and symposiums. One of such debates just held was that between Marymount Girls' College, Agbor and Sacred Heart Teachers' Training College, Ubiaja. ARGUMENT On the whole the arguments adduced have been the same or at least nearly the same, and for the benefit of our youth and for the considei~tion of the Nigeria public, esptcrally the various religious, cultural and govermental institutions concerned, here are the though provoking arguments against bride price raised by the future brides and bridegrooms of this country. "Bride price makes the wife a slave to her husband. since both she and her parents not only become very indebted to her so-called husband but also the woman on her part is generally made from the outset to feel unequal to the man, since she appears to have to contributed nothing substantially to secure the ' �matrimonial contract. As it were, the husband can always look up and say: "You are the fruit of my labour", thus regardiog the wife just as one of tht various items of property in his house. The sound reasoning in this argument leaves nothing to comment upon. Therc is no doubt that, thus viewed, the payment of bride price doubts marriage with the odious name of "slavery." Howbeir, the recent payment' of heavy dowry on the part of the bride in the form of 'presents' usually offsets this feeling of indebtness' on the part of the bride and her parents who can thus equally brag. "We gave so much." Bride price as a custom iscontrary to the l a w of Nature, because daughters, thus sold are free gifts of nature to parents, who therefore have no right to make nature's gifts, a marketable commodity. Chapter 17 MARRIAGE The lower animals, it has b x n argued, are therefore more law-abiding than humans, because, they neither give nor take in marriage, �yet they reproduce and .multiply:" One, however, m3y well csk if thoze ~ t h r llrings r yams, beans and fowls we buy and sell arc not equally natures gifts as well. Again, if human beings should reproducz and multiply without propzr attachments, would that not amount to prostitution? There you are. You must look a t the way you please. "Bride price encourages corruption and immotality in our society today, because it bars many poor men and women from marrying at all and prevents some from marrying their chosen wives simply becauuse they cannot pay for them. Many bachelors and spinsters are. thus left floating the men turning to 'wolves', as our, girls at times call them, and the women flocking into the hotels also for "wo!fish practices". What a case against bride price this is! But X thiok this is true only where parents ask very high prices far their daughters. And watch, price have been indeed very high these days, except of course in Eastern Nigeria where the bridegroon has to hand over his legally stipulated £35 under police escort to his fatherin-law! PROBLEM And what father-in-law would accept a police his s e r g e a n t i n �house'under such a situalion? We must think it all over again, you see. "Since bride price prevents many men and women from marrying at all, it therefnre.creates the problem of depopulation. Nigeria may therefore soda suffer from depopulation and may in future even be threatened by the danger of lack of man-power in her trade, industry, the civil service and the professions." This point in .fact needs urgent investigation by Nigerian economists.. .The pros and cons of such a situation should be studied and precaution taken before it prover too lap, f i r Rome herself had suffered such disaster in her long and checked history and lack: of man-power had cost her, her old empire, DEMAND "Bride price is demanded because some parents are,poor and need some compensation for parting witb thcir daughters who help them in maintain the family and in manual work, and not necessarily because parents do not know that such a practice is evil." Then one may ask: "How far does such money t o r e m o v e r e c e i v e d g 0 42 �the poverty and the vant? . Cer~ainlynot beyond the elbow. "Bride price stains relationship between the son and the father-in-law, sioce the young husband, after stripping himself naked to pay too much, soon decides to keep himself to'himself and leave in abeyance the relationship that cost him so much. ENCOURAGEMENT "Bride p r i e encourages .debt and bave often led to bankruptcy which has ruin:d many families, because many men do borrow money at high interestpates during marriage, which debts they are later hardly able. to. pay since responsibility soon grows with family and man's economic condition grqws worse. At best this may lead to divorce or yet add to unhappiness in marital life!' 'Bride price is averse to justice and democracy, because it is one sided enriching the parents of the bride (who in fact may bave spent less on the education of their daughter) by robbing the couple and the parents of of the bridegroom, at time'to the poiat of desitution. �DEMOCRACY It destroys democracy because, thus "bought," the housewife bxomes econon~ically, socially and morally "bonded" to her husband and henceforth never bold enough to stand on equal footingwith the man she calls her "partner." "Bride price therefore is a social evil which should henceforth be. stamped out as not of date and obnoxious to the modern progressive democracy of Nigerian society." Howbeit, is goes without saying that the arguments so far adduced, bowever sound and reasonable, have obviously been one sided. In such a aontrovercial topic, we must lough both ends of the stick then weigh,and consider before we draw our conclusions. For the other side of the matter, please what really do you think? Ne\erthcless keep it to your self and turn t o this page again next time for The case in favour of Bride.-Theresa Chapter 18 EEWARE THE SIREN SPINSTERS! I have just stumble on a new fact. Lagos spinsters prefer married men as boy-friends. I was put into this secrct by a beautiful gin swiggiog �but deadly siren who thought shr was taking me for a ride when in fact, the.shoc: v a < on the other foot. I'ai a journalist, with all the journalist's failings. I was loaking for a copy, and tc. g:t it I did not care to buy as much gin as possible or even ti; pretend to a make advances to the beauhfd liarror. T me all was done i n course of my profession all, including my being drunk under the tablz, my stealing a hot kiss, nig promising to hire a furnished flat and much other jibbity-gabbity of a man in love. - Thr thing started this way. I hzd asked a young friend of mine to get me in touch with the most articulate of Lagos spinsters. In no time, hc had orgiinied the most eye-cntching me. Oa the appointed dav. I took the beautiful siren ta a Favourits drinking place of mine. What would you like to drink? I asked. "Gin please," the siren cooed. And gin was brought while 1 had my inevitable b m . Ona gin, two gin, thrre gin, four gin, Damn! I held to. I waned the siren to be soused propertly before giving her the line. 1 held to until she got her tenth gin. She was still on the thing when I s3rted to hah and to hawk and toeh. I was agonizing over my lind of approttch. Very soon I found one. �1 said to the siren, you are beautiful. But for my status, I would have liked to befriend you. What a pity that I married without searching deeper searching for you. I dried up and waited. But I did not wait for long After clearing her throat, he siren said. Well, I don't see that znything has gone wrong. 1 also would like to be your friend, You are generous. You belong to the Lagos high society. You hold a high executive post in your place ofwork. You have a !avishcar. You are not ugly as a man. You have everything that warms the cockless of a girl's heart. I m ready for ' you if you want it in that way. I was flummoxed, I did not know that the apple would fall by my merely leaning on the tree. I wanted to make sure that the siren was not pulling my leg. I said, But what of my wife? Won't she be a hindrancz? Supposing any thing goes wrong? You would be left high and dry you know. I won't claim the thing or admit responsibility. To do either would lead me to a divorce court. Look here, J won't like you to feel. deceived. That's why I have put my cards on the table. face up. Shall I give you rime to go home and consider some of the inplications of what you are about to undertake? The beautiful siren was smiling beautifully. She said, There's notbing to consider. Many of us prefer �married man.. They ars safer. They are more responsible. They won't clolit you if they find you in company of someone else. To do that would givc them away. They never argue with your request if you make 2ay. They fear that to refuse would turn you into a blackmailer. And if baby cnmcs they pay anything to get rid of it or they simply .turn its moth:~'~ into everyday paradise. life They please so because they are afraid of being betrayed. And there i s another thing. A married man is a better lover because hc thinks he finds in his girl friend the sercnity and love he docs not fjnc in his wife. He is better fun too because he is a great ' m illusionist. Don't agonize on my behalf. I game. Are you? And I wzs. I was game bccause I feared that my secrct wou!d find me out if I cried off thc girl therc and then. So we became lovcrs I continued to pay for enormous quantities of gin to receive in turn many illuminating lectures on the minds of Lagos spinsters. Some of the lectures wcrc amusing, but some were frightening. Until then I did not know that a great love could develope from a conscious effort to cheat. I thoaght the siren was out for a good time. �It soon came out that she was out to possess me.. On the third week of my affair with the siren. 1 started getting many strange telephone calls from some people that I had never known, and the question all of them always put t o me was. I s i t true that you will soon be divorcing your wife t o marry Miss so and s o ? After I had had this terrifying inquiry for three days, I became quite disorganised. My reaction was violent. I barred the siren from communicating me. 1 also took measures to ensure that we never met. Sbe did not take my reaction lying down. She pleaded with my friends t o persuade me. She told some of them that she would commit suicide if I did not change my mind. But 1 stood firm. Not even for journalism would I sacrifice my marriage. What really happened? The siren was not joking about the tale she told her friends. From cheating me she had grown t o loving me desperately to the point of taking steps to force the dissolution of my marriage. And let ma say that there are many married men who, a s they are reading this, are facing. the same danger. Many spinsters in Lagos don't gwe a hoot about what other women they throw over to achieve their ambition-which is t o marry into homes that have already been built up by other women. ��.. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY NJOKU & SONS My $pen daughters a n after 'young boys 39. : o play love t ,,,,.,, <:,.+.+~.. 4 3s 6d .. .( ?. .ld 3s 6d W e story of boys and g i b [$~,:,Q&,!iJ.$i 2s 6d How to make k v e with bo?g Love shall n k r End 3s 6d Beware o Woma f 2s 6d A Guide 1.0 Marfikge ; I c r ; A 6d H w to kn& Hausa, Igbo, Ydruba and English o 2s 66 Why bop of nowadays don% trust their girl friends 2s 6d The ' way to Sueceed ii Wfe 3s How to write Love Letters 3s 6d How Tshombc and Mobutu regretled after. the death 3s6d of Mr Lurnumbg How to writs good English, Letten & Compositions 3s 6d A Guide to Lovers (It pWq) 2s 6d No condition is Perman. nt 2s6d The game of love and How t o play it Never trust all People nwadays for salutat;on is not Love Why boys of nowadays don't mmy in time HOWt p t n bdy in Love, o How to write better 1etters.app~cations and busincsr letters , HOW , <'." ,; ' ,. .. -; + . :,, A..-. Send your Orders -a , G .A to: NJOKU & SONS BOOKSHOP c/o, 6 Aroudiuogu Street, Fegge Onitshs Nigeria. If You want our CaJD09 r n d 36 stamp aprcessld -customers. - - v, , . . � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The African bachelor's guide and lady's guide : to be read before marriage and after it Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Diala, Cy Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Onitsha, [Nigeria] : Njoku & Sons Bookshop Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1963? Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Chapbooks, Nigerian Marriage Nigerian literature (English) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3273 Description An account of the resource This guide offers general advice for unmarried men and women as well as married couples in eighteen short chapters. The forward notes that the theme of the pamphlet is "look before you leap," (pg.4). An entertaining chapter 13 lists "The Ten Commandments of Love for Boys and Girls." Several of the commandments reveal a feminist viewpoint, including the following--No. 2: "Treat your partner as an equal counseled with, and work together in solving mutual problems" and No. 5: "Preserve self respect." Two others deal explicitly with sexuality--No. 8: "Have confidence in sex relations. Perfect love casteth out fear" and No. 9: "Control your sex life. Do not be a slave."The last commandment serves as a summation of Diala's message--No. 10:"Respect love for its worth. It can be of the biggest factors in your happiness and success, (pg.35).<br /><br />Some of the chapters cover lighter issues such as wedding toasts and skincare, but Diala is not afraid to tackle heavy subjects such as "Bride price:Is it right or wrong?" (pg.38). At the end, however, the author closes with a cautionary tale about "siren spinsters" who harbor a destructive preference for married men as lovers, (pg.44-48). Thus, the "modern" outlook expressed throughout much of the pamphlet remains overshadowed by an uneasiness with liberated women. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a>