Chapter Twelve

 

Babatunde studied the Governor as he invited him to be part of the blueprint for the state. He felt something was fishy but he could not place his finger on it. He had heard on the grapevine that the Governor was interested in running for a second term and he suspected it wasn’t intended for the progress of the state but a purely for the success of a second term. Babatunde understood that as a traditional king he had no business being partisan and he had strenuously kept that in mind.

He made non-committal comments about being part of the progress of the state and assured the Governor that every patriotic citizen was committed to the progress of the state. Then the Governor asked the Commissioner to excuse them. He gave Babatunde a level stare as soon as the Commissioner had left and announced that he needed the traditional help of the Kabiyesi.

Babatunde kept his gaze level as he asked for a clearer explanation of what he meant.

“I hear if I make a supplication to your grove, you could find your way to ensuring that the second term bid is a foregone conclusion.”

Babatunde sighed and shook his head, explaining that the Governor was listening to myths. “We worship the Truth, Your Excellency, that is why we are not allowed to swear or allow masquerades in the town. Our festival is white, if you like you can come to the grove and see things for yourself.”

The Governor was silent for a while then he commented that he had heard that a prince from the town was planning on raising opposition to his second term bid. He asked that Babatunde should call the prince and talk him out of it as he was willing to make it right for the town. He made promises of ensuring the road were tarred and said he was going to sink a borehole in the next few weeks.

Babatunde’s eyes narrowed and he said he had no way of enforcing compliance but suggested the Governor could ensure votes if he made the promises he just said factual. Babatunde said it would be a good idea if the Governor set a benchmark of being the Governor who made promises and kept them.

Babatunde was not ready to antagonize the government and simply thanked the Governor and said he would convey to the residents in his town that the government cared about their welfare.

The Governor gave him a long stare and smiled. He appreciated the comments and stood up. That signaled that the meeting was over; both men rose to their feet as a young man came in carrying a big plastic bag. The Governor explained that the contents were to take care of the fueling costs of Kabiyesi. Babatunde inclined his head but said nothing.

The next morning, a black jeep with tinted glass was delivered to the palace courtesy of the government. There was a letter attached indicating that all traditional kings of first and second-class cadre were all supplied with jeeps. The letter explained that it was in keeping with the policies of the state that the traditional institutions should be treated with the respect and dignity of their offices.

Babatunde read the letter with a sarcastic smile on his lips. The next letter gave him food for thought as it announced that he was being elevated and had been appointed as a chancellor to one of the state universities. Babatunde knew he was being bribed but he wondered what was to be his contribution.

Prince Adejare visited in the evening, and teasingly stated that Kabiyesi was now in the big boys’ league.

“A jeep no less, my Kabiyesi.”

Babatunde smiled as he wondered aloud who was the prince that was intending to compete with the Governor on his second term bid. Adejare shrugged saying he had no idea but he heard stories that Adewunmi was making moves to go political and had been seen holding meetings with some youth in the town.

If Babatunde was surprised he gave no indication as he asked for a further progress report from Adejare about the sawmill wood factory and if anything concrete had been done.

Agbari came round the next morning to tell him that there was a plan to ensure that the town motor park had a mechanic village attached to it and he wanted Kabiyesi’s blessing.

Babatunde was impressed and said he would ensure the land next to the village motor park was ceded to them as a mechanic village. He learnt from Agbari that Agbari himself had been a mechanical engineer. That information surprised him and he questioned the young man further on why he had opted for scamming business rather than pursue his own. Agbari disclosed that he had not gotten a job, and he stressed that he was willing to accept any job at all but had gradually drifted into the wrong crowd and became a fraudster.

Babatunde was pained by such a waste but consoled Agbari that all was not lost yet. He promised to ensure a speedy construction of the mechanic park and asked him to talk to all the mechanics in the town.

When Agbari left, Babatunde sat in deep thought. He was in that contemplative state when Tope his brother came to look for him. Tope asked him what the problem was, and he gave his brother the slightest of smiles.

“That means I should keep my mouth shut, right?”

“I have not said that; how is Papa? I should visit him soon.”

“He is fine and so is Iya and my mother. Next?”

Babatunde laughed and stretched his horsetail toward his brother signifying peace

Tope informed him that he could have the piece of land for the pharmacy house Babatunde wanted to build.

Babatunde thanked him but seemed absent minded and Tope indicated that he was about to leave when Babatunde spoke his thoughts aloud. “Have you noticed that Nature has a better pharmacy than we have? For every ailment, there is a cure, and Nature’s cure has no side effects. I was reading a book the other day and was impressed that when an ailment is about to emerge, Mother earth sends the cure in advance. Olodumare has pre-empted our actions and supplied everything we could possibly need. Money is just a concept we created to compensate for services or goods. I wonder why we feel we must accumulate it to the level that we lose the sense of the real reason why we incarnate at all.”

He gave his brother a brooding look and asked him if he had further information about the indigo people. Tope sighed and explained that he had checked the lead he had and found that Adewunmi is making plans to come into prominence again so he was not sure which of the political parties he was going to join, but there were indications that he would oppose the ruling Governor’s party.

“You know, I innocently assumed that all that I am required to do here is uphold the traditions of the town and ensure progress comes to this town in this new age, but I feel washed with mud each time I am to relate with certain personages. I am learning fast, the art of silence and its powerful weapons. Now I understand the injunction that the true initiates are close mouthed people.”

Tope asked what was making him talk in that manner, and Babatunde shook his head stating that he just felt like an old man. That comment made Tope laugh, but he agreed that Babatunde was talking like an old man now. He imagined that being the traditional ruler, things would have changed and he said he felt sorry for his brother, who he assumed never had a chance to sow wild oats before being asked to become a king.

They chatted for a while until Tope asked to be excused. They had become friendlier since Babatunde became king. Tope would happily run errands for Babatunde now and always was willing to give him information about what was happening around town that Babatunde would otherwise not know. It was Tope who told Babatunde what was happening about the indigo people and informed him that they were basically strangers from out of the state with close links to the Northern part of the country. He had led some people to lay siege on their hideout and brought the leader to the palace.

Babatunde had told the man that it was in their best interests not to be seen within the vicinity of the town or its outlying villages. Babatunde, in very cold tones, had told the man to take his rituals someplace else if he could not stop the practice, and quietly told the police to raid the hideout.

Babatunde was happy about the information he received from his brother and also about the political dreams of Prince Adewunmi.