Chapter 15: Office Gist and Lagos Hierarchy

Bookstore sign long contract with the company across, so I dey always volunteer to run errand there. Sometimes, I go see Chief Olumide from far.

Na opportunity I dey look for, but the man dey always busy, dey waka with men wey dress like SSS.

He always wear black, no dey add any other colour. Only the white shirt collar dey different.

I dey wonder if na spiritual reason, or na just personal style. Some Yoruba chiefs like to keep their mourning cloth.

He dey move fast, always with men in suit, dem dey bow head.

Na so hierarchy strong for office—if oga dey pass, everybody clear road.

For people eye, he cold, nobody dey near am, nothing like the man I see that night wey weak.

Dem dey fear am pass principal for secondary school.

Sometimes, as I pass office, I go hear workers dey gist for break room.

Na so gossip dey fly—mouth nor dey close for office matter.

Dem talk say their wicked oga office no get any colour—not even flower. Everywhere just grey, black, dey suffocate.

Person fit suffocate for inside that place, no joy at all.

Chief Olumide’s wife wey die early no be secret. Maybe because the son dey come company, or maybe because of the plain ring wey he dey wear, never remove.

For Naija, man wey keep ring after wife die, na love real pass film.

Dem even talk say Chief Olumide, the way he dey live like monk, na because of the late wife.

He nor dey chop anyhow, nor dey follow women, na only work and pikin e know.

I hug books, head down, waka pass quietly.

I nor wan join people gossip. Make dem nor add my own to the gist.

For the first time, I begin wonder if I make mistake to agree for this mission.

My spirit dey shake. If love strong like this, who I be?