THE LAST OF THEM ABU SARAI MAIGIDA

i THE LAST OF THEM by ABU SARAI MAIGIDA DEDICATION To all voters in Africa and beyond, who are often denied the natural right to express their opinion and freedom of choice, by selfish and perverted politicians in the name of a strange adaptation of democracy.

ii FOREWORD This short play is out to point out to well-meaning members of the public, especially those who participate in the election process to choose those who govern them that they have that inalienable right to express themselves and satisfy their conscience at all times, including election time. The author tries to direct the younger generation whose future is often at stake to defy demagogic and visionless self-appointed political leaders who want to manipulate the people only to achieve self-centered goals. The book also seeks to raise awareness and make people realize that they need to be meaningfully involved in what affects their lives through proper entrenchment of democracy.

iii CAST Hamma Mia – Politician Chief – Monarch Kabura – Youth leader Sokoro – Youth Ilo – Youth Sanda – Bigot Tinna – Bigot Wasaku – Kabura’s father Marya – Kabura’s sister Juma – Mia’s errand boy Elders Party officials Other youth Thugs, etc.

1 ACT ONE Scene I (Some young people meet near the market place. A town crier is heard from afar) Kabura: Good day. How is work and everything else? Others: It’s well. Thanks to the Creator. Ilo: The town crier did not pass through our area. So I did not hear his message. Did anyone of you hear him? Tinna: It is to do with the coming elections. He is announcing series of meetings to be held in preparation for the polls. I learnt that the leader would arrive any time from now to give direction. Kabura: Give direction or directives? It is at times like this when elections are at hand that we see him and his likes in our midst. It is at times like this that they take the pains of suspending the comfort of their Porsche houses, cars and chains of girlfriends to visit us. Tinna: Why are you talking like that? Is he not our own man; an indigene of this place? Has he not been trying his best for

2 our people and community as well? Kabura: Call him an indigene or even “son of the soil”, he knows better than you and I where he belongs. I think he is under compulsion to identify with this place, because as a politician you need a place of birth within the country even if you are a foreigner. As for trying his best or not it depends on what you see as his best. Going by attracting government attention for development to this place, his “best” has proved to be inadequate. But if you mean to say that he has been succeeding in deceiving our old ones with paltry sums of money and sweet tongue over the years and setting them against us their own children, then his “best” has been more than enough. Tinna: But our man is our man. Other communities are yearning for leadership to have sense of direction. They even envy us. I think we should thank God for giving us one. Sokoro: To be candid the man has failed us. Not even a quarter of the promises he made over the years has been fulfilled. No employment for our youth; no social amenities; education has turned to something else; no assistance for our farmers and artisans. I wonder what he really has in mind for this place. Kabura: Underdevelopment! It is clearly written all over the place. All his efforts are geared towards making this place more wretched than he met it. The man must have a secret motive for vengeance over perceived or actual slight by some elements of this community one time or the other. Tinna: Since he is yet to arrive, let us wait for him. I still feel that he has good plans for us. Mind you, the country is densely populated and everyone wants to have their share of the

3 national cake. Sokoro: Maybe our own share of the cake, if we are counted at all, is being diverted or hijacked by some smarter fellas. We still cannot exonerate our man, no matter what. He positioned himself as our eyes up there. Others: Yes, no amount of blame-shifting can clear him. Scene II (Meeting at the house of one of the town elders and staunch supporter of Hamma Mia) Elder: Good evening everybody. Chorus: Good evening. Elder: Is it well with everyone? I hope our various work and vocations are moving smoothly. May God continue to put hand in our affairs. Chorus: Ameen. Elder: The purpose of this meeting is twofold. Without taking too much of your time I would go straight to the issues at hand to enable us all retire to bed and rest for the night. Our man, our political leader and torch bearer, Hamma Mia sends his warmest regards to you all and your families. He told me to express his appreciation for the unflinching support you people have given him over the years. He says he is most grateful and implores you not to relent as the dividends of democracy are just round the corner. Everybody’s dreams would soon be realised.

4 Secondly, he says I should remind our people that general elections are fast approaching and it is in our best interest to all work for our party by calling people to vote, so that we would not be left out in the scheme of things. We should participate in large numbers so that we would have mouth to talk in the long run. We remain active members of the party for life. Nothing should waiver us. If I may add; I think we should all stick to our man who has been leading us all along. In politics it does not pay to wander from one party to another. In doing so you would continue to be a stranger and would be treated as such by those you meet in the new party with its existing structures. So I implore us all to remain where we are known to belong. Our leader would not disappoint us. He would bring our share of the dividends of democracy right to our doorsteps. Who has anything to say? Tinna: I greet our elders and all the rest of the people gathered here tonight. I want to highlight the fact that there are insinuations in the town that our leader has not done anything for us since the last election and some people are likely going to back out of the general fold this time. But I want to draw the attention of such people and everyone else to the fact that Hamma Mia has been trying his best for us. Even before he was elected Member of Parliament he has been running here and there, including overseas, making sure he brings development to this town and the land in general.

5 Remember that the country is a large one and everybody is struggling to get their share. At least apart from him as MP we also have other political appointees at local level. He tries his best to ensure that our quota is not lost to anyone or place. Sokoro: He could not have given our quota to anyone outside this land nor could he have given it to goats or sheep. The most important appointments people are talking about are those of the various categories of school leavers. We know that even with the “embargo” on employment job seekers are being absorbed day in day out from other places. Our man is said to be in charge of a committee that has influence in all government ministries and agencies, but how many of our young ones has he fixed anywhere? The few manual boreholes sunk by the local authority which he claims were brought by him are dry right from day one. They have no water because there was no survey done in the first place. Their location was informed by Mia’s closeness to the people in whose backyards the pumps were erected. What else has he done to warrant our support? I think the last speaker is being pricked by conscience. Sanda: Mia has done a lot. People are only ungrateful. During fasting he led other political office holders to flood the entire land with provisions – milk, tea, sugar – free, to encourage people to fulfill their religious obligation. He also paid for two people to go for pilgrimage. Even the last speaker, Mia assisted your uncle’s in-law with some money when his sister’s husband was hospitalized. No funeral ceremony or festival would pass without Mia sending some money. The list is long. I don’t see any reason

6 why people should not be fair to him. Sokoro: Thank you for your analysis. But do you know that it is not all these “beneficiaries” of Mia’s “magnanimity” that asked or begged him for assistance? We cannot all descend to your way of thinking. But you should also know that even commoners assist their relations and neighbors in various ways from time to time. And whenever he does anything for party executives and a few cronies it should not be interpreted as having carried everybody along. In short, if that is your idea of achievement for an elected political office holder at the first tier, then it’s a pity. It indicates a lot is wrong with some youth. 2ndElder: From which house are you, young man? How can you be talking like that of a man who we all consider as our leader and torch bearer? If people from other places should hear what you have just said they would not only laugh at us, they would consider us as ingrates. You may not know that other people envy us for having Mia as our own. Please, shun such type of utterances. Sanda: You are just being unfair to Mia. He is such a very busy man struggling for our sake. If you don’t know it let me tell you that he is the closest man to the president of the country. The president cannot and does not do anything without consulting him. He is also the ambassador of the country in one of the Oyibo countries and he dictates what the governor and other officers do at the state and local levels. In fact that is why we don’t see him often at home. He is also…

7 Kabura: (Cuts in) Something is really wrong. We have a long way to go. Sokoro, I think we should be going. (They leave with a few others) 3rdElder: Young people of nowadays can be too ambitious. How can anyone try to score a man of Mia’s caliber so low when other communities are yearning to have his like to save them from oblivion. I think we should thank God for having him even if he is not doing anything as some people say. That young man must be checked. His utterances can only fetch us shame and more importantly, Mia must not hear them. Lest, we the entire community, may lose. 1stElder: Thank you very much for that elderly remark. But we cannot keep everything away from Mia. We must pinpoint all those who are against him. I am sure he knows how to take care of them. So far, we have had a peaceful meeting and I thank everybody for attending and contributing to its success. You would all be invited for a general meeting with Mia when he arrives. Good night. Tinna: (Improvises a song while Sanda and a few children answer in chorus) Mia is an achiever! Chorus: People are only ingrates! Tinna: Mia is a performer! Chorus: Humans are only ingrates! Scene III

8 (Wasaku’s home. He discusses with his children Kabura and Marya) Kabura: Good morning father. Wasaku: Good morning. How was your night? Kabura: It was alright even though I didn’t sleep much. Wasaku: Why? I thought you came back from the meeting early enough to have good sleep. Kabura: I did, but there was some thinking to do. Wasaku: To the extent of losing sleep? You are a young man with few problems. What is that that is bordering you? Kabura: Not my person per se. (Marya enters) Marya: Good morning father, good morning brother. Wasaku and Kabura: Morning Wasaku: So on whose behalf are you losing sleep? Kabura: The decay in the land and the blood of mediocrity running in the veins of the youth of today. Wasaku: How do you mean? Kabura: I mean with the practical absence of amenities or any meaningful government presence in our community some, indeed majority of our people are praise-singing Hamma Mia as an achiever. Low expectation which is the burden of the older ones is understandable because they neither went to school nor have most of them ever travelled out to see other places. But the

9 young ones who claim to have gone to school somehow refused to get educated. One of them was enumerating the petty charity the likes of which I or any other person in this locality does everyday unsung as Mia’s achievements for so many years as MP. They seem to have been conceived, born, fed and nurtured with lethargy. It is disheartening. Marya: Are you saying the man has not done much? At least he has a house here and he is generous to some extent. Kabura: In whose house do you expect him to lodge if he didn’t build his own? That is for his own convenience. As for generosity, he cannot feed all of us in this town alone not to talk of our environs. What is needed is something that would benefit everybody individually and collectively. Wasaku: It is you young people that know all that. As for us we cannot oppose the man because majority of us, especially the town leaders, are solidly behind him. And should anyone suggest the contrary or even make any observation that does not go down well with their position on any issue such person is blacklisted. Your observation would be construed as hatred for the man and for progress of the land. Kabura: But for how long shall this continue? Wasaku: Until God probably intervenes. Kabura: God has since intervened. To hold Him responsible for our condition is unfair, if not a sin. Wasaku: How do you mean? If God has intervened why are we still suffering? Don’t you think Mia and other leaders’ hearts would have become lighter and filled with sympathy for

10 the common man and work to alleviate our problems? Kabura: The truth is that God has been kind with us from day one. From creation He provided everything for us including wisdom and discretion. It is the positive or negative manipulation of these endowments that manifest into development or decay of the society with man at the center. That explains why exists a sharp contrast between our part of the world and other climes where leaders who undertake to superintend on the affairs of their state and its people do so with respect and sense of purpose. Marya: (Cuts in) But our politicians are always complaining of scarce resources and the people’s unlimited wants. Don’t you think they are being kind to be ready to part with some gifts from time to time especially on demand by those who depend on them, and also on election days? Kabura: What we are saying goes largely beyond the individual or a handful of individuals. If leaders choose to put their wisdom – knowledge, experience, altruism, etc – to good use, complaints from their followers would be minimal. If they are transparent and selfless people under them would learn to limit their wants and see resources at their disposal as abundant. If, for instance, our father here feeds the family with the farm yields, sells the surplus and takes care of every member’s needs according to what is available, I don’t think any one of us would complain or blame him for not treating us well. At least we are free to search for more depending on our capabilities as individuals or even collectively. Nobody is expected to perform magic to cater for people. Why I said God has long intervened for us is that He has imbued us with acumen to differentiate between right and

11 wrong, between good and bad, between the desirable and the undesirable. It is for us to choose between any of those extremes. God would never register as a voter or vote on election days. We do the voting consciously and as free men and women. If we continue to allow shortsightedness induced by greed and immediate gains to influence our choice of leaders, we should have the moral courage to leave God out of it when counting our losses in the long run. As far as electing responsible people to run our affairs is concerned, our destiny is in our hands, period. Marya: Are you suggesting that we should stop voting for the usual people? Who else shall we switch to? Most of their opponents have no money to spray on people, you think the crowd would go with them? Kabura: That is why everybody must wake up. People must project beyond a day’s meal and also think of the future. After your secondary education you need to go further to higher institution. You need firm assurance the institution would be there not as shadow but real in every sense, and affordable too. Those who give out money know they are buying our votes so at the end of the day they convince themselves they are not owing anybody any accountability. People must watch out. Wasaku: As I said before the onus remains on the younger generation to fashion out a sense of direction. As for us there is little we can do.

12 ACT TWO Scene I (Mia’s house, meeting with some town elders) Mia: It’s a pleasure uniting with you again after so many days. I hope I have met you all in good conditions of health; and I also hope all your activities are moving on well. All: It’s well with us all. You are welcome. 1stElder: We have been expecting you to come or at least send someone to us in view of the coming elections. We know you are always occupied with state affairs, so we did not blame you. It is our fervent prayer that God continues to preserve you as you labour for our sake. You are very welcome. 2ndElder: We are very happy to see you. It is a sign of the success we are about to reap in the polls. You are assured of our support as usual. Others: No doubt about that! We don’t know any other person anywhere except you. You are our own, our eyes and our torch bearer. You can always count on us.

13 Mia: Thank you very much. I know I can always rely on you. The elections are just a few days ahead and I want every one of you to try their best to woo as many people as possible to vote for our party. As I have always told you, don’t mind the candidate, it is the party that matters. Once the party emerges winner in all the offices contested, then we would be counted among the majority, making it easier for our voice to be heard at all levels of government. So, talk seriously to your family members, especially the young men and women not to get any ideas from elsewhere. We must be seen to be consistent so that we shall all have cause to smile at the end of the day. We would get them jobs and scholarships to further their education, among other good things we are planning for them. 1stElder: You have touched a very sensitive area. I should not hide it that some of our youths are discontented, although there is no sign of rebellion. There were evidences of this during our meeting before your arrival. More attention needs to be paid to them in this electioneering period. Mia: Thank you for the information. But don’t worry. I would take adequate care of them. (Dips hand into pocket for a moment counting and brings out some new bank notes equal to their number) Take this for kola. Share it among those of you that are here. I would be seeing more of you in the course of the next few days. Now, let me go and greet the chief. (He rises while elders share their gift before dispersing). Scene II (At the palace. Mia prostrates in greeting, then sits on the floor)

14 Mia: May your life never end! Chief: You are welcome. How are your family and also the leaders at the headquarters? Mia: Everybody is fine, thank you. Chief: But it has been quite some time since you visited us last. I hope all is well. (Looks at Mia’s face and quickly adds) I know it is the rigors of your schedule. The business of governance is a hectic one. Even those of us here at the grassroots know what we go through with the dawn of each day. May God continue to help us. Mia: Amin. I am happy to be with you again. It is not by deliberate design that I keep away from home for so long. As you rightly observed, it is our nature of work. As a title holder, given the choice, I would have been more frequent in coming. However, I am sure you are aware of the coming elections. As usual you are enjoined to try your best on our behalf. (Looks round to make sure no wrong ears are listening) The Leader wants every community leader, especially monarchs to tighten their belt and work assiduously for the party. Not only them, government officials too. In short, anyone who allows the party to lose in their constituencies will summarily lose their position. That is the message. Chief: There is no problem with that. My loyalty cannot be doubted. I ` know more than anyone else that were it not for the Leader’s benevolence I would not have been in this position. One good turn deserves another. Even before you arrived, it is this loyalty that I have always harped on to my lesser chiefs and our subjects. You can count

15 on us. I will convene a meeting of all village and community heads right away and by evening the message would have reached every corner of this land. You can go and rest in your house, people will certainly be coming to see you. But if you want to take a nap my guest house is available to shield you from too much disturbance. Mia: Oh, thank you. They are welcome. At this time and period no disturbance can be too much. Success is our goal and we can sacrifice anything to attain it. (Moves closer to his host, dips hand inside pocket and brings out a pack of new bank notes) This is for your understanding. You have a slot each for both pilgrimages, and two for employment. May we have cause to glorify God at the end of the day. Chief: May God be with you, the Leader and the party. In fact I will drive home the message to everybody in this land. It would be impressed on everyone that the only alternative to supporting the party is to park out of my domain. Scene III (At Mia’s house, meeting with caucus) Mia: Good day everyone. How is life with you? Since the last time I came here it is only the chairman that has come to the city twice or so. Even though we speak on telephone with most of you I expected you to find time to visit me once in a while. That notwithstanding, we all know what is at hand. Have you people been doing anything by way of preparation? Chairman: I have been visiting our members in the entire land to make sure we are intact. Sometimes we go together with any

16 executive member that is handy. I can assure that we have no cause to fear. Mia: It’s okay if that is true. Politics is a daily affair. It’s a pity that I am overly occupied up there. Secretary: I don’t agree with what the chairman has just said. In fact there are disgruntled elements here and there. Indeed the chairman’s idea of visiting our people is to go to a village after the other to socialize with his friends and concubines. It cannot fetch us any positive thing as far as elections are concerned. He doesn’t even carry any of us along in running party affairs. Chairman: That is treacherous of him. I try my best to satisfy every one of the executives. Any time something comes from above I make sure everybody is catered for. Treasurer: Who knows how much you are given or the quantity of materials sent for certain purpose? What you do is to just send our individual shares to our houses instead of allowing us to see and take part in the sharing… Mia: (Cuts in) Take it easy. Chair, you must be fair to your people. You know the party is greater than any one person. It is the collective effort that can lead to our success. And you know better than any other person that we must not lose. It is our watchword – victory at all cost. Chairman: I have been trying my best since I was appointed. It is not true that I do everything all alone. The party Elder can bear me witness. There is nothing I do without first consulting him. In fact he approves of every action I take. Elder: It is true, the chairman is not alone in taking decisions. Even though we don’t travel together, he keeps me abreast of

17 developments concerning our party. And any time there is problem, which is rare, we tackle it together. I can say we are doing well. Mia: That’s okay. We should all buckle up for the task at hand. Later we would draw a formula for disbursing available finance. This time nothing much was released from the top. The leaders said political office holders must do counterpart funding for the polls. In any case we’d do our best. I learnt there are pockets of dissent here and there. Who and who are behind it? Tinna: I believe it is still at budding stage and can be nipped if carefully handled. Sanda: What sort of care? Me, I will say it openly. It is Kabura and Sokoro that have been critical of you sir. They are such ungrateful people. I am sure they cannot do any meaningful harm to us. Your personality will overwhelmingly cover any anti-party move they or any other person or persons will want to stage. Elder: Those two need proper handling. They were particularly rude during our last meeting. From the way they spoke it was clear they lack home training. It is only children who have no respect for their parents that openly display such impudence before elders as they did two days ago. Sanda: There are some more that are prepared to go with them. I know all of them. Even though they have not come out openly, there is no doubt they would soon join Kabura and Sokoro. The leader must handle them properly. I suggest they be arrested and taken away to the capital city indefinitely.

18 Mia: Not yet. Don’t worry, we would take care of them at the appropriate time. Chair! Arrange for the town crier to announce tomorrow’s meeting. It is to be a general one. Now let us take a rest. You people can relax before going home for the night. Ask the maids to serve you drinks of your choice. Scene IV (Backyard of a house, a man and a young lady bargain during early hours of the night) Man: Good evening; I am here. Lady: Good evening. Who is it? Man: It’s me… I sent for you. Lady: Here am I, what’s the matter? I don’t receive visitors at times like now. Man: I came with good news. And I am sure you would like my message. Lady: Message? Where from? Man: It’s from the MP. Lady: MP? Which MP? Man: Which other MP do we have in this town? Hamma Mia of course. Lady: That old man? What message does he have for me of all people? Man: You should count yourself lucky. Lady: But why? What’s the message?

19 Man: He wants you to be his guest tonight. He will take good care of you if you oblige and come with me to his house right away. Lady: Why me? What am I supposed to be doing in his house especially in the night? Man: Why are you talking like a novice? You should thank your stars I suggested you and the man concurred without even seeing you before. He so much relies on my ability to make the best of choices. You know you are not the only one in the town. You want what others would be fighting over to elude you. Please make up your mind, we have little time. I can bet by tomorrow morning you’d be a changed person, economically and socially. Lady: Well, but I am coming back to sleep at home… Man: No qualms. Let’s get there first.

20 ACT THREE Scene I (General meeting at Mia’s house. Mia, politically inclined elders, youths, etc in attendance) Mia: Someone should pray for us. A volunteer: May God have mercy on our leaders. May God elevate Mia and continue to bless him with good health and higher positions. May God be with us from the beginning of this meeting to the end, and may He give us victory in the coming elections and stifle the endeavors of our opponents. Chorus: Aaaaamiiin… Mia: Thank you. Without taking too much of your time I want to convey the greeting of the overall Leader and good wishes in all your activities. They at the top acknowledge your commitment and support all this while and urge you not to relent. I welcome our teeming party members and supporters to this very important meeting which is more or less a precursor to the coming elections.

21 You will recall that about four years ago when I had the rare privilege to present the governor and other contestants as flag bearers of our super party, all of you welcomed them, but a few skeptics doubted if our handsome, intelligent, selfless, hardworking and God fearing governor could be able to deliver the goods. But after three years in office all of you are today convinced by the landmark achievements and distant corners which had suffered unqualified neglect. Indeed there is hardly any aspect of development that has not been touched, be it roads, water, health, electricity and agriculture. The turnaround in the agriculture sector achieved by this administration is remarkable owing to our belief that a well fed society will be purged of hunger, poverty, stealing, ignorance and disease. I therefore once again present the governor, my humble self and other contestants of our super party for the coming elections. As usual, total loyalty to the party is what counts. Our candidates have all been tested and trusted. They deserve another term. Information reaching me however indicates that there are a few of our youths who have contrary opinion from the general one. Can we hear from them, if they are here? Sanda: Sir, we know them, they are merely ingrates and they want to mislead others if they are not adequately checked. (Aside) 1stYouth: Can you hear that fool, a disgrace to the younger generation?

22 2ndYouth: I think there is no use saying anything here at all. The people here are mostly stereotyped. Their mindset can hardly be altered. Even those of them who are not comfortable with the state of things cannot bare their minds either for fear of being blacklisted or in expectation of what would never come to them. 3rdYouth: The best thing is for us to act, not to waste our speech; otherwise we would only expose ourselves for targeting. We all know they are masters of mischief. (Meeting) Chairman: The whole thing about dissent must be a rumor; but even if it is true those involved must be a negligible few who lack the guts to come out openly. As far as I know, we always carry everybody along and like someone rightly observed, anyone that is not contented with the scheme of things in the party must be an ingrate. Such person or persons can go to hell! 1stElder: Leaders don’t talk like that, we are supposed to be persuading people… Ilo: The chairman’s manner of speech is rather disgusting. He can hardly keep the party intact if left to do it. Sanda: You are one of those rebels, no doubt. I know others who are your accomplices. The best thing is to do away with all of them. As for the rest of us, we are ready to die for you. 2ndElder: Since they have been given the opportunity to voice out any grievance they may have and none has responded we can as well assume that all is well.

23 Mia: It’s okay. Now, everybody should calm down. No matter what the situation is we would be able to handle it effectively. I would hand over some token sum to the chairman to share to all present. This meeting can close at this juncture. I have other commitments to attend to. So, please excuse me. (Whispers to chairman) Make sure they disperse within the next five minutes so that the caucus can meet again. Scene II (Mia’s house, party caucus meets) Mia: As usual, we will settle some community leaders and a few others who make too much noise about being neglected… Chairman: They should know that the party or government cannot feed everybody. Some people are reckless in their demands. How can people want all the roads, including village roads, tarred or even maintained all the time; or for the whole land be electrified; or more irrational, to have healthcare and education of their children free of charge? Mia: Forget about that for now. At least for this purpose we would give those who matter what we have. Get the number of polling stations and electoral officers, including their supervisor; and also the total number of party agents. As for security we cannot determine their number until D day. But for now we would see their unit officers-in-charge. Add all that to the community leaders I earlier mentioned and suggest how much will go to each of them. What we have in hand, like I said yesterday, is meager. We are only trying our best. However, share this one and a half million appropriately and let me have the account later. Don’t forget to keep a little

24 sum for unforeseen contingencies. I don’t want every complaint, especially concerning expenses not covered initially, being referred to me. I want to have a brief discussion with executives of the opposition parties. So, do the right thing. (Leaves to another room) Chairman: (Counts money) The man said he gave me one point five, I have not gone to anywhere yet and what I counted stood at one point two. You all can bear me witness. Secretary: But who dares ask him or draws his attention? The wisest thing is to make do with what we have. Tinna: Don’t forget he needs some money in hand because of people that would be coming with one complaint or the other. Only God knows how much would be spent at this period. Chairman: Okay, I propose that we split the money into three: one part for those people the leader mentioned, one for elections day and other unforeseen expenses and the third part for those of us who would have sleepless night to keep body and soul together. Any observation? All: The chair… Scene III (An inner room in Mia’s house, he meets with some opposition members) Mia: Good evening. I thank you all for honoring my invitation. Even though not all of you are here I still feel honored that some of you came. Without taking much of your time I would like to state exactly what I want from you. It is evident that everyone in

25 politics is pursuing one interest or the other. In short everyone wants to achieve something and nobody wants to be loser. It is on that note that I want to solicit for your cooperation in this elections. You know I am contesting and my party is fielding other candidates who are accessible to you. But all the opposition candidates, those of your parties, are far from you. You can hardly reach them after the elections. I am not saying you should abandon your parties completely. But tell your supporters to vote for my party while you as executives would be seen as working for your parties. I also want you to consider that it pays more to go with the majority. None of the opposition parties can form government at the higher level. Think seriously about all that. (A man peeps from a door and beckons on Mia to come. He takes excuse and attends call. In the other room he meets a uniformed security personnel) Officer: Morning sir! Mia: Good morning, how are you? What’s the matter? Officer: I was sent by the unit O.C. to offer our service to you during the elections. We can afford at least 25 men. Two hundred and fifty thousand for the boys and a hundred for the O.C. Mia: (Thinks for a few moments) Okay, I will get to you later. I am busy now. I never really thought of using soldiers. But I will think about it. Officer: Yes, sir! (Mia returns to his meeting)

26 Young man: Sir, with due respect, we want to be left alone. Let everyone mind their respective business as far as these elections are concerned. We have towed the same line for too long without any noticeable change. So I want to appeal to our chairmen not to fall for such a bargain. Mia: (Smiles) The young man, who is he? One chairman: He is my secretary. In fact our people are aggrieved. They say they need a change for the better. We can hardly convince them to vote for you. They would term us as betrayers, not to talk of our party hierarchy or candidates. At least the results will reveal everything. Mia: You see, most of your people, especially the younger ones, are too naïve to understand the true situation of things. Even if you go ahead and vote for your party it may turn out not to make any difference in the results. So, of what use is it to waste your votes? If you play along with us you stand to gain from the two sides and you and your people cannot be left out while sharing the dividends of democracy in the long run. So, please think very well over it and do the right thing that would be beneficial to all of us. (Brings out a parcel from under his garment) Take this for refreshment. I’d see you again after the elections. Good night. Young man: (As they depart, shouts to the hearing of Mia and other people) Dividends of democracy such as empty boreholes, white elephant projects, unending deception… Scene IV (Some thugs ushered into Mia’s sitting room by Sanda)

27 Mia: Good day, I am happy to see you. I’ve been told that you people are ready to work for us. Thugs: Good day sir. You are welcome. We are totally in support of you and the party. We are prepared to do anything for you to achieve victory. Sanda: They are our people, sir. They are loyal and are ready to die for the party. I am sure they can deal with anybody such as those ingrates who are canvassing for change. Mia: That’s okay. What I want you to do is this: move from one polling station to another. Wherever you find the opposition trying to gain ground, even if you only suspect it, or where they are trying to prevent any of our manoeuvre, just course a commotion and the opposition agents and any of their officials would be arrested and be taken away by security agents. We have all of them on our side. So, no need to fear anything. Anybody so arrested would be kept in custody until the results are announced. But should anybody confront you where there is no security agent to arrest them, then beat the hell out of such a person and I can assure you there is going to no consequences. Thugs: Yes, sir. Sanda: I trust them. They are capable of destroying anybody who attempts to limit our victory. Mia: Yes, I trust them too. They look competent and up to the task. It is written all over them. (Produces a pack of bank notes) Take this for your logistics. That is the first installment. I promise to take adequate care of you people because your role

28 is a very important one. We can even consider including your names in government payroll if we win. But we must win by all means! It is our underlying principle. If you need any other thing to do your job efficiently just tell Sanda or come to me anytime. Is that okay? Thugs: Yes, sir! Mia: That’s alright. We are together. See you again. Scene V (In the dark, behind a house, Juma with a lady) Juma: How is your evening, hope fine? Lady: I’m okay, and you? Juma: As sound as ever. I’ve been sent to fetch you. Lady: By whom? To where? Juma: It is the leader, Hamma Mia. He wants to see you right now. You are to come along with me to his house. Lady: But you are surprising me. What about the affair I have with you? Why should it be you that would choose me for another man? You want to turn me to something else? Juma: Come on! Don’t mind that. Other men can even volunteer their wives given the chance. So, don’t worry about our relationship; it can still go on. After all, the man cannot extract anything from your body. More so he is just a casual visitor to this place. I know you are a responsible person. We can even both benefit from the proceeds if you play your card well. Others never had the credulity to compensate me afterwards.

29 So, just play along. I have no problem whatsoever. Lady: Well, since you said so… Scene VI (Elsewhere some youths converge to discuss how to approach the elections of the following day) Sokoro: Good evening everyone. It is getting late in the night, but it becomes absolutely necessary for us to meet, even if briefly, to take a stance on how to go about this elections. I hope everybody here share the same persuasion that our land and people must progress. Ilo: Even if there are traitors in our midst there is little they can do here or anywhere else. We must be seen to satisfy our conscience. We are made to understand that democracy paves way for development if the actors mean well and know what they are doing. Brother Kabura, please sensitize us. Kabura: Thank you. Good evening everyone. You will all agree with me that we have never before held a gathering of this nature since the advent of this democratic dispensation. Considering the huge sacrifice made by people of all walks of life in this land, one would least expect that a syndicate and its sub- units of outgrown miscreants, visionless and avaricious, high- minded champions of the game would hijack the supposed blessing called democracy, milk it dry, and transform it to tragedy for the larger majority. What I am trying to emphasize is that our experience of democracy here is a complete opposite of what the books are

30 saying, or what is practiced elsewhere. Or do you agree that we have been voting for candidates of our choice? Chorus: Nooooooo… Kabura: Is it that there are no other candidates who are qualified by all standards to be entrusted with our affairs through ballot? Chorus: We have them in countless numbers. Kabura: So, why must we continue to be tell-guided into voting in the same people even when it is evident that they have nothing to offer when development is the goal? By development here I don’t mean how many individuals a political office holder is able to sponsor for pilgrimage; or how their temporal accomplices have been fed or elevated; or how many sycophants have enjoyed the goodwill of the so-called leader especially during obsequies or at other instances. I am talking of good schools with quality education, quality healthcare which must be affordable to all, good link roads, electricity, agricultural equipment and other input. Rather than provide all these, our elected patriots take as their priority to feather the nest of their godfathers and choose to further impoverish the people whose back the rode to fame. I think such people should stop asking for our votes any longer. Consider that someone who knows the total number of votes they got from a community to win election does not know the number of people that need fertilizer in that same community; or worse still, the number of children that need education, not to talk of health facilities and other amenities.

31 It is in that light that it becomes imperative for you and I to break that tradition of bigotry, of dogmatism, wherein our people are perpetually confined to the role of greasing the wheels of the protégés of modern feudalism who see political office as their birthright. I enjoin all of you to influence those you can to deviate from the usual business of “unifying” to our detriment. By morning word would go round on where to re-direct our mandate. Chorus: We are with you. Sokoro: It is high time we exercise our freedom to the fullest. Some people think they were sent to this world to prey on fellow human beings for their own survival. Indeed we have slept for too long. I appeal to all to take courage and fear less. Nothing will happen to any of us. Ilo: In addition to casting our votes for any party of our choice we will also resist any attempt by anybody to exploit other people’s ignorance to mislead them at the polls. Even Mia’s band of security operatives cannot prevent us from achieving our goal. We are determined! The chains of bondage must give in. Chorus: We are determined!!! Kabura: On that note I suggest we all go and have a little sleep so that we can wake up reinvigorated for the day’s task. But try and rise early enough for last minute sensitization. Good night.

32 ACT FOUR Scene I (Election day. Small groups of mostly young people chanting radical slogans skewed to dissent) Youth: These elections must be different. Others: Yes! Youth: We must depart from the old order which is turning us to robots. Others: Yes ooooo! Youth: Let everyone vote for whoever they like! Others: Yes! Youth: Let there be no intimidation! Others: Yes! Youth: No manipulation! Others: Yes! Youth: No blackmail! Others: Yes!

33 Youth: No hoodwinking! Others: Yes! Youth: We must be allowed to exercise our freedom to vote according to our conscience. No more, no less! Others: Yes ooooo! Scene II (Monarch seated in front of a polling booth, hears noise approaching) Chief: What is that noise about? Aide: Don’t know, but it seems to be coming this way. (Group of youth appear chanting slogans) Youth: Good morning, Your Majesty. If we may ask, what is Your Majesty supposed to be doing in front of a polling station during election earlier than even the electoral officers? Chief: And where does the young man derive such audacity from to query us in such fashion? Whose son are you and what are you all up to? Today is supposed to be a sober day. Youth: Sir, we are not here for introductions. But be assured that this round of elections is clearly going to be different from others of the past. We know that you and the politicians are inseparable partners in the destruction and dehumanization of our society and people. From this moment till the end of the election period we will not allow you to stay here or any other polling booth for a second longer than you require to caste your own vote – that is if you want to vote at all.

34 Chief: You… Who are the “we”? on whose behalf are you speaking to me like that? Is something wrong with you? Youth: What is wrong is your barefaced betrayal to your people manifest in your undisguised romance with callous politicians. We have paid too much for our protracted indolence. Now, we want democracy to take its real definition. That is why we will not allow you to sit here interfering with people’s right of choice. So, Your Majesty, leave this place. Others: Riiiiise… Chief: If you don’t stop all this, I will deal with you and your parents. All: You are wasting time. Leave here in your own interest now! Aide: Let’s go; driver, bring the car. Chief: (As he rises to enter car) Children of nowadays have no shame. Scene III (Mia is going from house to house assaulting those fingered by his informants as working against him and his party. He is followed by a contingent of security operatives, close supporters and thugs. Dissenting youths get wind of his action and went after him. But before they catch up with him he was advised, after a tip-off on imminent danger, to leave town in order to avert a riot. He therefore signals to a loyalist to get a vehicle and meet him in the outskirts of town leaving his own vehicle

35 behind for fear of being recognized as he races on foot through the backyard to the highway. Gun-carrying security personnel in his retinue disperse and give way as chanting of “enough is enough” emanating from the youth rent the air. By now news of the uprising has spread far and near. Shouts draw nearer as protesters come face-to-face with Mia’s disarrayed contingent.) Protesters: Where is he? Jobbers, don’t go, shoot us. Betrayers! Where is the all-powerful? Hypocrite! Vile surrogate! Exploiter! Dimwitted patriot! Come back and yoke us. May your godfathers hang you… Scene IV (Many youth assemble at the heart of the town with Kabura, Sokoro, Ilo and other leaders at the centre.) Kabura: Good morning everyone. All: Good morning. Kabura: Before we progress, I would like to release all those who are engaged in today’s election with one task or the other, including party officials, to proceed immediately to their places of assignment before the crooks inflict damage on you their usual way. We learnt their head has bolted. Indeed he has given in to the popular demand for normalcy to reign. But his protégés are very much around and would, no doubt, want to try their usual tactics of one man, countless votes with the collaboration of some election officials. So, watch them. Our votes must count. Henceforward, our people must be able to choose for themselves who they want to represent them at any level of

36 government. Our tepid disposition to elections and politics generally must come to an end because we are all affected individually and collectively. We cannot continue to be aloof in something that has direct impact on our lives. Ilo: This is a timely re-awakening. Indeed, it is long overdue. But it is better late than never. We have allowed ourselves to be taken for granted for too long leading to continued impoverishment by a few rogues who have nothing positive to offer. The best they know is how to appropriate all available state resources to themselves, their families and a few of their cronies at the detriment of the rest of us. Their idea of working for the land and its people falls nothing short of greedily embezzling everything that can otherwise build the whole country to enviable level for the benefit of all. They even have a way of poisoning the air we breadth to damage our health. To guarantee your survival the only option they leave open is for you to subscribe to sycophancy. We are saying enough is enough. Sokoro: The whole saga of misdirection persisted as it did due to lack of awareness on the part of majority of our people and our elders’ mindless subservience to the likes of Hamma Mia. But above all, the nonchalant attitude of the younger ones – male and female – is responsible for our backward match to near oblivion. That we are still surviving in spite of plural adversity perpetuated by wolves in sheep skin who appointed themselves to superintend on our affairs is a pointer to the fact that life has something better in stock for all of us. But we must wake up, rekindle the youthful blood in us and prove to the world that lethargy is a stain that finds comfort in a willing

37 mind. Mediocrity is a sign of mental retardation which is a by- product of intellectual stagnancy. Allowing any of these to become a trademark of our youth suggests a retrogressing society. So, from now on we must discard that lackadaisical posture and assume an unprecedented vibrancy that can lead us to a fully conscious and progress-inclined living. We must not continue to be complicit in vesting power on demonic personalities. You may round up, Kabura. Kabura: Thank you everybody for your contributions and the zeal demonstrated towards this course. As I said earlier, henceforward, our people must be able to choose for themselves who they want to represent them at any level of government. Our tepid disposition to elections and politics generally must come to an end because we are all affected individually and collectively. We cannot continue to be indifferent regarding something that has direct impact on our lives. From now onwards everyone should be free to vote wherever they like. But we shall do so in organized manner since our goal is purposeful leadership. Step by step we are heading somewhere and we will get there; starting with election which is the most important variable in the democratic process. We must begin to choose those who would represent us through vivid scrutiny. Away with the inversion of democratic tenets. Let it take its true definition – in theory and in practice. We should be wary of a coterie of people destroying (other) people as typified by Mia and his cohorts. He and his paymasters stand expired even

38 if they come in any guise beckoning on all people to come together. They should all go on compulsory retirement. They lack the balm that would sooth the gash inflicted on us by their long standing malfeasance. Enough is enough.

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