 |
| Jamiu Abiola clears Dad’s name in hisnew book |
Moshood hit the ground
running with his new business. He began sales in front of his father’s
compound. At first he made no profit but within a year there was a slight
improvement. He had discovered new areas like Ikoku and Ikija
where firewood, for an unknown reason, was always scarce. He focused on those
areas and was able to expand his business rapidly.
running with his new business. He began sales in front of his father’s
compound. At first he made no profit but within a year there was a slight
improvement. He had discovered new areas like Ikoku and Ikija
where firewood, for an unknown reason, was always scarce. He focused on those
areas and was able to expand his business rapidly.
After his first
year he could afford to hire a truck to convey his goods, and because the truck
came with a driver, he had company on the way. But on his first trip to Oba
with the truck, he had an unpleasant experience. He had just arrived at the
same place that he bought his firewood when an angry middle- aged man with a
swollen jaw and a big forehead approached him. “You are not from here. I am sure that you can’t trace any of your
family roots to Oba but yet you have
done well from our resources. Before you walked to get here but now you own a
truck”
year he could afford to hire a truck to convey his goods, and because the truck
came with a driver, he had company on the way. But on his first trip to Oba
with the truck, he had an unpleasant experience. He had just arrived at the
same place that he bought his firewood when an angry middle- aged man with a
swollen jaw and a big forehead approached him. “You are not from here. I am sure that you can’t trace any of your
family roots to Oba but yet you have
done well from our resources. Before you walked to get here but now you own a
truck”
 |
| MKO Abiola; The Star Boy |
After greeting
the man, and tilting his head downward in accordance with the Yoruba traditional way of greeting older
people, Moshood explained to the man, who must have been at least three
times his age, that the truck was not his. He also said that he was grateful to
the community for allowing him to buy firewood from there. The man hissed then
walked away. Feeling very uneasy, Moshood carried on with his
business. He greeted the elder firewood seller from whom he always bought his
goods and who had witnessed the scene.
the man, and tilting his head downward in accordance with the Yoruba traditional way of greeting older
people, Moshood explained to the man, who must have been at least three
times his age, that the truck was not his. He also said that he was grateful to
the community for allowing him to buy firewood from there. The man hissed then
walked away. Feeling very uneasy, Moshood carried on with his
business. He greeted the elder firewood seller from whom he always bought his
goods and who had witnessed the scene.
That day’s
negotiation was lengthier than any previous one. Moshood had come with a
truck to buy a much larger quantity, which he believed entitled him to a sharp
discount, but the old man refused to see things that way. “My son, you might be hearing me but you are not listening at all. This
product is as scarce as a bat in broad daylight. That is why the price cannot
come down even if you come with fifty trucks” Moshood did not relent. “This is the first time that I am hearing
that-I mean listening to news that firewood is scarce. And if you are not
careful sir, this will be the last time that I will come here. I will simply go
elsewhere”
negotiation was lengthier than any previous one. Moshood had come with a
truck to buy a much larger quantity, which he believed entitled him to a sharp
discount, but the old man refused to see things that way. “My son, you might be hearing me but you are not listening at all. This
product is as scarce as a bat in broad daylight. That is why the price cannot
come down even if you come with fifty trucks” Moshood did not relent. “This is the first time that I am hearing
that-I mean listening to news that firewood is scarce. And if you are not
careful sir, this will be the last time that I will come here. I will simply go
elsewhere”
The old man,
probably tired of talking, caved in and gave him a discount. It was not as big
as Moshood
had hoped for. Moshood inspected the firewood and paid him. Then with the help
of the driver, he began loading the wood into the truck. But all of a sudden
the same man that he had seen before suddenly reappeared, and this time with
four other men about the same age.
probably tired of talking, caved in and gave him a discount. It was not as big
as Moshood
had hoped for. Moshood inspected the firewood and paid him. Then with the help
of the driver, he began loading the wood into the truck. But all of a sudden
the same man that he had seen before suddenly reappeared, and this time with
four other men about the same age.
“I knew envy was behind your actions. But why? After
all you younger folks have always been advised to exploit what we have in Oba.
But of course such words fell on deaf ears until now that you have seen a small
boy doing what you have all failed to do”
 |
| MKO & Dad, Chief Salawu Adenekan |
The man pointed
at Moshood
and shouted. “That’s him. That’s the rude
boy I told you guys about. He’s tiny but don’t be deceived by his size. He’s a
greedy brat” Moshood was
frightened. The men moved toward him and he knew what was next. They would beat
him up and steal his money. The firewood seller moved unbelievably fast and
stood between him and the men. He was furious. “Anyone of you who does not respect my age or fear my curses should
dare lay a finger on this boy” He stared at them in disdain. “If the likes of you are the future
generation of this village then we are doomed”
at Moshood
and shouted. “That’s him. That’s the rude
boy I told you guys about. He’s tiny but don’t be deceived by his size. He’s a
greedy brat” Moshood was
frightened. The men moved toward him and he knew what was next. They would beat
him up and steal his money. The firewood seller moved unbelievably fast and
stood between him and the men. He was furious. “Anyone of you who does not respect my age or fear my curses should
dare lay a finger on this boy” He stared at them in disdain. “If the likes of you are the future
generation of this village then we are doomed”
The men froze.
There was hardly anything that men in the village feared more than the curse of
an old man. Watching the way that the men looked at one another, Moshood
realized that they did not know how to handle the situation. Finally the man
who had instigated the conflict looked at Moshood and asked. “Why were you rude to me? You think you are
better than me, don’t you? I am here to teach you a lesson”
There was hardly anything that men in the village feared more than the curse of
an old man. Watching the way that the men looked at one another, Moshood
realized that they did not know how to handle the situation. Finally the man
who had instigated the conflict looked at Moshood and asked. “Why were you rude to me? You think you are
better than me, don’t you? I am here to teach you a lesson”
Moshood defended
himself. “I was not rude to you, sir. I
greeted you politely when I saw you and told you that I am not the owner of
this truck”. Referring to the old man, Moshood added, “Baba was a witness. He saw everything”
himself. “I was not rude to you, sir. I
greeted you politely when I saw you and told you that I am not the owner of
this truck”. Referring to the old man, Moshood added, “Baba was a witness. He saw everything”
 |
| The Book That Cleared MKO Abiola’s Political blemishes |
The old man
confirmed his statement. But instead of reacting to that, the man changed to a
much more complicated topic. “The real
issue at hand is the people of Oba.
We will remain victims as long as others, and not us, are the ones who gain
from our resources. Even a small boy like you has become a usurper.”
confirmed his statement. But instead of reacting to that, the man changed to a
much more complicated topic. “The real
issue at hand is the people of Oba.
We will remain victims as long as others, and not us, are the ones who gain
from our resources. Even a small boy like you has become a usurper.”
Moshood was tired. He
wanted to leave. The old man reacted to the comment. “I knew envy was behind your actions. But why? After all you younger
folks have always been advised to exploit what we have in Oba. But of course
such words fell on deaf ears until now that you have seen a small boy doing what
you have all failed to do” He paused
briefly. “But it is not too late to start
trading in firewood. I will even offer you a better deal than him because you
are inhabitants of Oba. Your success
will make the whole community proud”
wanted to leave. The old man reacted to the comment. “I knew envy was behind your actions. But why? After all you younger
folks have always been advised to exploit what we have in Oba. But of course
such words fell on deaf ears until now that you have seen a small boy doing what
you have all failed to do” He paused
briefly. “But it is not too late to start
trading in firewood. I will even offer you a better deal than him because you
are inhabitants of Oba. Your success
will make the whole community proud”
The men looked
apologetic. This encouraged Moshood to say something. “If any of you decide to trade in firewood,
I can be helpful with the marketing. The demand is growing every day”.
apologetic. This encouraged Moshood to say something. “If any of you decide to trade in firewood,
I can be helpful with the marketing. The demand is growing every day”.
 |
| The GDA with the Author of The President That Never Ruled, Abdul-Jamiu Abiodun Abiola |
They ignored
him. But they apologized to the old man before dispersing. Moshood thanked the old
man and left as well. Once he entered the truck, the driver scolded him. “Why did you tell them of the high demand
for firewood?”
him. But they apologized to the old man before dispersing. Moshood thanked the old
man and left as well. Once he entered the truck, the driver scolded him. “Why did you tell them of the high demand
for firewood?”
Moshood smiled, and
after a long silence, he explained. “My
father always says that anyone who is not willing to share what he has is
unworthy of what he has or what he wants to have”
after a long silence, he explained. “My
father always says that anyone who is not willing to share what he has is
unworthy of what he has or what he wants to have”
(Excerpts from
the book, The President Who Never Ruled by Jamiu Abiola; get copies
in any book shop across the world or write Jamiu Abiola through jamiulinguist@yahoo.com. Read How MKO became a Musician & Newspaper Editor in our next
post on this blog)
the book, The President Who Never Ruled by Jamiu Abiola; get copies
in any book shop across the world or write Jamiu Abiola through jamiulinguist@yahoo.com. Read How MKO became a Musician & Newspaper Editor in our next
post on this blog)
