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TITTLE: AWKWARD

Neijilla, was a highly populated country in Sub-Saharan Africa was a land of abundant

human and natural resources. The natural resources include Gypsum, Crude oil, Tin,

Limestone and Zinc. Also there was so much lush vegetation, waterfalls, mountains and

generally it was a beautiful place. In spite of its resources, Neijilla, have a very high

population of extremely people, long periods of maladministration by so many of its

leaders, a security apparatus improperly managed and a largely inefficient public health

system.

In the state of Aulaki, Mr. Diwie a 53 year old former board appointee of the federal

Government had just been elected into office. He rode to power on the message of

making the state more successful as a whole than the nation itself. Simply put, he wanted

people to use his state as a yard stick or benchmark for other states when it comes to

development and positive growth.

Like a vast majority of governors, past and present out of the 26 states of Neijilla, Mr.

Diwie had no clear vision for the state neither did he understand the size of responsibility

bestowed upon him by the people. The opposing candidate in the Aulaki Guber election,

Mrs. Kate had more cogent plans but her sex more than any other thing worked against

her. Mr Diwie, a short dark skinned man was lucky. The normal culture in Neijilla’s political

and public circles is that of wickedness, lack of empathy, greed and double standards.

Only so very few are different. For the most especially elected officials, they go so low

that they usually deny old retired workers their pensions most of the time or pay less than

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50% of the pension money on a few occasions to those pensioners. When it comes to

themselves, the governors act differently by approving humongous sum of money and

other packages for their predecessors and by extension themselves.

There is no real desire for the political class on average to steer the nation towards great

development, improved standard of living, effective institutions and an egalitarian society.

No, not when the failed system of unitary government cloaked in the grab of federalism

continue to favour those corrupt elites. They adroitly pretend and appear to be patriotic.

They deny the masses their fair due and a better life, rather manipulating them and

periodically throwing crumbs at them to keep them subdued. Then to continue to benefit

from the flawed system they enabled in the country, political leaders, and evil henchmen

who are mostly old and middle aged persons with negative influence, play the religion

card and sabotage the nation’s electoral process.

Unlike the little effort to make good governance the new normal, the same class of rogues

disguised by the honour that the offices they occupy or once occupied carry, find

interesting ways albeit illegal to embezzle public funds and launder the stolen money. The

strategies they use include; making use of fronts, inflating the financial value of

government funds so outrageously and then getting kickbacks, awarding contracts to

cronies and even their own companies, diverting foreign aid meant for development or

the people, and commercializing certain government processes. For a nation with

extremely expensive cost of governance yet below par service delivery or performance,

so much is left to be desired.

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 CHAPTER 2

In his first three months of office, his pre-occupation was to create a few companies to

aid his plan to amass stupendous wealth. He also had to find ways to settle some of the

elites he did a horse-trade with. They helped finance his election. One of those was Prince

Etraka, who asked for his son to be made a commissioner and for the governor to aid him

in tussle to be the next traditional ruler of his Ito town after the death of the long serving

monarch - King Jaga.

“Mr Etraka I found out that it is not the turn of your own ruling family to get on the throne.

It was a member of your family that replaced the king. The third ruling family of the royal

house should bring the next occupant.” The governor explained to Prince Etraka on

phone.

“Oh because of that you won’t announce me as a king? Don’t be a joke. In this country

anything goes, and the elites enjoy it most. Declare me the king and give me a staff of

office. I am ready for what comes next”.

“I will do that for you. An announcement would be made soon. Also send me the

curriculum vitae of your political son you told me about last time. He will be made

commissioner for youth and sports” Governor Diwie replied.

“That’s very good of you, now you are getting the idea. I will support you again and again,

my governor” Prince Etraka said.

Prince Etraka was the grandson of the 17th king of Ito town. In the town, kingship is rotated

around the three ruling families that make up the large royal family house. Given it was

his grandfather that ruled Ito town, before the 18th king who just died after ruling for 30

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years, 47 year old Prince Etraka knew quite well that he wasn’t eligible. But yet he

stubbornly continued to fight, buoyed by his closeness with the governor which he used

to cut corners. Two weeks after his call with the governor, Prince Etraka was announced

as the new king of Ito town amidst much outcry and two legal suits that followed the

decision.

So many people had high hopes that governor Diwie would deliver on his promise and

provide democracy dividends. But Diwie had other ideas. Two years into his government,

he announced that money to pay salaries were so much that about 90% of the recurrent

budget is spent on salaries alone. That claim wasn’t true rather it was part of the ploy by

the governor to fix in ghost workers and siphon more money. But being gullible, people

believed him and even tried to proffer solutions through calls, mails and calls into radio

programs sponsored by the government. Their suggestions were largely ignored because

that wasn’t what the governor needed.

“We are not able to pay pensioners at this time but for Civil Servants who we are still

owing for the last two months, bear with us. We would start paying 90% of your wages

from next week. I hope you all understand enough to forfeit 10% for us.” The governor

spokesman announced.

In his greed, governor Diwie cut the payment of workers by 10% and secretly added about

450 ghost workers – fake names of purported workers, inserted into the payroll through

which the governor channel about 1.02 billion nook into two of his private accounts yearly.

Nook is the currency of the Neijillan nation.

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Living in Neijilla is simply a case of suffering and adapting. It got so bad that the Neijilan

dream is to leave the country for greener pastures or get so rich that the government

inefficiencies don’t handicap you. Neighboring countries could boast of stable electricity,

not Neijilla. And their politicians simply don’t care and lack vision. They only have self-

interests that benefits them and members of their circle. Another big problem that Aulaki

state has is the problem of bad and worn off roads. Some of the terrible roads has even

become death traps with occasions of road accidents happening on the roads every

month or the other. But the governor is main concern was how to rip off the state with a

few road construction contracts.

One Monday during a state executive council meeting in Sweke, the state capital, the

state government of Aulaki announced the contracts for the construction of three intra-

state roads. The 8 km Sweke-Iwo town expressway for 30 billion nook (approximately 75

million US dollars), as 400 noko equal 1 (one) US dollar. The Boro road to Fele road in

Sweke which is a 4 km dual road at the exorbitant rate of 30 billion nook also and finally

the 10 km single lane road linking about three different communities in Aulaki state which

was awarded at the cost of 35 billion nook. The announcement was made over the print

and broadcast media with the largely ignorant masses failing to question the huge sums

attributed to each of the roads. The government was also quick to announce that “Last

month we got approval from the state legislature to borrow $100 million US dollars from

the World Bank to help fund the projects we recently awarded and the first tranche of the

World Bank money will be received this week.”

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 CHAPTER 3

One day, Governor Diwie went to the family house of a popular oncologist in the state, Dr

Friday who lost his father who died at 69. As the first son of the family, the doctor who

was 37 had the responsibility of bringing the family members together to ensure the

success of the burial activities. To avoid the discomfort of traveling by road from Sweke

to Gbese an agrarian town due to the many bad roads leading to the town and its difficult

terrain, the governor came via an helicopter. When the helicopter landed at the school

field in Gbese, the hometown of Dr. Friday, people gathered to have a look at the fancy

air machine. Dr. Friday, a tall fair complexioned man with a lanky frame was the first to

receive the governor followed by other personalities present. After the lying in state and

as the sympathizers were taking food and drinks Dr Friday rose to address the governor.

After giving the vote of thanks, he started, “His excellency sir, I appreciate your presence

today. I am honored at this singular act of grace. I can’t thank you enough. But I want to

add, please consider the bad roads leading to this town for your people have suffered so

much. The poor state of the roads has brought so much pain and discomfort to many. It

caused my father’s death too. I humbly ask that you will grant this urgent request. Thank

you sir.”

All over the venue, people were murmuring as there were a lot of disconcerted voices not

happy with the governor’s negligence of those roads. Governor Diwie however felt pissed

for what he saw as a public affront. Governor Diwie asked for a microphone and it was

given to him.

“Dr. Friday, the governor cannot be everywhere at the same time. Yes I am the governor

but I am not a robot. I feel insulted over your manner of approach,” the governor said.

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“Manner of approach? Everyone know how polite I can be. I have been telling you about

those roads since over a year. I always talk to you with respect even now that I am so

heartbroken and angry. If I, a known citizen with access to you would be ignored the way

you did. I fear for the masses.”

“Would you shut up and keep quiet,”– the governor scolded. By that time, the security

men of the governor had confiscated the cameras of some photo-journalists and

videomen at the scene, so as to remove the footage of what had already been recorded.

“You have to live up to your responsibility” the doctor said.

In anger, the governor stormed out of the venue. And people gave Dr. Friday a round of

applause for doing what they needed to be done.

CHAPTER 4

The constant abuse of power and siphoning of Aulaki state’s funds continued unabated

in Diwie’s government. For instance, governor Diwie erected billboards carrying his face

at strategic points in every town of Aulaki state, with the inscriptions “Diwie is at work” or

“Action governor Diwie”. And he had hotel rooms that remained reserved for him all year

for any moment he feels best to indulge his carnally depraved mind.

That entitlement and waste of state funds was also evident when governor Diwie

organized his daughter’s wedding in the last month of his third year in office. A 28year old

graduate of marketing from a university in the US, Nima was the second child of Diwie

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and his wife Arema, out of three children. The only daughter, Nima was tall like her mum

but dark in complexion like her dad. She was the vivacious type and in Izen, the son of a

successful vehicle franchise operator, she found love. Izen’s father was chief Urez, a

close friend of the Aulaki state governor. A friendship that has lasted for 17years.

To make sure his daughter have the best wedding he could offer her, the governor

released four billion nook (about ten million US dollars) from the state treasury. It would

be a show stopper and an exclusively elitist ceremony with pomp and pageantry. Two

days to the event, two exquisite hotels in Sweke were booked by the Aulaki state

government for wedding guests that would be coming from outside the state of Aulaki.

Only invited guests were to be allowed into the reception venue. The venue was the 1500

capacity conference centre in Sweke.

Transport arrangements were made to convey incoming guests coming by flight from the

airport at the neighbouring state’s capital city of Majon, to the reserved hotel rooms at

Sweke. A day to the wedding ceremony, a large number of guests from all over the world

flew into Majon. They were received warmly by the governor’s representatives who

ensured that each batch of arriving guests were made to enter air-conditioned buses

brought to transport them, for smooth journey to Sweke. Having passed the towns in

Majon state to enter Towa, the border town that links Aulaki and Majon states and which

was a town in Aulaki, the passengers were glad that they were getting close to their

destination. But at a point, the first of the buses to enter Towa stopped. Facing a stretch

of road that was partly worn off with some pot holes across its length, the bus could not

move further forward. At first the driver and occupants of the vehicle thought it might be

a fault or low fuel problem that caused it not to move. With time more of the buses arrived

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the same road spot and all got stuck. Every attempt to get the buses to move forward

failed but it could move backward or turn back and return to its departure point, as they

found out. Furthermore, more vehicles and motorcycles moved pass that spot, along the

scene road until they couldn’t be seen again. That was when the occupants of the buses,

the resource persons sent to bring them to Sweke, and the drivers found out that

something else was wrong. By the time those inside the buses alighted, more private cars

and taxis destined for Sweke, for the same purpose as the conveyed guests also stopped

not being able to move further forward. The affected persons could see the road clearly

with no physical structure blocking, it but still they couldn’t pass. The road having been

built decades ago without maintenance had suddenly turned bad.

When Governor Diwie heard about the strange occurrence, he sent drivers in three

luxurious buses to bring everyone stranded on that road straight to Sweke city. Already

some have tried to walk pass the invisible shield but were unable to. So when the

luxurious buses arrived at the exact location and moved over to the side of the invited

wedding guests, they felt so happy and relieved that they gladly entered the buses.

Having seen the buses come over to their side, many of the stranded persons believed

they would soon reach Sweke. To their utmost surprise, the luxurious buses were held

back too and couldn’t be taken to where it came from. Aghast, Ken the chief resource

person in charge of the transport arrangement committee called his boss on phone,

“Sir the same problem persists. We have been unable to move forward even with the

luxurious buses. It seems some force don’t want us in Sweke. It is more disgraceful with

other vehicles passing through unhindered. I noticed it is only us - those closely

associated with you and coming for the wedding that is targeted”.

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“Oh targeted, by whom? I don’t want to buy that. It is strange, yes but what do you

suggest?” the governor asked

“Sir since there is no other road to get to Sweke from this axis, I think we should find a

place to lodge because the evening is fast upon us. Then tomorrow we can come back

and try again. Because even for any of us here, walking pass that hedge was also not

possible. And trying another means going back to Majon and following the road from

Gakiri town in that state, which will take as about 5 hours on average” Ken replied.

“No that should be tomorrow if you get stuck again. Take everyone back to Majon city,

lodge them in a good hotel and ensure they get all they need. Help me apologize to them.

I am deeply sorry and embarrassed about this shocking incident,” The governor said.

“Okay sir I will do as you said. Bye for now” Ken replied.

“Then I take my leave” the governor said, ending the call and going on to answer other

frantic calls related to the strange incident. Subsequently Mr. Ken announced to the

people what the governor told him to do, apologizing on behalf of the governor and asking

for their understanding before they all entered the provided buses and left for the city of

Majon.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

There is no smoke without fire. Many of the Aulaki state citizens and residents have had

to suffer so badly as a result of the multiplicity of terrible roads. Some pregnant women

have suffered miscarriages while plying the roads, many public transport travelers have

lost their lives because of the condition of most of the bad roads and the heavy traffic that

people suffer in certain areas of the state are because of the state of some of the roads.

Luckily for the people, the universe was fighting back in its way to give the people justice.

The following day, invited guests coming to Sweke from different towns in the state and

from neighbouring states couldn’t make it to Sweke, as they were bounced back at the

entry point of the terrible roads, conspicuous all over Aulaki state. The governor and his

government had ignored repeated outcries for attention to be given to the decaying state

of infrastructure in the state. They felt that they had nothing to lose given the sport utility

vehicles they mostly carry and the military personnel that ensure their convoy passes

freely on roads, even on traffic. The sirens that they put on their security vans to make

sounds even outside the nation’s capital serves two main aims for them; to instill fear on

other road users to get out of the way for them and to show their power or high status.

None of those who set out to grace Izen’s wedding from outside Sweke was able to make

it to the city, talk more of the venue. The governor was devastated about his hard luck.

He called Ken who was at Majon city, “Ken please everyone over there must remain at

the hotel. We will have to refund their travel expenses from their respective locations and

pay for their return back to their bases. The wedding was a failure.” The governor said in

a downcast tone and sounding close to tears.

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Ken trying to comfort his boss replied, “Sir the wedding can still go ahead with the few

people there. It still happened and that is enough success.” The governor cut the call

saying not a single word more. He smashed one of his phones on the ground and then

remembered something “Oh no pick that phone for me I can’t risk losing the numbers in

it.” An aide helped him to pick the phone and luckily enough the screen touch function

was still okay.

The wedding reception was more like a gathering of the governor’s associates and

appointees, a few family friends and security aides all based in Sweke. It was clearly the

opposite of what governor Divie, chief Ureh, Nima, Izen and many others had planned for

and expected. Most of the performers billed to perform at the wedding, some of the royal

fathers of the day and most of the special guests all missed the wedding ceremonies. To

avoid being a national embarrassment, the governor barred the video journalists from

making live broadcast of the reception event.

Like someone who lost a treasure, the governor turned miserable as people sent

messages and made calls to him, comforting him over the disappointment. What he had

long bragged about never became reality but rather became a new material for comic

relief in the country. Members of the public mocked the governor and one particular man

sent a letter of condolence, “over the ghastly accident your over-bloated ego suffered,

hoping you become humble or sensitive to others from now on.” Out of shame the

governor and his family stayed out of the public eye for about three weeks.

By the time the governor made his next public announcement, it was to announce that

“The terrible state of some roads in Aulaki state would have to be rehabilitated to ease

the people’s suffering and avert the ugly incidences in most of those roads. We are

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determined to make Aulaki state work. In less than a month time, we will begin to give the

roads a new look.”

Having squandered all the goodwill the people of Aulaki had for him initially, the

governor’s announcement was met with a pinch of salt. No one trusted him anymore, he

was the leader of a deceitful and irresponsible government. Some rightly insinuated that

even if he was to keep the recent promise, then it would be because of the punishment

being meted out to him, his close associates and members for his family. He had decided

to rehabilitate the bad roads as a result of the recent occurrence that hit him hard. And

that is the default of most of his colleagues, only doing what they ought to have done,

when the failure to do so had put them in a fix. At his office, he summoned the

commissioner of works, Engr Bodo.

“Bodo get me some draughtsman to work with your ministry. You are to ensure that the

bad spots and pot holes are filled and parched in as many of the bad roads your team

can identify. I need the work to be done in less than 3 months so that we can be able to

move around again.” The governor requested while sipping a cup of tea intermittently.

“Sir that will be a mess. This quick temporal fix which are usually not done by skilled

workers won’t help this state. Not doing things the right way has been the bane of this

nation as a whole. Doing what you said we should do will only lead to the roads getting

bad again pretty soon and deteriorating even further. I suggest we make a formal call for

bids and ensure that qualified road construction companies are contracted to properly

rehabilitate those bad roads. The old surface have to be scraped off. This is our chance

to make amends. We are called to serve and I feel this is my chance to tell you the truth”

Engr. Bodo said.

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Surprised at the courage Bodo showed in giving him such valuable advice, the governor

felt sober and impressed the same time. “Bodo you spoke very well but there is no money

for any proper reconstruction or rehabilitation as you are saying” the governor said. “Sir

the money is there. Only if you don’t ask me to inflate the contracts sum, we will negotiate

with the chosen companies to provide quality engineering work at the right price. We will

provide accommodation, transportation service and security to the staff for us. That way

we can deliver at relatively moderate cost,” Engr Bodo replied the governor trying to

convince him to approve his plan.

“You think so differently. Well I agree with your suggestions and I will allow you to take

complete charge. Ensure that the time frame for the road rehabilitation at each of the

locations must not exceed three months. Just make it happen” the governor concluded

standing up from his office seat to show Bodo the way out. He didn’t want any more delay.

Quickly Bodo stood up in pleasant surprise at his boss unusual acceptance of his proposal

and thanked the governor as he left.

CHAPTER 6

Work began in earnest at the sites of bad roads in the state under the state government’s

jurisdiction. The people were happy to see the new changes on their dilapidated roads.

At a newspaper stand close to the market in one of the cities, people gathered to discuss

latest political happenings in the nation as some came to buy dailies and others just came

to read. “So this government people know what they are supposed to do, but they keep

being wicked and irresponsible? See our short governor building roads because of what

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happened to him” - said motorcycle rider who had come to buy a sports newspaper

commented.

“It is a problem of systems, a problem of incompetence and a problem of indiscipline. It

is not actually exclusive to Africa, and also it is not rampant elsewhere like in Africa. In

some parts of Africa, bad governance have become more profound as majority of our

political leaders have a super-human level of leadership incompetence, greed, self-

entitlement and myopic thinking. Only a select few have vision. It sounds funny but

actually not funny that in event of any ailment or any other health related exigency, the

same people will quickly fly to developed climes to receive quality health services but they

continue to let our hospitals remain poorly equipped. That is one. Not to talk of how many

bright talents are frustrated in this country and dreams that just get terminated by stupid

policies of those in power.” Mary the newspapers and magazine vendor said with so much

passion and clarity that she held those around spellbound. “Excuse me ma, you hit the

nail on its head. Well-spoken and with good points. Are you a graduate if I may ask

please?” Engr Bona, a new customer that have come to buy some of the day’s

newspapers asked Mary.

“Yes sir. Thanks for the kind words. I graduated 10 years ago. I studied business

management at the university. I did my masters after getting my first degree but I couldn’t

find work for 6 years until I got this low paying one 3 years ago” Mary replied. “Come to

the office address you see in this card and come with your curriculum vitae. I will find a

place to fix you in” Bona told Mary as he handed his business card over to her.

In gratitude, Mary who just got married the previous year thanked the engineer on her

knees and asked him not to pay for the three newspapers he picked up to buy. “Oh no

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that is nothing. I will pay for what I bought. Thank you God.” Engr Bona said smiling as

he hands over a 500 noko note to Mary and enters his car. It was a happy moment for

Mary as everyone around congratulated her on her new job opportunity. The next

Monday, Mary started work as an assistant store manager in the Engineer’s construction

company.

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