Chapter 5: The Burial List No Go Hold Me

For hospital gate, Sani Musa come meet me, hand me one list. "Madam, na some of Mr. Olumide request for burial be this. Abeg, prepare am."

He bow head, eyes red. The list long — full of traditional rites, church service, food items, even uniform for burial committee.

Olumide always like do everything perfect, even for him burial.

I remember how he dey complain say Naija burial dey too noisy. But this one, e write everything for paper, even choose choir song.

For my last life, I no sleep for nights, arrange everything for that list, just to meet him last wish. But at the end, na only shame I collect.

I cook, I run errand, I pay for cow, even spray musicians. Last last, dem still disgrace me, call me barren.

I no collect the list. I look Sani Musa. "If I remember well, you don dey with Olumide for four years, since you join company."

I raise my brow, voice steady. He shuffle leg, nervous.

Sani Musa freeze small. "Yes."

He swallow spit, hand dey shake, list almost fall from his grip.

I sigh. "Tell me, now Olumide don go, where you wan make I put you for company?"

I cross my leg, look am well. Naija power dey change hand quick — if you dull, you go fall.

Sani Musa rush answer, "Before Mr. Olumide die, e say make I dey in charge of Administration Department."

He dey sweat, voice dey tremble. I see say e dey fear future.

I look up. "E don make am official?"

I tap my biro, eye steady for his face. For Naija, paper pass mouth.

"Not yet..." Sani Musa eye open, grip the list tight. "Madam... President Ngozi, abeg. No vex, I go handle everything myself."

He dey beg, small voice, like person wey dey corner.

I smile, collect the list, tear am for front of am.

I tear slow, make sure am see say na new day. People dey gather dey peep, Sani Musa mouth open, shock. People dey look me like say I craze, but for this Lagos, if you no show strong face, dem go ride you.

"No need do all this. Go call burial home, reduce everything to the lowest level. E don die—no need waste money."

I drop the pieces for dustbin, dust my hand. I see small respect for Sani Musa eye. People wey dey pass dey whisper, but I no send.

Sani Musa stand, no talk.

He dey think, eye dey run up and down. Na so Lagos dey — loyalty dey shift like NEPA light.

I move near, twist my mouth. "I even pity you. You do plenty for Olumide, but till the end, e no trust you. E keep your appointment on hold, make you dey work for Aisha to take over. But you reason am? Ten months fit change everything."

I clap hand small, give am knowing look. I dey tell am say if e wise up, e go chop better.

"How you go do then?"

Sani Musa eye shrink, e step back. "President Ngozi, you... you sabi everything?"

He mouth dey shake, sweat dey run for head. I fit see calculation dey him face.

I let my smile drop. "I sabi pass as you think. Now, I dey give you chance: loyal to me."

I press my word, voice soft but strong. People dey listen small small, but I no care.

"After burial, I go appoint you as Administration Department Manager, plus 10% company shares."

His mouth open, then close. Na so hope dey return person courage for this country.

"Think am well, give me answer soon."

I pat his shoulder, smile small. Na so power dey move — one day you be servant, next day you be oga.

As I talk finish, I turn waka go.

My step steady, back straight. I fit feel eye dey my back, but I no turn. Na so Naija strong woman dey move.

As I enter car,

I adjust my head tie, look myself for mirror, whisper small prayer. 'Ngozi, e never finish. But this time, dem no go fit use you shine.'

As I drive out of hospital, I swear—this time, nobody go collect my destiny.