Chapter 2: Position Swap Palava

I never even reach my own office when I see Musa from Admin waka enter oga office. Him shoe dey make kpokpo kpokpo for tile, and as e pass, he throw me quick side-glance—e sharp, but tension dey the air.

About one hour later, HR send company-wide WhatsApp message.

Phone vibrate for everybody table. I check group—na broadcast, no time for private talk. People begin dey forward gist reach canteen.

To reduce risk, company announce say tenure for high-risk position of Purchasing Manager no fit pass five years. Effective immediately, Ifedike (me), Purchasing Manager, and Musa, Admin Manager, go swap positions.

My mind do gbim. For small office like ours, everybody dey see the drama like Africa Magic.

Soon after, Musa show, dey shine teeth like person wey win lotto.

E teeth white, lips dey wide—he dey do as if e no get bone for body again.

“Manager Ifedike, oga say make we do handover. When you think say e go dey convenient?”

He use that voice wey dey always sweet when he dey try form respect, but I sabi am. Him eye dey dance, e dey eager.

To be honest, I know since say Musa dey disturb oga, even dey boast say salary no concern am, say he go run the work better pass me.

I dey hear am for corridor, every Friday dem go dey gist near the photocopy room. E go even raise voice so that cleaners fit hear.

Na so he dey tell oga openly say na the chop money he dey eye.

Him and one of the security boys dey always laugh, dey count imaginary bundles. 'Purchasing na sharp place, na there people dey hammer,' dem go say.

But oga no send. For his mind, anybody wey hold this work go collect something. Musa no want salary, so at least e save small money for company.

Sometimes, na like say dem dey use my head do experiment—who go sharp pass?

When I hear the news, I no even get words to talk.

Na like say my throat block. If dem ask me make I talk true, na only cough go comot.

Before, Musa dey always respect me. I think say na just to push some yeye suppliers on me—which I always reject.

He dey bring folder, dey bend, dey call me 'boss.' Sometimes e go buy me gala from junction. But now, story change.

Now wey the man don succeed, he no even hide am again.

He dey bounce like bariga big man. He no dey smile reach back of ear, just dey arrange him tie with confidence.

“Manager Musa, Purchasing get plenty things. I need arrange the files well. Next week, make we set time for proper handover, so mistake no go happen—”

I dey try form professional, but the thing dey pain me inside. My voice even shake small.

Before I finish, Musa cut me short.

“Ifedike, you no wan go Admin abi? These days, which department wey just dey spend money get work? Wetin you wan arrange?”

He cross leg, rest hand for chair like king for palace. E no even give me eye contact finish.

He look me with one kain smirk for face. The kain smile wey dey say, 'I don win, you no fit do anything.'

“Since Manager Musa talk so, anytime you ready, I dey.”

I try package face, but e dey hard. My hand even dey sweat.

“Good, make we do am now now.”

He stand up before me, he dey rush like person wey wan snatch meat from pot.

I no expect say he go rush like that.

For my mind, I dey talk: 'Na so dem dey hungry for position for this life?'

So I carry am go my office, give am rundown of the purchasing process and main suppliers.

I open file cabinet, dey show am forms, supplier list, payment schedule. E dey look everywhere, but na only phone e dey press. Next thing, e dey check WhatsApp, dey nod head, dey pretend.

I fear say tomorrow now, if wahala happen, he go turn blame me. So I prepare detailed handover checklist, print am, and tell Musa,

I make am three pages—no room for mistake. I even carry witness, call Amaka from front desk to observe. My spirit no trust Musa.

“Manager Musa, if you dey okay with the handover, just sign here, make I move go Admin.”

I pass the pen, e no look am twice—just sign like say na NEPA bill. E even forget date.

He no even look am, just sign, give me back, then waka go pack him own office.

He dey hum one Yoruba praise song as he waka go, e be like person wey dem give double promotion.

I pack my own things, call short meeting with the purchasers, then move enter Admin office.

I carry my three cartons—one with family photo, one with files, one with two old flasks. Cleaners dey look me, dem shake head. Na so I change base, new table, new wahala.