Chapter 6: Quality Wahala and Sade’s Stand

About three months later, after Sade visit suppliers for Aba, she come my office to vent.

She enter, close door, throw bag for chair. Her face don change.

“Musa wicked o. He just ask supplier for house straight.”

She hiss, fold hand. I know say drama dey come.

That one ginger my gist spirit. I ask am make e talk more.

'Sade, abeg gist me well. Wetin Musa do again?'

“Yesterday I go our biggest supplier. Their boss no even look my face. Na their tech manager, wey be my old school mate, help me get info. Turns out, Musa tell them say no need to see anybody else—na only them go get business.”

Her eye dey red, voice dey crack. I offer her chilled water from my flask.

Me, I always let Product and Tech Managers handle supplier quality and technical check. When they visit, suppliers dey treat them well. Whether dem dey collect chop money or not, I no too send—as long as supply chain stable and quality dey okay.

For my time, we dey run things with wisdom—no be this kind open-eye business.

Sade continue,

She lower her voice, lean closer.

“Dem say Musa want the supplier boss to show appreciation. The boss sharp—he buy house for Musa name, but only pay 200,000, the other 800,000 na mortgage for Musa name, monthly payment 20,000. Now, na only if business continue, boss go dey pay mortgage. If not, Musa go pay am himself.”

She raise brow, 'Oga, you see wetin dey sup for Lagos?'

Na real business. That mortgage tie dem together.

E mean say Musa no fit shake body—if business stop, wahala go land am.

Money na true glue for this life.

Dem fit do blood covenant, but for Naija, na mortgage go tie your leg.

But now, Sade wahala don start.

She dey look for road, dey call HR, dey panic small small.

After she tour the factory, she see say new supplier na pure disaster—no quality system, workers no sabi anything. The smell of fried plantain and stew dey choke the air. She say she see one man dey roast corn for back of factory, another dey play Baba Ijebu—no control at all.

But now, no matter wetin anybody talk, oga only trust Musa.

Oga don block ear. Sade fit talk from today till next week, no use.

If wahala burst, Sade go first collect.

She dey reason if e no better make she just resign first.

I see the worry for her face.

Her eyes no dey shine again. She dey look table, dey tap pen. My heart just dey cut for am.

This time, I no even fit happy. Who know if our department go enter wahala next.

Every department dey line for trouble. Next blow fit reach anybody.

This one give house, next one fit give car, another fit send babe.

I dey joke with Amaka, say, 'If you get land, Musa go collect, just to sign one contract.'

Musa dey enjoy.

E dey flex, e dey drive new car, e even dey wear better native for Friday.

Compared to me—Ifedike Half-a-Hundred-Million—Musa na real sharp guy for this game.

Dem suppose give am award for 'Fastest Chopper of the Year.'