Chapter 2: The Meeting

I waka enter meeting room. Everybody don sit down.

My steps slow, but my mind dey sharp. I fit see worry for everybody face—nobody happy for this room.

As meeting start, oga scan us with him cold eye. “All of una just dey dull—e be like say I too soft for una.”

The man voice dey heavy, like person wey swallow stone. He dey find who go challenge am. But today, the game change.

I sigh. Why most big men like dey talk this kind nonsense?

Dem go oppress you finish, still want make you thank dem. Na only for Naija person go dey thief your sweat, dey expect you to dey hail am.

Oga dey work us free, dey thief our salary—wetin dey good about am?

Even ordinary supervisor dey chop small from up. But na oga take am as personal sport. If e fit collect your joy, e go pocket am join.

I notice oga wife and their small princess dey there. I know say this meeting go different.

Oga wife dey form madam, cross leg like say she dey watch drama.

The small princess just dey press phone, face like say world dey owe her.

If oga na old beast, the daughter na small beast.

Na truth. The kind way she dey waka for office, e get as e be. Person go fear for their own pikin, no be another person own.

She dey go private school, and those schools dey waive school fees for best students to boost results. One poor girl for her class, top student, dey on scholarship. Out of jealousy, the small princess slap her for toilet, strip her, snap picture, post am online.

Everybody for office hear the story. Dem hush hush am, but we sabi. Na money dem use block everybody mouth. For this country, na money dey win every fight.

All that wickedness, family use money settle. School just pretend punish her—nothing serious.

After two weeks, dem say "she go apologize." Small princess still dey drive come school with driver—no lesson, no consequence. Poor pikin pack shame, still no get help.

Supervisor cough. “Oga, as we dey meet, make I suggest make we change our machines. If not, accident fit still happen.”

The man voice low, fear dey body. Even supervisors dey count their days for this company. Nobody safe.

Everybody nod. After all, worker don die. How we no go upgrade?

Even cleaner dey shake head. If e happen to one, e fit happen to anybody. Na only time remain.

Oga ask, “How much to upgrade?”

Him face dey hard like granite. For him mind, money na more important than people.

Supervisor say, “To buy new assembly line, na about 20 million naira. We fit borrow from bank.”

He talk am soft, like person wey dey beg for rice. Everybody dey wait oga reaction, heart dey beat.

Oga nod. “I check am. Old machine accident chance na one in ten thousand. Last time, one worker die, we pay 2 million. So 20 million fit cover ten accidents.”

Our assembly line old sotey e dey sound like molue engine every morning—everybody dey pray make e no claim another life. Na pure calculation, like say human being na tomato for market. For this man eye, na only profit count.

He smile, wink at him daughter, joke, “If accident reach ten, company go don go public by then. I go buy my princess diamond Benz.”

As he talk am, e dey proud. Him daughter just dey shine teeth—wickedness dey sweet dem.

Small princess giggle. “Daddy sabi calculate.”

Her voice sharp, proud, like say she be queen. Everybody just dey look, dey wish make ground swallow them.

As I dey watch father and daughter dey laugh, cold just catch my body.

Na true. This world no balance. For these people, life be like suya—once e finish, dem go buy another.

Worker mama lose her pikin, dey hospital, dey wait money to save her life. But these people dey laugh like say na play.

I dey imagine that woman face. Maybe she dey pray now, dey beg God say make company help am. If only she know say her pikin death na calculation for somebody table.

Oga wife say, “No need upgrade anything. Company fit pay compensation. We get over 10 million for hand.”

She talk am with pride, as if na her wisdom bring money. She no know say e don vanish—God don collect am.

I just laugh for mind.

If only dem fit see into my mind, dem go know say nothing remain. All their plans, na empty hand.

Una no get one kobo again.

Dem no know say dem dey talk like people wey dey sell akara for empty plate. Dem dey dream, but na me hold the key.

Small princess think small. “But workers dey vex. I hope all the uncles and aunties fit go workshop, show dem say machine safe, boost their morale.”

She wan show say she sabi, but na fake wisdom. The rest of us just dey look, dey nod—who go challenge oga pikin?

Oga smile, “My pikin sabi management.”

He dey proud, dey look people face, like say he just win trophy. For him mind, everything dey alright.

Everybody quiet.

Silence choke the room. Nobody wan put mouth for family matter—e fit backfire.

Oga continue, “One more thing. My pikin need internship for school. Find small work wey she fit do.”

Na so so favour and connection dey rule here. If na person pikin, dem go say make e start from scratch. But this one na fast lane.

I talk casually, “Why she no manage workshop? If oga pikin operate machine herself, workers go relax.”

I talk am sharp, but na coded shade. Everybody stop, the air heavy. Some dey bite tongue make dem no laugh. The thing sweet me.

Room quiet like grave. Pin drop, you go hear am.

Even the fan for ceiling stop—maybe NEPA don take light, or maybe na fear hold am. Eyes dey fly everywhere, but nobody dey move.

Everybody just dey look me. Oga mouth open. E shock am.

He no believe say I get mind talk that kind thing. For here, nobody dey challenge family.

He grab bottle, throw am at me. “If you no sabi talk, shut up! How my pikin go enter workshop?”

The bottle land for wall, water splash for ground. If na another day, I for dodge—but today, I stand gidigba.

Small princess frown. “If I die nko?”

She dey cry small, but na crocodile tears. She no sabi say real life no be TikTok.

I fire back, “When you say make we enter workshop, you think about us?”

My voice steady. For once, everybody listen. Na question wey dey pain.

She vex. “How I go be like una?”

She spit am like insult. The gap for her mind wide pass Lagos Lagoon.

“How you different?”

I no shift eye. I dey look am direct, make she feel am for bone.

Small princess, still dey form, say, “People life no equal, you no sabi?”

As she talk am, you fit see her head swell. For her mind, she don win argument. For my mind, na sign say this family don spoil from root.

Everybody face change.

The room cold. Even cleaners dey pause mop, dey look. For Naija, we dey pretend, but this one loud.

Even oga try calm am. “No much difference. We be one family here. My pikin na small pikin, she just dey talk—no mind am.”

He dey try patch matter, but e don late. Everybody don hear am.

I talk, “Make we vote. I suggest make oga pikin go workshop encourage workers. Na her idea.”

I no dey fear. Today, na my own day to shake table. If dem wan fight, make dem fight.

Oga wife knock table, vex, curse, “Nonsense! If una lose hand or leg, our family fit pay! But if anything touch my pikin, who among una go fit answer?”

She talk with all her chest, voice dey high. E clear say dem value us like sand, their own like diamond.

I look am.

I dey wonder if she know wetin dey come. Sometimes, na silent person dey carry fire for pocket.

She no know say before this meeting finish, debt people go come, her whole family go lose hand and leg.

Dem think say na joke, but when police and bank land, dem go know say money no get friend.

For meeting room, my colleagues no even fit breathe.

Even people wey dey always talk, dey mute. Tension dey dance azonto for room.

Dem think say I don craze.

For their mind, na sack sure for me. But I don pass the point of fear.

Oga face dark. He think say na because of salary I dey misbehave, say, “If you dey carry emotion come work, leave my office.”

He dey use him usual gra-gra voice. But for my mind, I dey see person wey don lose control.

I sigh. “No be emotion. Na about being human.”

The room hush. Even air dey hold breath. I talk am calm, but my chest dey burn.

I stand, waka go meet small princess.

People dey look me like say I wan start fight. I walk slow, no shake, my eye steady for her own.

I look her for eye, ask, “Wetin you dey laugh just now?”

She shock.

E be like say na the first time person ever ask her direct question. Her mouth open, her hand freeze for air.

As she no talk, I push, “Worker die, you dey laugh? You say difference dey—wetin make you better pass us?”

I dey force her see the pain she dey cause. For once, her mouth no get answer.

Oga vex, knock table, point me. “Shut up! Who you be to question my pikin!”

He face red. If not for crowd, e fit slap me too. But today, e go learn lesson.

I nod. “True. The small beast no learn well—na the old beast fault. Na you I suppose question.”

My words heavy. Even my colleagues dey hide smile. For once, truth dey fly for room.

Oga sneer, “So you no want work here again.”

He dey expect make I beg, but I no fit. My mind don move.

“Yes. From when you say make I hold dead worker money, I no want stay again.”

I talk am with my chest. Nobody fit doubt my intention.

“Then go.”

E snap him finger. Like say na so my whole life fit end. But I no be slave.

“Settle my money. Your wife just talk say company get over 10 million. You owe me almost half year overtime—12,000 naira. Pay me now.”

Na small change for their pocket, but for me, e go buy food for house for two weeks. I dey stand for my right.

Oga sneer, “To tell you true, even if I no pay, wetin you fit do?”

He dey mock me, dey try break my spirit. For this country, na so dem dey do.

He pause, then eye shine. “I get am. You be accountant, you wan pay yourself first, abi? Without my say, na thief you dey thief. If you touch that 12,000, na jail straight.”

He dey use threat hold me, but e no know say e dey toast mad dog with bone.

I just tire.

I dey look am, no words. E reach to give up for this kain system. But today, na my own madness go shine.

Oga still dey underrate me.

He never know say small river fit carry big canoe go.

I no touch that 12,000—I touch your 14 million.

If dem know wetin I do, na faint dem go faint. E remain make I stand up announce am for everybody.

As dem see me quiet, dem think say I don fear.

My silence na deep river. I dey watch them, dey prepare for the drama wey go land.

Oga sneer, “Now wey you don fear, bow and beg my pikin, maybe I go let you stay.”

He dey try disgrace me, but e no know say I get my own script.

Small princess raise head, still dey do as usual.

She dey look me with one kain eye. If to say she fit burn me with glare, I for don turn to ash.

Oga wife look me with eye wey dey mock.

She cross leg, purse lips, like say she dey watch comedy.

Small princess talk, “My papa too kind. If na me be your boss, e no go just be jail. I sabi people wey wicked.”

She talk am low, as if na secret. For her mind, na only threat dey move poor man.

She stand, bend near my ear, whisper, “You know say for this Lagos, with just 100k, dem fit arrange boys make you disappear. The gap between us dey wide. You go lose hand for 100,000, but 100,000 na my pocket money for one month.”

Her breath dey hot for my ear. She dey do as if power dey her blood. I just dey look her, dey measure her life.

I roll my eyes.

My mind dey tell me: "Your own don spoil, you still dey make mouth." Thunder go soon fire.

She think say she go still see 100,000 pocket money?

If she see even 10k for week, e go be miracle. No be only her pikin money go lost—her pikin pride go lost join.

She fit even end up for one club for 100,000 a year, catch wahala, then dem dump her for dogs.

I dey imagine her future—no driver, no bag, no money, just street lesson. Make she sabi say life fit humble anybody.

Oga bark, “Bow and beg my pikin!”

He shout sotey, echo bounce for wall. He dey try use power confuse me. But I dey plan my own.

Small princess, as usual, poke my chest. “I no want bow. I want you kneel.”

She dey look my eye, dey wait make I break. But today, I dey do my own movie.

For my mind, I dey calculate—if I kneel now, dem go think say I don break. But na trap I set.

I pause small, then kneel down.

I no rush. I kneel well, balance knee for ground. All eyes dey on me. I dey smile inside.

No be say I surrender—I dey provoke them on purpose.

I fit see my colleague eyes—some dey pity, some dey surprise. Dem no know say na me dey write story today.

Because camera dey inside meeting room, dey record everything.

Na the only witness I get. If dem deny, the camera go show. Na so I set trap for them.

When court see am, wicked oga wey dey harm workers, dey force staff kneel—even court go pity me, not to talk of people.

Na evidence be king for Naija. This one go scatter dem for social media if e leak. All their power go melt.

Withholding dead person money, cutting salary, forcing kneel—all for camera.

If lawyer see this, e go dance. Even human rights people go carry placard for gate.

Small princess see me kneel, smile anyhow.

She dey proud, dey look everybody like say she win. E sweet her.

She shake head. “Thank you. You don show me the most useless side of adult. When I graduate, I go make sure I no be adult like you. Now beg me, beg well.”

She cross arm, dey expect make I cry. But I just dey look her. The real game dey my hand.

I talk, “I’m sorry.”

I bend my head small, voice calm. I dey play along.

She dey happy, but I cut am.

I raise my head, my eye sharp. I talk as if na normal talk.

“So, you fit go workshop go do internship now?”

The whole room freeze. Her face change, colour comot. Everybody dey wait.

Her face change sharp.

Na now she sabi say play don turn serious. Her pride hang for thread.

She raise hand, slap me for face.

The sound loud. Even Oga shock. Na public slap—dem never see this kain drama before.

The slap loud. My face dey pain me. The room freeze—nobody fit talk. My own pain dey burn, but na their shame dey heavy pass.

I rub my jaw, taste small blood for lip. For my mind, I dey count my reward—e go soon reach.

I no believe say she fit slap me.

For my years here, nobody ever try am. Today, she cross line.

She just dey rush herself go wahala?

She no sabi say Naija no dey forget this kain thing. Evidence full ground.

I cover my face, dey look am. She poke my nose, curse, “I no be like you! My life get value!”

Her voice crack, but she still dey form. Na only power she sabi use.

My colleagues just dey look, dem wan vomit.

I fit see the shame for their eyes. Some dey shift chair, dey avoid camera.

I talk, “Value? The only thing you sabi do na to come out from your mama belle! To born na achievement?”

I spit am with all my pain. For Naija, some people really think say na birthright make person better.

“I go tear your mouth!”

She scream, voice high. Na so so threat full her mouth. She no get better sense.

Small princess lose control. She drag something from bag, rush me, grab my hair. Before I fit do anything, she force something enter my mouth.

I struggle, but she strong. My mind dey race. Wetin be this?

I try close mouth, but my lips dey pain.

Her nails dey cut my skin. I dey pray make help land, but na only camera dey watch.

Soon, cold, sharp things full my mouth. I realise na drawing pins.

The pain dey different. My tongue dey bleed. My mind dey beg—make e end quick.

She pack my mouth full of drawing pins.

E no even fear. She dey push the pins, like say na game. Everybody dey watch—fear and confusion.

Small princess hold my mouth, dey slap me, dey curse, “Who you be? Poor man dey teach me?”

Her hand dey heavy, her voice dey loud. She dey mad with power. For this room, na her world.

The pins dey tear my lips and tongue. Every slap dey push am go deeper. Blood just dey pour from my mouth—I spit am, dey look the red pool for floor.

The red dey spread, stain my shirt. My eye dey tear, but I no cry. I dey remember say camera still dey roll.

That time, oga wife rush come.

She dey hurry, but no be to stop madness—na to join body.

No be to stop am, but to join. She and her daughter hold me down, grab stapler, begin staple my mouth shut.

The pain sharp pass knife. My mouth dey swell. I dey see stars. But I hold myself. I no gree cry.

My mouth half close with staple. Oga wife grit teeth, spit, “Na for your dirty mouth! You chop shit with that mouth? If e too dirty, just close am!”

She dey pour her own pain. For her, na lesson. For me, na confirmation—this family na true evil. But today, I get my own victory. The world go hear this story. Even if dem try silence me, camera no dey lie.

Inside my pain, I dey beg God—make justice no pass me by. Make my voice loud reach outside, even if my mouth dey shut.