Chapter 5: Defeat and Destiny

Fourth year of Udochi, Okori ruler Musa Okori die, his son Musa Junior take over. The land shake, new tension rise, everybody dey watch, market women dey pray for peace.

Baba Okon start Northern Campaign. E call all the elders, pour libation, collect blessing. The drums roll, warriors sharpen blade, masquerades dance for town square. The sound of ogene and talking drum fill the air, warriors cross chest and whisper, “Chukwu, abeg, cover us for this battle.”

Uchechukwu see off Chief Minister, look "Letter on Sending Out Warriors" with emotion. As person wey don live two lives, I no fit call am papa Chief Minister again. My eyes moist, but I hide am under brave face.

But for person wey wisdom reach sky and no dey do eye service, who no go like am? For this land, respect dey for those wey carry people matter for chest.

I let go of those feelings, begin do my own work. I no fit let emotion block my eye, na so ancestors go talk.

Raffia armor light and strong, cavalry dey fast and flexible. Na perfect match for long journey attack. Blacksmiths dey work, soldiers dey test am with pride. The clang of metal and smell of burning charcoal dey fill palace yard.

Only wahala be say Umuola horses no too good. For now, make we manage. I get solution; when Chief Minister return, we go solve am. Na so warrior dey think ahead.

So people dey see young Oba of Umuola dey always for Royal Guards camp, dey lead elite soldiers practice raffia-armored cavalry. Rumour begin spread say His Majesty fit draw two-man bow now... For market, the story dey grow wings, even children dey play am for street.

Most warriors no believe. Dem dey watch, dey wait for proof.

Baba Okon army reach Jos Plateau, really surprise enemy. Three counties for Okori, surrender, Okori general Musa Bello run go defend Jos Fortress, dey wait for help. The victory sweet, but fear still dey, because enemy still strong.

Okori ruler Musa Junior, hear say Umuola army dey come, fear catch am. E quickly send Danladi with fifty thousand soldiers to help Musa Bello, Sani with another fifty thousand to block Audu, and e personally lead Royal Guards for Jos. The Okori palace dey shake with worry, old women dey cry for shrine.

Baba Okon gather warriors. Before e talk, palace helper bring out Uchechukwu wrapper. E open am, everybody gather, curiosity dey their eyes.

"Best plan: send whole army to Makurdi, second: attack Jos strong." The words bold, direct, no space for doubt.

Baba Okon shock. Makurdi na key place. E just dey reason to send strong general to hold am so Okori army no go pass back. How His Majesty take know? E scratch head, look sky, wonder if ancestors dey whisper to Oba.

If Jos and Okori border no fall, then Makurdi no get use? E be like say His Majesty get small sense, but no too much. But e no fit ignore the words.

That time, Musa volunteer, swear say e go defend Makurdi, Baba Okon agree, give Femi as deputy with ten thousand warriors, tell dem to hold ground, no rush fight, if dem fit hold, na big achievement. The oath dey strong, the warriors chest dey wide, hope dey small.

Musa lead army, Baba Okon share warriors, begin attack Jos Fortress, no send Uchechukwu wrapper. E focus, eye red, heart strong.

Musa Bello hear Umuola army dey come, no ready, lose many towns, only balance for Jos Fortress. The tension dey high, soldiers dey sleep with one eye open.

Jos Fortress strong, get enough food. Musa Bello get letter from Danladi: fifty thousand help dey come soon. The relief for Musa Bello face na small.

Road before Jos Fortress dangerous, Umuola army no fit show power. As long as dem hold, dem go survive. Dem agree: Danladi go abandon Jos, attack Makurdi from north, surround Umuola army from back. The plan dey tight, the net dey close.

Musa and Femi reach Makurdi. Scouts say Danladi with fifty thousand soldiers dey five miles away, go reach soon. The fear dey grow, the warriors dey arrange armor, check blade. The sun dey hot, sand dey bite leg. Every step heavy, warriors dey swallow fear like dry fufu.

Femi shock. Umuola army na foot soldiers, Okori army na cavalry, open ground no good. Better to enter Makurdi, defend. The debate dey for air, tension dey rise.

Musa vex. Makurdi na open place, wall low, no fit defend. E voice high, but mind dey calculate.

E think say na small Okori force, but na Danladi main force, plan to cut Umuola army back. Musa quickly send scouts back to report. The wind dey carry the message, hope dey fragile.

E no hear Femi advice, order all army go hill, hope to use terrain resist. No hope for victory, just delay Okori army as much as possible. The men dey march, dust dey rise, prayers dey follow dem. Baba Okon cross him chest, whisper, “Chukwu, abeg, cover us for this battle.”

Danladi army reach quick. See Umuola army for hill, e laugh, "Umuola general no sabi war. E enter hill, cut off water, dem go die." E order army surround hill. The trap set, the warriors for hill dey watch sky for hope.

Musa just wan delay Okori army. As e see surround, e order warriors cut tree, defend hill. The sound of blade for wood fill air, the smell of fear dey strong.

Femi understand Musa plan: this one na lost battle. E just dey boost morale. For every word, hope dey struggle with despair. Hope dey stubborn, like yam wey refuse to burn for fire.

Meanwhile, Baba Okon dey attack Jos Fortress day and night. The place strong, warriors no fit spread, e no fit take am. Sweat, blood, and prayers dey flow, but gate no dey open.

Chief Minister dey worry. Hear messenger from Musa army, quickly call am. The tent dey dark, only lamp dey burn, the air dey tight.

Messenger, tired, explain wetin dey happen. Baba Okon shock. Danladi get fifty thousand soldiers; Musa no go last. The news heavy, hope dey fade small.

E remember Uchechukwu wrapper, quickly call helper, open am, see: "Musa go surely lose. Chief Minister no worry. Withdraw quick go Makurdi." The words give small comfort, as if ancestors dey show road.

Warriors dey look each other. Femi shout, "His Majesty na real prophet. If you listen to me and take River Path, we for no lose!" The air thick with blame and praise.

Everybody look again. For bottom, dem write: "No mind Femi talk. If you take River Path, na sure death." The laughter small, but respect for Oba dey grow.

Femi face red, but e respect Uchechukwu more. For his mind, "Dis king, no be ordinary king."

Chief Minister shock. E begin believe say Uchechukwu don change. If no be from heaven, how e take know? The story dey spread, hope dey rise.

After much thought, Baba Okon order full retreat. Musa Bello see Umuola army dey retreat well, no help from Danladi, no pursue. The silence for battlefront heavy, the ground soaks the tears of warriors.

Before dem reach Makurdi, dem meet Musa and Femi with defeated army. Everybody just quiet. The shame dey air, but hope still dey.

Audu, wey lead distraction for River Valley, get attack from Sani main force. E open Uchechukwu wrapper, see: "If you meet Sani, retreat quick go Makurdi." The wisdom dey surprise Audu, e just smile, "Dis boy, na real leader."

Audu shock. Everybody sabi say Chief Minister wrapper dey work. Who know say His Majesty own better? Sani, no be Sani? The myth dey grow, warriors dey talk.

Warriors praise, break camp, rush Makurdi, meet Baba Okon army. Two armies join. The reunion dey warm, the campfire burn bright for night.

Umuola army reach Makurdi. From far, dem see flag for city wall, and person wey dey smile under canopy. Who else but Uchechukwu? The sight bring joy, the sound of hope loud like drum.

Chief Minister Baba Okon and Audu see Uchechukwu, dey confused, dey shame. Uchechukwu, this time, just free. I no hold any grudge, only hope for future.

I grip am for shoulder, look am for eye. “No be only victory dey show heart. Na who stand after fall be true warrior.” I open third wrapper: "Northern Campaign fail because of bad time, no be person fault. Reward army, prepare for next battle. The land go still be Umuola own." The words gentle, but strong, the way leader suppose talk.

Umuola army, just lose, morale low, but Uchechukwu move bring joy. The fire for warriors eyes reignite, song and dance return for camp.

His Majesty na real prophet. With this kind king, why Umuola no go rule again? The words echo for night, the spirit of victory dey return.

Baba Okon just dey look the strong Uchechukwu. From today, e no go see am as pikin again. Maybe na true say heaven no want make Umuola perish, na why dem send this hero. The pride show for Baba Okon face.

Uchechukwu prepare enough palm wine and meat, army chop well. The feast loud, laughter dey fly, pain of defeat small for the moment.

That night, I call Chief Minister alone. Two cups of wine, small meat, two of us sit talk. The moon shine through window, the smell of wood smoke hang for air.

"Chief Minister, you don hear of people's army system before?" My voice soft, but the weight of idea dey inside.

Baba Okon just dey look. Uchechukwu don shock am so much, e no fit react. E rub hand for forehead, "This one pass me."

"Never hear am. Your Majesty, abeg explain." E voice calm, ready to listen.

"No rush. Chief Minister, you sabi recruitment exam?" My words slow, deliberate, like teacher dey teach apprentice.

I explain people's army system and recruitment exam well. Baba Okon hand dey shake small. The vision dey open before am, as if ancestors dey whisper.

Awolowo and Dan Fodio? His Majesty na god. These things, e no fit invent am for palace. E must be heaven work. For his mind, joy and fear dey fight.

Baba Okon stand, bow to Uchechukwu. No be to am, but to the dream wey e dey pursue. At last, hope dey to fulfill am. The humility show, respect flow like river.

I quickly raise am, "Father Chief Minister, you face internal affairs, I go handle war. In ten years, Umuola go rule everywhere." My words strong, no be boast.

Baba Okon look up, eyes full of tears. E see that broad-eared, kind elder. The future open, possibility dey shine.

"My lord, we no be people wey dey do impossible again. People say I predict three lands, but na Your Majesty show road for Umuola revival!" The pride and hope full am, the room warm with faith.

Once you get direction, hope go follow. Baba Okon feel relief, as if e young again, raffia fan and scarf style come back. E go house, smile dey face.

King and Chief Minister talk till midnight, plan next step. Ideas fly, plan dey form, tomorrow dey brighter.

Chief Minister lead most warriors go Umuola to handle matters, set up people's army system and recruitment exam wey Uchechukwu talk. Uchechukwu and Audu lead Royal Guards cavalry go Otukpo join Musa Dauda, leave Femi for Makurdi to block Okori attack. The new order, the new hope.

Tiv tribes, led by Che Liji, get over hundred thousand archers. North Benue land dey cold, Tiv get many horses but small iron and food, enemies north and south, so life hard. The struggle dey real, the courage strong.

Tiv king get Uchechukwu letter say e go come Tiv land, surprise catch am. The elders call meeting, the air heavy with suspicion, hope dey small.

Tiv and Umuola land no dey mix, if dem mix, na fight—today you rob me, tomorrow I rob you. The history long, the mistrust deep.

This time, Umuola king dey come, say e get important matter. Which trick e wan run? Make we see. Che Liji gather warriors, prepare mind, but open door for talk.

Uchechukwu and Audu lead twenty thousand cavalry go Otukpo. Join Musa Dauda, say e dey wait for person… The journey long, but spirit dey high.

Musa Dauda and Audu confuse, think His Majesty dey do like spirit. The guards dey whisper, "Dis Oba na magician."

Few days later, young warrior come surrender, name Jatau. E enter camp with pride, head high, eye bright like morning star.

Jatau from North Benue, brave, sabi fight from small, get respect among Tiv. His scars dey show, his heart dey bold.

But because e no get big family, Okori people no send am, e always feel unfulfilled. E get both brain and muscle, sabi book, loyal to Umuola. For war, e dey lead, for council, e dey talk true.

Hear say Chief Minister dey do Northern Campaign, e already dey eager. As wahala start, Umuola warrior bring letter. The hope for his heart reignite.

Jatau open letter, shock. Na Umuola king write am, full of praise, touch am. Jatau cry, draw sword, hit table, "His Majesty know North Benue Jatau? Man dey die for person wey trust am. I go serve Umuola!" The oath ring, the camp dey silent with respect.

Uchechukwu welcome Jatau personally for town gate. Warriors think say to trust new person too much no good, but Uchechukwu say, "To get Jatau better pass to get ten towns." From that day, people call am "Ten Towns." The respect for Jatau grow, hope dey spread for army.

Musa, follow army with guilty mind after Makurdi loss, His Majesty forgive am but e still dey feel bad, vow to pay back... Musa work twice as hard, his face always serious, his loyalty never in doubt.

Audu beard don white. As e look Uchechukwu dey ride with spear and bow, e no fit believe na the baby for Palm Forest be this. E mean say I don old… The circle of life dey clear for his eyes, the pride and sorrow mix.

Since Musa Bello die, Musa Dauda just dey for Otukpo, but no expect His Majesty go give am big work. E dey touched… The tears wey roll for his eyes be like rain for August.

Leave everybody matter. Uchechukwu ride quietly, dey reason say wetin Umuola need pass na cavalry, no be salt, iron, or food. For my mind, the vision dey sharp: na horses go open road for victory.

Tiv get horses, so two sides fit help each other. This time, na to cooperate I come. If I fit tolerate Tuaregs, why not small Tiv? At worst, I go talk tire. My patience dey grow, my hope dey multiply.

As for after I join Central Land… why you think dem call me "Heavenly Sarki"? My story never finish; the journey dey start, the song go long for many market days to come. But for this land, when drums start, nobody sabi how the dance go end.