Chapter 16: Gidan Wahala Land

Until the people wey go do peace talk come back, bring Gidan demand give Musa Adigun.

The palace hush. Messenger kneel, hand over scroll. The content dey heavy, every chief dey hold breath. The fear for room thick, as if rain wan fall for dry season.

Apart from land and money, two things stand out.

The list long, but two lines dey shine like warning bell. The chiefs whisper, some cross chest, others rub head.

First, Musa Garba must call Gidan oga; Umuola go be small pikin, and Musa Garba reign go only count after Gidan crown am. When Gidan envoy come, Musa Garba must kneel collect letter.

The insult deep. For Umuola, kneel before foreign king na taboo. The elders shake head, whisper, "Shame no dey finish for this land?" Musa Adigun face stony, but eyes dey burn.

Chiefs dey shift for chair, some dey wipe sweat, one old man even cross leg wrong. For Umuola, kneel for stranger king na abomination, elders fit pour libation to cleanse land.

Musa Adigun no send this one. Kneel or no kneel, Chief Chinedu don ready, say e fit kneel for Oba. As prime minister, Gidan no go vex.

Chinedu voice steady, calm, as if shame na small price for peace. The chiefs no talk, but some dey side-eye, some dey nod slow.

Musa Adigun nod, no talk, just dey look the last Gidan demand.

He study paper, lips press. The room silent, even servant dey hold plate midair. For air, only the tension dey loud.

Bala Yusuf must die—na only then peace go happen.

The words heavy, drop like stone for deep well. Chiefs whisper, some dey shake head. The tradition of loyalty dey strong for Umuola, betrayal get consequence.