Chapter 5: New Rules, New Hope

After we chop, the overseer introduce himself say him name na Mr. Obilo.

He stand for middle, voice firm but gentle. "I be Obilo. From today, this place go change."

He divide us labourers into three groups, come announce new schedule: from now, we go work four days, rest three days, and we go dey rotate shift.

As he dey talk, he draw one big line for ground with stick, dey show us how the shift go run. Even people wey no sabi count begin understand.

For working days, three meals go dey—every meal na pap and ugba. People wey dey do night shift, dem go still get midnight food.

Some people begin whisper, "E go better for this Oga o! Midnight food, who dey hear that one for border before?"

"This way, work go move well, and una go rest well."

Him voice carry hope. E no dey shout, but the thing dey enter bone. We all dey listen, dey dream of better days.

On top of that, he bring come plenty thick ankara wrappers and blankets, give each person one set.

The colour for the ankara na bright orange, with blue pattern. Blanket thick like mama embrace. E remind me of home, of days when my mama go cover me for cold night.

Make you understand, this border cold no be small, and na late harmattan already. For night, cold dey bite person. Normally, na only one thin cloth we dey wear; some weak people even die for cold during night.

Person fit dey sleep, cold go wake am up. Teeth dey clash, people dey hug themselves just to catch small warmth. Now, na new day.

Now, as people hold their new ankara and blankets, tears just full everybody eyes. Suddenly, all of us kneel down for Mr. Obilo.

The floor rough, but nobody care. Na thankfulness carry everybody down. Person fit hear sniff-sniff everywhere, even big men dey wipe face like say dust enter their eye. Some dey call God, some dey praise Oga Obilo, all join voice together.

"Oga Obilo, you be like papa to us!"

Somebody voice crack, na real from heart. Even old men, wey pride dey hold before, bow low.

"Oga Obilo, your kindness pass anything we fit pay back!"

People dey stretch hand, dey touch Oga foot. Na only for home person dey see this kind gratitude.

"Oga Obilo, from today, my life dey your hand!"

E mean am. Some dey vow for there say dem go follow Oga anywhere.

Mr. Obilo look surprise, quick tell us make we stand up, face small embarrassment.

Oga eye red small, he dey rub back of neck. Him voice low: "Abeg, no need. Na small thing. E no too much."