Chapter 4: Removal and Regret

As I dey manage my anger, I return group office area, only to see say my former private office don turn to project office, with people dey work inside.

The same office wey I set up with my sweat, now new faces dey there. Dem dey gist, dey laugh, dey chop gala. My heart cut.

As dem see me, one of them waka come, talk say because desk no reach, dem use my office. Im don move my things go open workstation outside, say make I manage.

I just nod, bone. No need talk. Na small pikin dem dey use style talk to me, but I bone face.

I just bone face, no stress anybody. But as I sit down, my phone begin show notification:

The message dey drop like rain: WhatsApp, Telegram, even email. The way admin dey remove me ehn, e be like when NEPA take light for street—everywhere just dark.

[You don commot from group management WhatsApp by admin.]

[You don commot from subsidiary project group.]

[You don commot from group finance group.]

…

I find my labour contract, send am to my lawyer padi.

My lawyer dey Abuja. As I snap contract, I dey pray make e see loophole for my side.

By this time, shame no dey catch me again, I ask if I fit sue company.

For Naija, if dem use you do mumu, you go just swallow am. But I reason say, if e fit fight for me, make e try.

He reply quick: e go hard well.

Lawyer yarn me true. For here, company always dey cover their nyash.

From labour law side, company pay me N+1 based on my contract salary, e pure.

My hope just dey dry up. If to say dem write the bonus for contract, e for make sense.

As for anything pass social average wage cap, forget am—no hope.

All those big man grammar, no dey Naija law o. Na only what dey for paper e count.

Na that time, Musa—the finance guy wey follow me go new project—come meet me make we go outside.

Musa na sharp guy, Yoruba boy from Ilorin. We dey relate well. I see am come, I know say e wan talk truth.

Na boss distant relation e be. After project company start, dem quick carry am back to group finance. But we work close for over two months, im know how I take suffer for the project. I still look after am.

I no go forget how Musa dey always dey early, dey crack joke to break stress.

He carry me go one side say, “Brother Tunde, all of us sabi wetin happen to you. Even as I be boss relation, I still feel say dem no treat you well.”

His voice low, but I fit see am for im eye. For Naija, e dey rare make person talk truth like this.

I even dey console am, say make im just dey do im work, we go still be bros.

I pat im shoulder, "Musa, life na turn by turn. No let dem use am do you." Im smile small.

He talk say business this year bad well—except my project, the group cash flow na wahala.

Im yarn truth, no sugarcoat. As e dey talk, my mind dey flash all the nights wey I sleep for site.

He hear from HR people say for Q4, Old Jin make everybody swear say dem must cut staff cost by 50%, and true-true, dem sack plenty people.

Na so dem dey do for Naija—once dem see say dem fit remove head, dem no dey send anybody.

I just laugh. For their mind, to cut me off na big savings.

I laugh but my heart dey bleed. Person wey bring the money, na im dem dey use as scapegoat.

He come yarn me the real gist: after New Year, boss nephew, Kunle, go take over my project. Now wey everything don set, dem no need me again.

My smile stiff, but inside, my chest dey burn. For Naija, na who get connection dey win.

E pain me. For Naija, dem no dey hide family connection. Once opportunity show, blood go chop before outsider.

Na there I finally see Old Jin plan—use me build bridge, then burn am for im family to pass.

I just dey imagine, say if to say na village, na like say I use my hand build house, then dem pursue me commot.