Chapter 3: The Last Stand

Fourteenth year of Garba reign, September 20th.

Market people dey count days, children dey scratch dates for mud wall. Drummers change beat, war songs dey fill air.

Nineteen days after Gidan Ruwa wahala.

For palace, women still dey wear black scarf; mourning no finish. Some families never see their own return.

Fulani army dey approach.

Rumour dey fly like harmattan leaf. Women for riverbank dey whisper, 'Dem don near, God save us.'

Mallam Sani don ready since to defend Zaria.

He never dey sleep, guards dey watch him window all night. Chiefs from surrounding towns dey come, dey report every step Fulani dey take.

Before Fulani reach, Mallam Sani open all city gates, allow anybody wey wan go make dem go; nobody force anybody.

He stand for city square, his voice strong: 'Nobody go die here by force. If you wan go, go. If you wan stay, stand!' Even women dey respect am for this one.

He open kingdom treasury, call all strong men wey choose to remain make dem help defend city.

He throw gold coins for ground—'This one for warriors!' Hungry boys rush, their eyes shining with hope.

Same time, he rush mobilise two hundred thousand men from Jos and Kaduna to join for capital.

Messenger boys run day and night. For Jos, for Kaduna, people dey gather spear and bow, ready to answer call.

Everywhere for city dey hot with war preparation.

Market dey close early, blacksmith dey hammer sword till midnight, mothers dey cook big pot of yam porridge for warriors.

Surprisingly, almost seventy percent of people choose to stay and defend capital with their life.

Old men bring out hidden cutlass, even small pikin dey boast, 'I go fight Fulani!'

Dem talk say one old man of ninety years dey for city, dey waka for street every day dey remind people the wickedness wey Fulani did before.

He wear brown agbada, white beard like cotton. Every day, he shout, 'Remember what they did for our forefathers! If you run, shame go follow your family!'

If Zaria fall, northerners no get where to go.

People dey gather, listen. 'No retreat, no surrender,' dem chant.

After all, person no fit run pass horse.

Old proverb say, 'Leg no dey reach where horse dey sleep.'

By that time, Hausa people go turn slave again, suffer for generations, Hausa life no reach goat own.

One woman cry, 'Better to die free than to live as Fulani dog!'

As people hear this, many young men just para, rush go enlist.

For the city square, queue long reach main gate. Drummers beat, war songs fill air, even girls dey weave headbands for fighters.

These days, Ikenna Okoye just dey Royal Horse Yard.

He sleep among horses, his laughter dey echo for stable. Every morning, he train, sweat dey pour like rain.

Inside, apart from the stable boys wey dey look after horse, plenty young warriors dey train—most na children of civil and war big men.

Their faces hard, but their eyes dey red—mourning no let them rest. Some still dey tie black cloth for arm.

Many of dem na chief pikin.

Most of their papa die for Gidan Ruwa; even as dem dey train here, dem tie mourning band for hand, you go sabi dem easily.

Their voices dey low, but determination dey choke for chest. Some whisper prayers before each ride.

“When Fulani come, I go go out go fight, take revenge for my papa!”

One boy rub knife on stone, his teeth grit. Another nod, 'If I die, make my mother no cry—na honour.'

“Make we face am together—kill traitors!”

Their hands meet in the middle, horse neigh for background. Their oath dey strong, blood for blood.

As Ikenna Okoye dey look these young men wey their pain don turn anger, he just narrow eye.

He dey study dem—who get real heart, who go break for first blood.

Since Garba start, dem never spoil; people still dey respect warriors, and these young men sabi ride horse, shoot arrow, swing cutlass—perfect to cut head for grassland.

He just dey satisfied.

He clap hand, whisper small, 'Ancestors, bless these ones.'

…

After some days, Ikenna Okoye shock as he see Mallam Sani again.

His walk slow, but him eye still sharp. Palace guards dey follow am with respect.

The man wey command elders for council ten days ago, now don look old, hair don get white.

His wrapper no dey straight again. Lines for him face deep like old river.

As he reach, Mallam Sani dey argue with General Adamu wey dey talk say make dem close city gate with warriors.

General Adamu voice dey shake, sweat dey for eyebrow. Others dey nod, fear dey thick for air.

“Our army don lose for Gidan Ruwa; enemy get confidence. If we hide for wall, no be say we dey fear? If we wan win, we go face dem outside the nine gates.”

Mallam Sani shake head, grip his staff tighter. 'Coward no dey win war,' he mutter.

As he talk, Mallam Sani eye sharp like cutlass.

The fire for him face no let person argue. Even the flies for table dey run.

“If we close gate behind us, enemy dey front, na only if we burn our bridge we go fit hold warrior mind and stop Fulani.”

Some elders murmur, but nobody fit talk loud.

General Adamu no fit talk again.

He shift leg, head low. Silence heavy like rain cloud.

Ikenna Okoye just sigh—Mallam Sani na true wise elder; e pain am say the man never fight enough war.

He dey wish say Mallam Sani fit borrow forty years youth, carry sword join dem for field.

Far beta than Chief Bala wey dey miss road for battlefield.

He remember one time Bala lose whole troop for bush, still dey argue say na Fulani juju cause am.

“Mallam Sani, abeg, try dey rest small—your hair don dey white finish.”

He hold Mallam Sani arm, voice soft. Old man smile small, hand rest for his.

Ikenna Okoye touch am, advise Mallam Sani wey don tire.

Mallam Sani just nod, gratitude for him eye.

“To serve land with my body—wetin remain to regret? I don pass fifty; my hair suppose white.”

He laugh small, but you fit hear sorrow inside.

Mallam Sani drop the city defence map, smile small.

He adjust robe, stretch back. For a moment, his old pride dey shine.

Ikenna Okoye don see with him eye—Mallam Sani dey work day and night, sleep no dey reach him eye.

Even his wife dey complain, 'You wan die for map?'

Na true pillar of the kingdom.

Ikenna Okoye promise for heart—'This one no go die for nothing.'

With elder like this, how that yeye king go still lose for Gidan Ruwa?

He shake head, no fit understand.

E vex am.

Anger grip him chest, but he swallow am.

Ikenna Okoye look city wall, dey reason: make you no come back here again.

He look sky, swear silent oath—'If I fall, make my name no enter shame.'

“Mallam Sani, abeg, make I lead warrior fight?”

His voice bold, chest out. Some young warriors for yard hear am, their hope dey rise.

After he think am, Ikenna Okoye ask with eagerness.

His eyes dey shine like person wey see gold for sand.

Mallam Sani look am long, face serious, then just talk say lai lai.

He shake head slow, 'You no go.'

Your senior brother still dey Fulani hand, you dey rush go fight?

'If you enter fight now, Fulani go catch two king join—who go remain for city?'

You want make dem capture two king join?

'Who go lead city? Who go comfort Queen Mother?' he add.

For small time, he regret the meeting wey dem get with Elder Musa Bello and Chief Ifeanyi Okafor—be like say na mistake to bring Musa Danladi join.

He rub face, voice low—'Maybe na error to put this boy for stool.'

But after he think am, nobody better than Musa Danladi remain for capital.

He consult ancestors quietly, then nod.

Because na only him dey for capital now.

Others don run or dey exile. City need lion for front.

If dem call southern princes, dem no go gree come.

Rumour say southern princes dey fight for own land, dem no send north again.

So, Mallam Sani no get choice, he ask the disappointed Ikenna Okoye, “You wan be king?”

He voice no soft, but the matter serious. 'Say yes, I go arrange everything.'

Just talk, I go arrange everything—by tomorrow you go dey stool.

Mallam Sani reason to support new king na because wahala don too much.

He rub his tired eyes, look sky, 'Ancestors, abeg.'

Dem hear from border say Umaru, though Oyo by name, don join Fulani hand for this war—betrayal wey pain reach bone. Umaru wey hold Musa Danladi, dey use the king dey threaten warriors for border make dem open gate.

People dey fear, 'If Umaru bring Musa Danladi come gate, who go get mind fight?'

If Umaru try am for Zaria, everywhere go scatter.

Panic fit spread, soldiers fit drop weapon. Kingdom go finish be that.

Garba need new king.

For palace, guards dey whisper, 'New king go bring new hope.'

As Mallam Sani beg am, Ikenna Okoye quiet for long.

He close eye, hand for chin. For his mind, memories of Benin palace dey battle with new life. His leg dey shake, sweat dey his palm, but pride no let am show.

Be king?

Palace girls dey peek from window, waiting for his answer.

Oba Eweka sharp, but him life dey palace—too dull.

He remember Oba Eweka always dey count kola nut, never see blood.

E no reach as person go dey ride horse for ten thousand miles.

Adventure dey call am—his blood dey hot.

But Mallam Sani hair too white, people for capital dey fear, Queen Mother Amina eye nearly blind from cry.

His heart soften small for Queen Mother, but pride still dey lead am.

True true, he no send all those one.

He no get time for palace wahala.

But e be like say Oba Eweka no ever fit finish Fulani, him uncle sef no fit.

He shake head, regret heavy for chest.

Na their regret be that.

He dey feel their shame, vow no repeat mistake.

Be like say na him fault for no finish dem that time—if not, where Oyo disgrace and Fulani rule for take come?

For his mind, he dey see opportunity to rewrite history.

He suppose don clear dem finish.

Ancestors dey watch—no fail again.

How Fulani go dey get mind dey do anyhow for him front?

He spit for ground, grip fist tight.

Besides, Garba beta—na only this yeye king spoil am.

'If I take stool, I go change everything,' he reason.

After he reason finish, Ikenna Okoye gree, but he talk one condition: people and horse for Royal Horse Yard must answer to am.

Mallam Sani open mouth, surprise catch am.

Mallam Sani face change, say all warrior suppose dey defend city, no be for him play.

He try reason, 'City need all man for wall!'

Ikenna Okoye no shift. If you no gree, I no go be king.

His jaw set, eye strong. He no blink.

Mallam Sani no fit do anything; after all, the Royal Horse Yard just get about one thousand noble pikin—make he carry dem.

He wave hand, 'Make king get him wish. After all, na only young blood go save city now.'

Cavalry no too get use for city defence sef.

Elders nod, 'Horse no fit climb wall.'

Next day, Mallam Sani, Queen Mother Amina, and others support Musa Danladi (Ikenna Okoye) to climb stool for golden hall.

Drummers play fast, palace cooks prepare big feast. Women sing new king praise, sprinkle white chalk for entrance.

He change era name from Garba to Ugochukwu.

Town crier shout, 'New era don land! Ugochukwu reign start!' People dey celebrate for street, children dance with joy.

From that day, the war chief of Gidan Ruwa, Musa Danladi, no be Garba king again.

Old king name dey remove from palace wall. New name dey carve for throne.

Elders see new king, their mind stand. People for city shout, “Long life!”

You go think say new hope don rise for city—drums loud, songs fill air.

But as Ikenna Okoye siddon for royal stool, everywhere dey do am one kain—no position comfortable. To see all those pile of paper dey give am headache.

He rub neck, whisper, 'Na so Oba Eweka dey suffer?'

That time, he no know say Oba Eweka suffer like this for stool?

He swallow spit, respect for Oba Eweka increase for heart.

Thank God say council elders sabi their work.

He allow dem run palace, while he dey focus on war.

Ikenna Okoye just dey waka pass every day; time dey go fast.

Every sunset, he dey count, 'How many days remain for Fulani to reach?'

Day wey Fulani go reach dey come near.

Palace cat dey hide under stool, even children no dey play outside again.

Everywhere for city dey heavy; Mallam Sani dey look more tired every day.

Women dey sing sorrow song at night—'Let our warriors return, O God.'

Zaria just dey inside darkness.

Rain no dey fall, even the moon dey hide for cloud.

---

One morning, as palace boy go wake Ikenna Okoye, he no see king.

Palace scatter, maidens dey cry, guards dey run. The talking drum sound 'gbam gbam gbam'—'King don vanish!'

Fear catch am.

Small boy run go Queen Mother, tears for eye. Queen Mother stand, mouth open, 'Olorun o! Where my son?' She begin recite prayer chant—'Olorun, carry Musa, bring am home, no let evil see am.'

Before you know, palace don scatter.

People dey rush everywhere—'Check horse yard! Check river bank!'

Same time, for north gate tower, gate commander dey look Ikenna Okoye with fear for face.

The commander dey tremble, spear shake for hand. Eight hundred cavalry line up behind king, all wear black mourning band, their faces set like stone.

He wear armour, eight hundred cavalry follow am, all tie mourning band.

The king shine for morning sun, helmet glint, eyes cold.

He shout, “Na me be king; king wan come out. If you stop me, your whole family go suffer!”

His voice thunder, horse stamp ground. Some cavalry smile, others grit teeth, ready for any wahala.

The cavalry dey fear small, but dem dey ginger.

They look each other, resolve dey build—'If today na our last day, make we die like lion.'

Fear say this new king wan carry dem go die; hope say maybe, dem go fit take revenge for their papa and get honour.

One boy for back whisper, 'Even if we die, our name go live.'

But gate commander no gree open gate.

He shake head stubbornly, loyalty for eye.

King fit craze, but he no fit join am.

He kneel for ground, beg king, 'No carry my family suffer!'

No choice, Ikenna Okoye no fit really kill him family, so he tie the man, open gate by himself.

He pull commander aside, order two warriors tie am. Then he lift bar for gate with his own hand—strength of two men.

King open gate by himself—who go stop am?

Even city spirit bow for that kind power.

Na so, over eight hundred cavalry ride commot for capital.

Horses dey thunder, dust rise, city people gather watch, some dey pray, some dey cry. Market women throw sand for head, shout, 'May God guide you!'

Some kneel for dust, dey beat chest, dey sing old war song, “Ogun na ogun, Olorun go stand with us!”

Before he waka, Ikenna Okoye drop letter for Mallam Sani.

He hand am to young palace page, 'No let anybody read am till Sani come.'

When Mallam Sani, vex, rush come, he see only the tied, bloodless gate commander and warriors wey dey wait with letter.

Mallam Sani chest dey rise, beard dey shake. Elders gather behind am, their faces grim.

"Fulani dey come, dem head don swell. Dem no go ever think say I go make first move. I dey carry people go waka small—go come back soon."

Letter short, but the meaning loud. Warriors read am, their hearts burn with pride and fear.

Make first move?

Mallam Sani hand dey shake, eye nearly turn.

He clutch chest, whisper, 'This boy na real wahala!'

This stubborn boy!

Palace guards gather, Queen Mother faint small, elders call prayer.

Eight hundred cavalry wan face tens of thousands of Fulani?

The old women for market say, 'God of our fathers, abeg carry them home alive.' Some young men for city square vow, 'If king fall, we go carry fight for him name.'

You and your brother dey compete who go lose pass?

Even palace drummers dey confuse—should dem play victory, or start mourning beat? The talking drum hang for air, waiting for news—victory or sorrow, nobody sabi which song to play next.