The Dilemma Of Achebe

THE DILEMMA

OF

ACHEBE.

Egbulonu Odinaka Kingsley.

Disclaimer.

A pure work of fiction. Any similarities or resemblances of places, people or events is entirely coincidental.

The Dilemma of Achebe.

Egbulonu Odinaka Kingsley.

©2024.

Dedicated To:

All young and upcoming gifted ministers and believers of Christ.

Introduction:

In a world where faith collides with temptation, destiny hangs in the balance. “The Dilemma Of Achebe” delves into the tumultuous journey of Achebe Mbasogo, a man called to the sacred duty of prophethood. As he navigates the murky waters of spiritual warfare and personal weakness, Achebe grapples with the consequences of his actions and the weight of his calling. Set against the backdrop of betrayal, love, and supernatural encounters, this gripping tale explores the fine line between divine purpose and human frailty.

Preface:

Amidst the bustling streets and quiet corners, lies the tale of a man torn between his faith and his desires. “The Dilemma of Achebe” is a story that emerged from the intersection of inspiration and imagination, weaving together themes of spirituality, morality, and the complexities of human nature. Through the trials and tribulations of its protagonist, this narrative invites readers to ponder the intricacies of destiny and the choices that shape our lives.

Table of Contents:

Title page.

Disclaimer.

Dedication.

Introduction.

Preface.

Table of contents.

1. Episode One: The Call of Destiny

2. Episode Two: The Encounter with Sister Ozioma

3. Episode Three: The Revelation of Sister Ozioma’s Pregnancy

4. Episode Four: The Temptation and Distress Call

5. Episode Five: Confrontation with Sister Ozioma

6. Episode Six: Confrontation with Past Mistakes

7. Episode Seven: The Tragic Death of Sister Ozioma

8. Episode Eight: The Arrival of Deborah

9. Episode Nine: The Death of Deborah’s Sister

10. Episode Ten: Confronting Supernatural Forces

11. Episode Eleven: The Arrest and Encounter with Prophet Dr. Ibizan

12. Episode Twelve: Imprisonment and Temptation by Occultists

13. Episode Thirteen: Recovery and Moral Dilemma

14. Episode Fourteen: The Dark Pact and Sacrifice

15. Episode Fifteen: Escape, Revenge, and Ultimate Consequences

He took his spiritual gifting for a Divine call and met his Waterloo.

This is how it all began...

Episode one.

It began one Saturday morning of April in 2012.

Many of the prophecies I gave to my colleagues in the office had manifested. I had worked in that hotel for barely three weeks when I began to make an arrangement to join full time ministry. Some colleagues encouraged me to resign having seen the tremendous Prophetic utterances and it’s subsequent results. It happened that even those who were not gifted to function as Prophets amongst us desired to see visions.

I was celebrated and held in high esteem. Hotel visitors and some of my friends wondered how and what a Prophet came to look for in a hotel. How could I have gone to look for a Job in a hotel? Were there no other places to go other than a hotel? My conscience pricked me on this for many days. I knew I was at the wrong place but I was there because of the money. I wanted the money. That’s all. I had no single passion for my Job as a storekeeper. I knew I could do more. I knew I worth more but here I was hidden away from purpose, in a hotel.

I avoided many of my Preacher friends from knowing I was working in a hotel. They would say a believer isn’t supposed to be yoked with unbelievers. What do I care? All I wanted was money. My pay wasn’t exciting but it was alright for me. Infact, it was disappointing to have allowed that meager salary. I had in my pride told some newly found friends during the interview at the hotel that I resigned from a Job where they paid me eighty thousand monthly. I thought I was going to be considered for a bigger salary by the company if I had said that, but nothing changed. Instead, I was paid thirty five thousand monthly which was nothing close to the salary I claimed been paid in my former place of work. People wondered how a former Manager from another company and also a Prophet could come to work In a hotel for a peanut. It was all a made-up story to look important.

Many at times, when questioned by the Manager about my reasons for wanting to resign I would tell him I had a call to ministry. As true as it was, it wasn’t the only reason.

The Hotel, ‘Sobata hotels and suites’ was quite large with most of the facilities that qualifies a 5-star hotels, but unfortunately, it didn’t get that credit. Many people who were not working there thought the least staff member earns about a hundred thousand but unfortunately, it wasn’t better than most of the local hotel businesses around except for the wonderful furnishings.

Many of my colleagues at work had come to believe in me except for a few who thought I had a superior access to information about them gotten probably from social media or from certain people.

In one of the prophecies I told Femi, the guy serving at the bar that he was going to join the management team very soon. He shouted Amen, not because he believed but because he wanted me to feel alright. I saw it on his face. Femi was one who hardly believed in Christianity and spirituality. He told me many times that the things I said happened out of coincidence. So, I needed to prove to him that the supernatural exceeds the natural.

Two weeks down the line, the assistant manager of the hotel, Adamu was caught sleeping with a female colleague in one of the hotel rooms and was sacked immediately. When Mr. Bonzo who was equally functioning at the bar was promoted to replace the position of the assistant manager, many who thought Femi was going to be promoted due to the prophecy lost hope. I walked into the office in the middle of their discussion and told them,

“Mr. Bonzo would be sacked soon because he’s not the right person to be in that position.”

“Who will sack him? ” Amara, the Auditor asked me.

“Well, let’s watch and see”

“Abeg, who God don bless e don bless. Leave that thing. Mr. Bonzo has Grace. It was the Grace of God that spoke for him.”

“I don’t like too many argument. In a very short time, that guy would be fired because I believe he’s not the person God wants for that position ”

“Are you now going to ask God to remove him? What’s the problem? ” She sounded like it was supposed to be a joke. But she meant every word.

“I’m just saying we should watch and see.” I left her office.

It wasn’t upto two weeks and it happened.

A night before that day I went up into one of the hotel rooms looking for Mr Bonzo to give me keys to our department. I didn’t knock before entering because I believed he was there alone. He never told me he was going in with any visitor. Unfortunately, I saw him with a lady; the daughter of the Cashier. I saw shock written all over his face. I had no idea what to make out of it. He was a Christian and so I trusted him.

The next morning, I was summoned by the Managing Director of the hotel Mr. Bagu, a tall, black complexioned huge young man at his middle forties. He told no one his age anyway but his elder sister’s 51st birthday gave everyone a glue of Mr Bagus. I hurried out of my bed and dragged my trousers on without bathing. Lateness might be dangerous. I had thought.

“This boy said you saw him with this girl in the hotel room last night. Is it true” Mr. Bagu asked me, pointing at Mr. Bonzo.

“Yes sir. It was when I went to collect the keys to...”

“Was I doing anything with this girl when you saw us...” Bonzo was trying to defend himself. He had a pitiable sight. I would have loved to help him but...

“Shut up. You think you are smart abi. You want to rape my sister’s daughter in my own hotel. Oya take whatever belongs to you in this hotel and go out. I don’t want you to work for me again” Bagu ordered.

“No sir please, there’s a misunderstanding somewhere. I didn’t rape this girl. Guy tell them na... You know I can’t rape any girl...” Bonzo was going to cry.

Somewhere in my heart I felt happy. Yes. Not because he was caught trying to rape a girl but that my prophecy came to pass. It didn’t matter to me who was injured. Quickly, I rushed to the admin office and informed the auditor, accountant and the purchaser. These trio were not just my colleagues in the office but my friends.

“It happened like I predicted” I boldly told them.

“What’s that?” Amara asked without looking up. She was busy with her entry notes balancing and crosschecking figures. The accountant Mr Ifure was over there; his table with a Desktop computer at the corner near the window. The purchaser was just sitting close to Amara, the Auditor.

“I mean, I told you guys that Mr Bonzo wasn’t supposed to be promoted at first but he manipulated his way into that office but now he’s been fired by the MD” My head was high up while I spoke.

“Seriously... ” The trio chorused almost at same time. I could sense suspense hanging on the atmosphere. All eyes glued on me. I felt I should talk more but I wanted to hear their opinion before I could continue.

“So what happened? How, did it mean... Where’s Mr Bonzo now...” Amara asked, wasn’t sure which one to ask first. The biro dropped from her hand to the floor and I’m quite sure she didn’t notice. Her attention or rather their attention was arrested by the News.

“As we speak, he left with his belongings. He was caught or should I say accused of raping the Cashier’s daughter.”

“Cashier’s daughter? You mean that girl that came here yesterday’s evening?” Ifure asked.

“That’s it. You know her. I never knew she is cashier’s daughter until this event. I even thought she’s one of our usual guests.”

“O boy, I don dey fear you oo. You said it that he was going to be removed and it happened already... ” Binta, the purchaser said.

“And not Just that, Femi is the next person in line to be promoted in his stead.”

“I won’t doubt you again... ”

Two days later, the MD summoned an emergency meeting and immediate promotion was conferred on Femi to take over the place of Bonzo.

He met me much later. I thought he was going to bring the Prophet’s offering but nothing of such.

“I can see that truly you are in touch with a spirit” Femi said. Something tingled in my head. I would like to hear more of that.

“But you must be careful...” He continued, “careful to use it without abusing it or trying to take advantage of people with it” On hearing this, the calibration of my excitement adjusted a little. I wasn’t expecting that.

“Outside there are a lot of so called Prophets who have exactly what you have and are making mess of their lives. They steal people’s money, tell lies with prophecy because they already know people can’t discern the truth. They tell you scary things to get you to either sow seed or make you their follower or even coarse innocent girls into sleeping with them...”

Right now, I didn’t know whether to stop him or continue to listen. How could he be this ungrateful? My prophecy just got him promoted and here he is, telling me how best to handle prophecy. Who the hell is this?

“Eh, Mr Femi...” I interrupted.

“Now that God has blessed you what are you going to do for him in appreciation?” I was expecting him to promise me a seed of Faith or even tithe.

“Well, I’m still planning for my wedding and I kind of need some money right now. So do you mind I give you my envelope?”

I was going to pretend like everything was fine with me.

“Wow. So you are even planning your wedding? That’s huge Bro.”

My mouth was saying something different from my heart. Could it be that Femi said all that just to get at me? Or was just being ungrateful or probably he didn’t like me because he believed I was proud and loudmouthed.

“Ah, I have been announcing it for long na...” He was saying when my phone rang. It was Rev Ifedi. I got his number from a friend who was serving in the Anglican Church located at Amuru village, a neighboring village to Ishi where Rev Ifedi was currently serving.

Few Weeks ago I had told my friend to help me find a church where I could answer the call of God on my Life. He gave me Rev Ifedi’s number. I was still making an arrangement about moving over to his church in Ishi village.

“Hello, Good evening Sir.”

“Good evening bro Achebe. How are you doing today?”

“I’m fine. Thank you sir.”

“Alright. So how are you preparing?”

“Yes. Ehm, I’m yet to tender my resignation letter Sir. But I’ll do that before this weekend so that by next week it should be approved”

“Ok, the Lord will help you. You have nothing to be afraid of. Our church will take care of all that you need. Just do what you have to do and get over here to help us”

“No problem sir. By God’s grace I shall be joining you people ”

The call ended. Trust me, I wasn’t so sure in my spirit I was ready for what I was about to embark on.

I felt I was gifted enough to be in ministry and therefore staying away for too long might be delaying my blessings. I wasn’t sure if God was leading me or not. I just wanted to do ministry, preach, prophesy and collect seed offering. That’s all. Many people had told me I should join the ministry. And so, the voice of the people was loud in my heart. Yes, the people wanted me in ministry and that’s all that mattered. By the way I was Gifted. I could make a whole lot of money from this. After preaching I could ask for seed to claim my Prophetic declarations. I was certain people were going to obey me.

Three days later, I announced my resignation plans to my colleagues in the office. I knew they were never going to take that lightly.

“Guys I will soon be leaving you people to go do the work of God”

“Wait. Are you resigning?” Binta, the purchaser asked.

“Yes. Matter of fact, I have tendered my resignation letter but the Manager is struggling to accept it. He said I should stay till the end of this year but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen”

“Achebe why na. Huh? ” Amara asked. I saw disappointment written all over her face. She would want me to stay till her prophecy of getting married anytime soon was fulfilled. She had told me severally she was going to share the testimony with me. I knew it was going to happen but I wasn’t sure of staying behind to share the testimony with her.

“We know you’re having issues with cashier and the stress in your storekeeping Job, but I already told you I will be helping you. Even if you’re going to join ministry, is it late for you? Why not wait a little. It’s barely two months you joined us in this work and you are already planning on leaving.”

“But I already told you from the beginning that I won’t be staying for long in this Job. I told you I’m here on assignment for a given time. Huh, I can’t be living my life on a stipend when I have what it takes to make me a millionaire in a very short time ” I was smiling by now. I wanted them to believe I was Joking.

“No. So you mean this whole ministry and calling stuff and even resigning is about your pursuit for money?” Ifure asked. Honestly I was disappointed in myself to have said it that way. I thought they were going to take it casual.

“Is that so?” That was from Binta.

“No no, it’s not like that. You see, I like sharing secrets with you people. I have never told anyone but the Manager and you guys that am about to resign. Yes, I’m about to resign but I was playful when I told you guys I wanted to make money. I didn’t mean it that way but seriously I need to resign from this Job and focus on the work of God”

There was silence in the room as though they were trying to digest what they heard.

“So when are you leaving?” Ifure asked,

“Depending when the Manager approves my letter.”

They frowned, hoping my letter never gets approved.