August Meeting

If it were possible to reverse the past, Okechukwu would have corrected the mistakes he made and the steps he took years back. He never imagined that things would turn out the way they did; no one ever imagined that too. Even though his family members were sceptical about his ambition, they never wished him failure in his quest for survival. Unfortunately, the past cannot be reversed. It was the price he had to pay. He would have to spend the rest of his life regretting and wishing he never took those decisions.

It is good to be very ambitious. It is very excellent to be passionate about one’s dreams. A lot of people were very ambitious while younger but never pursued their dreams; either they were distracted or they practically grew up and became passionate about something different entirely. However, it is also good to reconsider our decisions and forgo our ambition when loved ones, family members or even friends are practically against such dreams; especially if it would hurt or discomfort them.

In the past, when we were pupils in the primary school; each time the teacher asks everyone to say what she or he would like to become in future, sometimes I wished to become a doctor today, a lawyer tomorrow or something else, just like every other pupil; probably because the class mistress must have read the story of a doctor or a lawyer etcetera. Okechukwu was different; he always wished to be a trader. He would never say what kind of business he wanted to do but at every point in time, he just wanted to become a trader like Mazi.

Mazi was a wealthy man; at least in our little minds he was. He had an open van, a generator and two televisions sets. Every Sunday after church, many of us would stay behind waiting for Mazi, so that we can jump into the back of his open van even if he were to stay for extra thirty minutes. Should Mazi stay beyond thirty minutes, Okechukwu and I with other kids would still wait patiently for Mazi. Most times we sit on the grass and Mazi’s children would be entertaining us with stories of one soap opera or another, they had watched the previous Saturday. By evening time, people always gather in his house to watch a popular television show; ‘tells by moon light’. Adults stay in the sitting room watching the big coloured television set. Children stay in his veranda, sitting on our slippers for those that had one; watching the small black television set. I still recall how people struggle to get a position in his house so that they could have a wonderful view of the program. It was fun. Mothers cook quite early on Sundays. No one wanted to miss an episode. For the kids, every game including football ends by 4:00pm, then everyone would hurriedly wash his legs or rinse them I should say. Mazi would never allow the boys with dirty clothes in.

Little did Okechukwu know that the very day his father passed away was the very day his ambition came true. We were still small when his father died. We had gone to celebrate children’s day together at the local government secretariat as friends but never came back together. That was the only day we left together and came back separately. It was a day of history. How would I have known what happened if not for the people I met crying when we returned. I remember Okechukwu advising his mother to stop crying that his father would soon wake up.

During the funeral, Okechuwku and I were busy eating and drinking to our satisfaction. I would never forget his statement - ‘there should be funeral everyday’. After the burial, it became inevitable for Okechukwu to move to Aba with Dede Achara to acquire some skills or learn a trade. That was the last time we saw each other. Dede Achara promised that he would visit home with Okechukwu very often but he never did. He only showed face if there was a wedding or funeral ceremony at home. If Okechukwu ever showed face, it was during his father’s one year memorial service; then I had moved to Onitsha with Azuanuka.

It has been over 25 years since Okechukwu and I saw each other last; 25 years as well since his father passed away. He was overwhelmed with his business ambition and pursuit that he did not make out time to see his mother in these 25 years. All the while, I kept on imagining what he would look like after this long period; huge, tall with beards and broad chest. Perhaps he might even be plump, short with very big potbelly and scanty beards like mine. I wondered if I would ever see him again. Would he ever return home? Does he even think about home? It’s so amazing how time flies and how things change so fast. Visiting his mother was just a waste of time. The last time I visited the widow, she was yelling all through my stay with her. My presence reminded her of her Okechukwu but it wasn’t the solution per say. It made me to wonder why things happen the way they do.

“Okechukwu managed to finish his primary education at Aba; spent two years in the college and said he wanted to go into business”. This was exactly how Dede Achara reported it.

There was no need keeping him in the college anyway; he was never a classroom material. However, he was very ambitious. He had learnt how to paint; spent two years to acquire that skill then served his master for another one year before he established himself. Even though he was never brilliant academically, all the same he excelled and became an expert with the painting skills he acquired.

One certain time, Okechukwu was hired to paint a two story building. It was reported that the owner of the house wanted to celebrate Christmas in his new building. Therefore Okechukwu stormed the building with his apprentices. He and his boys were under extreme pressure to finish the contract before the deadline. They worked every day even at nights with torch lights affixed on their forehead. Unfortunately, during one of those nights something terrible happened. One of his boys fell from the ladder. Although the boy survived the accident, however he sustained grave injury. Okechukwu had to spend all his life savings on hospital bills to restore the boy to fitness. The man Okechukwu worked for abandoned him amidst that predicament alleging that the accident happened due to Okechukwu’s carelessness. To make matters worse, the man finally did not move into the building by that Christmas.

When the boy recovered, Okechukwu decided to quit painting business altogether. He decided to borrow a little money to add up to whatever that was left of his savings, he had the intention to go into trading business. He used the money to open a small warehouse where he sold paints. He did that for a year and six months even though it wasn’t a lucrative business. He felt it was better than staying idle. Business was dull most of the time, on some days he sold nothing practically. All the same, his friends encouraged him to be patient because he was just new in the business; he was patient anyway because he didn’t have a choice at that time. He would still be patient waiting for things to turn around.

Unfortunately, calamity struck again. One night, after he had replenished his stocks, his shop was gutted by fire. Everything he had in it including the little cash he left in his drawer burnt to ashes. He was hoping to add up whatever proceeds he would make the next day to that money he left behind; his intention was to use the total sum for Sunday contribution. The cause of the fire was later traced to his neighbour who negligently failed to turn off his fridge before he left his shop the previous evening. They haven’t been switching off their gadgets for months. For six months they were having power outage so there was practically no point switching off their electronic gadgets. Unknown to them, the local government chairman had paid for the repairs of the market transformer in preparation for electioneering. Thus, power holding operators came and worked on the transformer that evening. While they were servicing the transformer, power was flashed intermittently because the operators were test running the transformer. It was the flashing that caused the fire and Okechukwu became a victim of that fire incident. There was no compensation whatsoever from anyone; he was back to square one.

‘Struggle continues after all difficulty makes a man’. That was exactly Okechukwu’s statement purported to cheer him up. Everyone has one or two stories to share; a life changing experience or a major drawback. His were more of drawbacks but he would never relent. By this time, 10 solid years had passed yet there was no success story for Okechukwu. The reason for which he sought to go into business quite early seemed to have been defeated. Some of his mates in the university were preparing for their graduation. Those in business were recounting remarkable achievements. As for Okechukwu, it was sad story all through; from one tribulation to another.

Unarguably the drawbacks were part of the reasons why Okechukwu couldn’t visit his family in the village. Perhaps he was ashamed of going home empty handed. He was the first child and that positioned him as his family’s bread winner. Unfortunately, he had nothing to show for it yet. He had three younger brothers and a sister to cater for. He had his aging mother to care for and his late father’s uncompleted building to finish. He had to get married and look after his own family. Subsequently, he would have in-laws to take care of. Responsibilities were unarguably greater than the person meant to shoulder them. He had to start somewhere; either he starts from the beginning or he begins from the end. He just had to start something.

In the midst of all odds, there would always be something to be thankful for. Okechukwu had a friend that was more than a sister. Her name was Mgbeodirichimma. She was a lady that took special interest in Okechukwu for whatever reason best known to her alone. She stood by him more than anyone else. She was never rich but she was magnanimous even with the little that she had. There was no disparity between her and the widow Christ talked about. Mgbeodirichimma was always willing to forgo her own worries just to take care of that of Okechukwu. Whatever that was so special about Okechukwu, only her saw it. She wasn’t just emotional, she was very real and the thought of her rejuvenated Okechukwu. It was because of her that Okechukwu lived on. Okechukwu wanted to take good care of her. He was looking for an opportunity to reciprocate her love at least but there was not enough money at his disposal to do the things that would make Mgbeodirichimma joyous. According to Okechukwu, any man that found Mgbeodirichimma, found the treasure that was spoken about in proverbs and obtains favour from the Lord.

Meanwhile, I finished college and joined my brother in business for a couple of years. Later on, I went back to school. I read law. The day I was called to the bar was the day I realised that whatever dream or ambition that one pursues passionately always pays. Not quite long I was called to the bar, I bought my first car and got married. By this time I had stopped asking about Okechukwu. If you were in my shoes, you would stop asking about him because many years had passed since we saw each other last. I left Onitsha for Lagos where I met my wife. It was after we had our first child that I got a lecturing job. My wife and I were in Lagos together until she got a job in federal medical centre Owerri. The moment she got that job, I applied for a transfer. We relocated to Owerri and lived there for six months. My wife was a career woman and I was always supporting her. She decided to study further overseas thus we finally left Nigeria in pursuit of that ambition. I think it was my travel out of the country that caused the problem that Okechukwu had; so it seemed. Somehow I have tried to find a reason not to blame myself for the calamity that befell my childhood friend. Unfortunately, one part of me blames me for the misfortune that ensued Okechukwu. When I told my wife about it, she told me I was not responsible for the calamity. I knew she would take sides with her husband because she wanted to justify my innocence. As for me, that didn’t make sense because I know how I and Okechukwu started. If I hadn’t abandoned him that way, perhaps all this would not have happened.

Things were getting tougher that Okechukwu decided to digress. He decided to learn how to make women’s handbag. There were two specialists at Aba then who were leading in the business of women’s handbag. They were twins and had been in the business for many years. In the whole Aba, James and John were the market leaders. There was nothing special about their own bags neither was there a special technique that they were using to have necessitated the kind of popularity they gained. Any woman that didn’t have a handbag made by the twins was out of fashion; so it was then. Perhaps God was using them to make a way for someone else.

Okechukwu brought himself so low and became an apprentice once again. James and John took special interest in him and made him their personal assistant. He held their purse and spent their money. He was trustworthy and accountable. Anyway at his age he had to. Okechukwu understood the rudiments of the business fast enough. Soon he became an expert. If it wasn’t for the one year and six most apprenticeship agreement he had with the twins, he was due to be his own master. He served them diligently for one year, six months and two days even though he was almost their age mate. Before he left them, they gave him two brand new sewing machines to start life. There were other valuables they gave him too.

At this time, it seemed he was nearing the end of the tunnel and the end of suffering. For nearly two years he was not able to afford two good meals per day. Ever since he left the twins, things began to turn around. The future seemed promising for Okechuwku and Mgbeodirichimma. He loved her no doubt but he was yet to prove it to her. Okechukwu used the money James and John gave him to rent a shop. His new business was promising. It was time to add something good to his life. Okechukwu decided to settle down with a woman. Mgbeodirichimma was the lucky lady or rather Okechukwu was the fortunate man to have found that treasure. That way, his ambition came true. Had it not been for his father’s death, perhaps he wouldn’t have gone to Aba.

Just two months after Okechukwu and Mgbeodirichimma got married, his former bosses, James and John decided to quit the business. They had been into it for twelve years. All through, they were successful. It was time to leave the business for people like Okechukwu. James and John were relocating to Brazil to continue life there. For James and John, there was no other person or apprentice as loyal as Okechukwu; it was time to pay him back for his stewardship. The twins invited him and his wife and gave them their shop with all its contents. There was something they never told them they were giving them also which they did. They gave them all their customers and their brand name. That was a life changing gift. The decision to digress and become an apprentice once again paid Okechukwu. His patience and endurance was greatly rewarded. Okechukwu now has lots of stories to tell. Good stories and drawbacks. When success comes, drawbacks and failures seem never to have come one’s way.

Okechukwu acquired the shop and moved in. There was something very commendable that he did; for the first time he took a wonderful business decision. He didn’t sell his own shop; he used it as his warehouse. It was a stone’s throw from the new shop anyway. James and John’s customers extended their friendly disposition towards Okechukwu. Later on, he became so busy that he had no time to visit his mother but he would always send his wife to see his family in the village.

Few months later, Okechukwu got a contract to supply fifty thousand pieces of customized handbags. A gubernatorial aspirant wanted to use the bags for campaigns. The total money for sewing and designing the bags was even paid up front. Okechukwu made lots of money from that contract alone. In no distant time, he completed his father’s house and bought his lovely wife Mgbeodirichimma a pleasure car. She deserved it anyway after going through all those difficult years with him. Maybe it was even because of her that God blessed Okechukwu. At this time, his dream to become a business man was realised.

Their marriage wasn’t blessed with children immediately and that brought sadness into their family. God in his benevolence never goes to sleep. After two years of marriage, they were blessed beyond imagination. Mgbeodirichimma’s first delivery was twins. She had two boys and called them James and John in honour of the men that made their lives better.

Months later, Okechukwu bought his own car making it two. His mother was pleased with him. He had taken care of his responsibilities. He even surpassed everyone’s expectations. His younger sister read economics in the university. His brothers said they wanted to go into trade and he supported them. He refurbished his mother-in-laws house and trained Mgbeodirichimma’s only sister in the university.

One mistake is enough to ruin the entire future. Okechukwu made the most colossal mistake of his life and he lived to regret it afterwards. It was a painful one. One day, he said he wanted to travel outside the country. Mgbeodirichimma had objected; she even reported to her mother-in-law. Unfortunately, they could not decide for Okechukwu at that time. He was financially independent. Had it not been for their little children, the marriage would have crashed. Okechukwu was insistent to travel overseas because he wanted to make bigger money; he wanted to become a millionaire overnight. He told people that everyone close to him has travelled out to acquire wealth. For him, the only place to make money was overseas. He mentioned my name and then James and John. That was why I said I felt responsible for the calamity that befell him. You never can tell how many people that are watching and desiring to be like you, even if what you are doing is morally wrong. For such people, you are their role model

The matter was reported to Okechukwu’s mother in the village. The woman invited him for a discussion but he never showed face. His wife pleaded with him but he never reconsidered his decision. All he cared for was that prestigious adventure. Whether it was precarious or not, he didn’t want to know. He just wanted to travel out like I did and then acquire wealth as if to say everyone overseas was wealthy. He had good plans anyway because he wanted to take good care of Mgbeodirichimma and his children. Unfortunately, he didn’t take the right steps.

Where was Okechukwu intending to travel to? Malaysia. What was he going to do in Malaysia? He was going to work and make better money. He undermined the fact that he didn’t possess the requisite educational qualifications to seek for employment overseas. Instead, he was enthralled because foreign currencies were advantageously exchanging against naira. More importantly, he neglected the fact that there could be grave consequences for illegal emigrants. His entire family was against that decision but he said they were “old school - myopic so to speak”. He had the money so he felt they didn’t have to tell him how to spend his hard earned money; not even his wife. For the fact that he had seen people travel and come back with wealth, he felt there was no danger whatsoever.

One of Okechukwu’s kinsmen had come from Malaysia and Okechukwu approached him for assistance. The man agreed to assist Okechukwu actualize his dreams. He told Okechukwu to pay for the assistance and link he would provide for him. The guy promised to get him visa and temporary resident permit. He also promised to accommodate him pending when he settles down properly if he arrives. The money involved was huge but the guy told him he would realise more than that amount just in one month. Okechukwu was extremely desperate to the point that he sold the shop he inherited from James John; he did not even informing his wife and family members about his decision to dispose of one of his shops.

Little did Okechukwu know that the very day he took that decision was the very day he ruined his entire life. Okechukwu and his kinsman left Nigeria for Casablanca in company of two other guys. One of the guys travelling with them was a contract staff with a packaging firm while the other was a teacher in a government school. Unfortunately, they claimed that their remuneration was not commensurate with their input therefore they resigned. The boys too were very desperate; they were hoping to wangle their way into Spain through Casablanca.

When they got to Morocco, they spent two days together and then separated. Unfortunately for the guys travelling to Spain, they were sold for slavery. The man that was taking them across border told them he would hand them over to a reliable person that would take care of them in Casablanca. He even promised them that his Morocco counterpart would get them accommodation and temporary jobs until there was an opportunity to move into Spain. Though he did as he promised them; he never told them the conditions. The man that was to care for them in Casablanca seized their passports and subjected them to work for him tirelessly. He threatened to report them to the law enforcement agency should they dare him. That was how they became slaves whereas everyone at home felt they were already in Spain cruising life perhaps.

Okechuwku wasn’t unfortunate as to be sold for slavery because he paid for temporary visa and resident permit. He arrived in Malaysia and was provided with all the necessary assistance he needed as a new comer. In no distance time, they initiated him into illegal drug business. He had no choice after all the little boys he was staying with were making lots of money from that illegal drug business; he consented to the business wholeheartedly.

After his first deal, he made lots of money and sent a reasonable amount to his family at home. He gave the money to a friend in Malaysia that was visiting Nigeria. He didn’t have bank account yet because his papers were incomplete been an illegal emigrant. He even proposed to travel home by Christmas time to prove to people, his family in particular; that it was a great decision to have left Nigeria. Unfortunately, the money he sent never got to his family. Later, he realised that his so called friend that he gave the money ran away with it to another country.

His second shock was the expiration of his visa and resident permit. He was merely granted two months’ visa and resident permit. When he tried to quarrel the person that provided him with the link to travel, they told him it was always the case but they also promised to assist him fix the problem in no distant time. They even told him they had similar experience in the past. Unfortunately, they never did as they said; they never will.

While he was trying to fix the problems facing him in Malaysia, he was nabbed by the corps. He was hoping that someone from his clique would come for his rescue but they all varnished. No one ever visited him. He was later on convicted. He would have been deported because his passport just expired but for the possession of contraband materials, he was jailed for 25 years. He regretted everything. If he had reconsidered his decision and stayed back in Nigeria manning his business, he wouldn’t have to be jailed. If Okechukwu had listened to his family, he would have been a wealthy man just like Mazi without having to travel overseas. The correct story about his fate was reported to his mother after two years. His friends in Malaysia could not conceal it further.

Okechukwu didn’t just suffer alone in the prison; his wife later became a prisoner of hardship at Aba with two children. She was meant to believe that Okechukwu could be freed if some money would be raised to bail him. She didn’t know they never meant to assist her. They just wanted to enrich themselves. Thus she sold everything she had including the remaining shop Okechukwu left behind. She was hoping that things would turn around when he regains freedom. That way, they robbed her of her only source of livelihood even in that unimaginable adversity.

Okechukwu’s children later became prisoners of destitution and starvation. More worrisome, they didn’t know if they were fatherless or not. They didn’t just want to see the man called their father; they wanted to be with him. His aging mother too became a prisoner of illness when she heard he was jailed. She kept on yelling at home because she knew he would never come home again. If ever he would come back, she would never see him again.

For me, many years has passed since I saw my childhood friend last. For Okechuwku, dreams realised; dreams scattered. 25 years has come and gone yet no sign of Okechukwu. Is he dead or alive? I kept asking myself. As for Okechukwu’s mother, he was lost; forever.