“I will sit and sleep sir. It is good for my upper body.” “You will have no leg room.” “My legs are short sir.”

“Awon egbe yin nile niyen. Ko ye ke tii ritaya o. Ko pay wa o. Sebi awon ore yin adajo ati ojogbon eko giga si wa nibi ise” (Those are your mates back home. You should not have retired. This is not in our interest. Moreover, your friends, the judge and the university professor are still working).

Then one of PC’s supporters named DD consulted with Baba Amoye, a man in his 90s who was regarded as the wisest man in the community.  “Baba, there is no peace in the marketplace. We are at each other’s throats.  What do we do?”. He asked.

“Sir, but you are a Christian and a Nigerian sir. Help your fellow Christian and Nigerian sir. The Bible asks us to help the needy.” 

Well, I convinced myself that whoever was calling must have a serious reason to call. Probably a family member or friend. In my mind, fraudsters would not call persistently. So, I answered the call.

Who can blame those that are eager to engage with Olowo? Subconsciously, they derive some pleasure from their “relationships” with him. Perhaps one day, he will remember them for good. It might also be for no expected material or financial gain at all. Might just be psychological.

On a particular day, he closed late at work and one of his colleagues, an American we would call KC for the purpose of this article gave him a ride. BB is Yoruba. In the culture of the Yorubas as with many other African cultures, when someone has been of assistance to you, it is expected that you will appreciate the individual.

Recall your burial? Emotions were high. I gave you my words publicly and privately, especially each time I visited your burial ground. I promised that I would never fall in love with another man again. You would be my last, I had said to you many times.

Then an opportunity came at my place of work. I informed B to apply through the normal process. She did. I recused myself from the panel that conducted the interviews. I did not influence their decisions and did not inform them that B was related to me.