The Governor`s Enemies

By Osita Ogoke

A Nigerian governor`s car gets attacked by a suicide bomber. He hires a private detective to find the perpetrator. All the private investigator had to do was swear his allegiance to him with the gods as witness and the job would be his. There was money to be picked up but the hired hand was to learn that in politics, there is nothing like easy cash.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Osita Ogoke
• Release date: Nov 9, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311175878

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The Governor`s Enemies

Ogoke Osita

The Governor`s Enemies

by Osita Ogoke

copyright 2013 by Osita Ogoke

cover design copyright 2013 by Osita Ogoke

cover design by Nnanna Akwu

Smashwords edition, License Notes

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of the author.

Chapter 1

Money means nothing to me. Look at me. I`m old. What am I going to use it for? I can hardly digest my food. This is my favorite shirt now. I feel like wearing it every day, and I do. My legs don`t itch me anymore. I feel like staying in here every day.

I nodded and sipped my drink.

But you still make money.

Yes, I do but that`s because I don`t see why I shouldn`t. My children are all abroad and are doing well but who wants to stay abroad forever? Sooner or later, they would start coming back. The country is stabilizing. I want them to be comfortable when they do. I may be long gone by then though I don`t see why they should wait that long. It`s a human sentiment— wanting things to be fine with your people when you`re gone.

He regarded me.

You probably don`t have such thoughts. You would think you`re immortal. I remember when I was your age. I never thought about death. I thought I would be here forever but look at me now. Sometimes, I sleep and dream I`m walking into a sinking house with my father. I wake up thinking I`m already dead. I don`t sweat much these days but on those nights, I sweat like a pig— which is the only thing that tells me I`m alive.

But you want to continue to live.

Of course I want to continue to live. You enjoy the little things and I`m doing just that now. When I was young I had a really long ball. I`m just having what`s left of it.

Yea, you had a lot of money.

Of course I did and that`s a factor. He regarded me. You`re broke alright but having a bartender willing to give you a drink on a hot afternoon is not such a bad life after all.

My phone rang. I reached into my pocket and brought it out. It was Emeka. Emeka was my partner.

Hello, what`s going on?

I realized my voice sounded too gay.

"Where are you?’’ There was an irritated rasp in the voice.

I hesitated and looked at the old man who was watching me attentively.

Never mind where I am, I said in a more serious tone. What`s going on? I repeated.

I`ve been trying to reach you for over an hour now.

Blame the network.

He ignored the joke.

How long would it take you to get to the office?

I instinctively glanced at my watch that stopped working six months before. Without taking my eyes away from it, I said: Depends. Before he could make another irritated sound I said: Give me ten minutes.

Make it fast, he said.

Sure.

And….

What?

Don`t be plastered when you get here. I grinned and was about to utter a wise comeback but the phone was dead. I grinned at the old man.

Duty calls, I said and hurriedly finished the rest of my drink. I touched his bald head, muttered a thanks and found my way out of the bar. Outside I flagged down a tricycle. It screeched to a halt.

Enyi avenue.

Get in, the rider said in a voice ruined by smoking and spirits.

I avoided a puddle and went in. He regarded me on the rear view mirror.

Two hundred naira, he declared.

Stop talking and get going, I said. He obeyed. He legged the throttle and the tricycle jumped forward, narrowly missing a bus whose driver probably thought he was alone on the road. The tricycle accelerated quickly as if in pursuit of the bus. I could hear the rattle of something under the tricycle as it sped along. We went for a while before the bus suddenly swerved to the right and parked. Again, we narrowly missed hitting it. The tricycle bent towards the driver as much as he could and rained some abuses on him. He turned just in time to see a pothole right in front of us. He swerved but he was a bit too late. A part of the tricycle went in and there was a loud bump that made me think something had broken. I looked at his bloodshot eyes and knew that any attempt to get him to slow down would fall on deaf ears. When we came out and got going again, the sound under the engine was louder. I just leaned back and decided to enjoy the ride.

I would have found myself leaning in a police cell though. We got to an area of slower traffic and he finally slowed down but it was just for a moment. He swerved sharply and I almost fell out and would have crashed gracefully on the road. He picked up speed again as we passed some stationary cars to our right. In a moment, I saw the cause of the traffic jam. It was a police checkpoint and they were collecting twenties from commercial drivers. My own driver didn`t think he was up to it for that moment and he was willing to risk his life for it. The policeman that would have caught wind of his attempt was stilling shoving a twenty into his pocket. Before he could recover, we had cleared the checkpoint.

I heard him shout out in a loud voice and the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked. Instinctively, I leaned sideways, making sure the seat was protecting me as much as possible. I wasn`t being stupid. The police was known to shoot to kill if they feel they were going to be deprived of their collection. The rider might as well have been deaf. He sped on till we came to a junction. He slowed down and turned into a dirt road. Here, he was forced to slow down. The road was narrow and cars were parked immorally (not illegally) on both sides of the road. Truck pushers seemed to favour the road and at times we had to follow them step by step until we could find a way to squeeze ourselves past them.

Instinctively, I looked behind us. If any of the policemen had taken it upon himself to come after us, he would have gotten hold of us quite easily. But then, they must have been too absorbed with collecting the twenties to think of coming after us and the drivers seemed to know it.

We came to a wide junction and the driver paused. A big Mack passed. He jumped in and crossed the road. He turned left and we drove for a few minutes.

You can stop here, I said, reaching for my wallet. He slowed down and parked. I gave him two hundred naira bill and got out.

One of these days, this rotten piece of metal would be your grave, I said and walked out.

He drove away quickly. It occurred to me that after he had told me the fare, he didn`t utter another word.

I looked up at the building where our office was located. It was the top floor of a one—storey building with a leaking roof. The building was located in one of the oldest parts of the town`s civilization. Along those parts, you find cement shops, Peugeot spare parts, chicken feed shops and the like. It was quite a busy area.

Just that sometimes, I thought it was the wrong neighbourhood for our kind of business. Small business people hardly have cause for private security. I would have preferred the GRAs and the industrial areas but we had to make do with what we had. Not that business was that bad anyways. I wasn`t complaining but I couldn`t say the same for Emeka.

I crossed the gutter and started towards the stairs. I ran up as I read the sign EMOK SECURITY SERVICES with an arrow pointing upstairs. I followed the arrow. Emok sounds spiritual, right? It`s not spiritual anyway. My partner`s name is Emeka and mine is Okechukwu. We simply took the first two letters of our names and joined them to get that. It would have been Okem because I had wanted my own name to come first but it sounded more like a law firm. Emok sounded better, wouldn`t you agree? It made you think something extraordinary was protecting you. Something spiritual.

The top floor was a flat that was divided into four unequal parts. We used two parts— one for Emeka and I, the smaller one for our secretary, Nneka. The other two parts were used by a tailor and a computer centre. I was their customer but they never was mine.

Nneka was a small, pretty girl with wide, bright eyes and old school hair. Her make—up was basically thick lipstick, eyeliner and some light powder. She always wore beads to work, even cultural ones but somehow it never looked awkward in the office. I`d say she was 22.

She gave me a smile as I walked in.

Good morning, sir, she said.

Good morning. How was your night?

Her smile widened.

Fine, sir and yours?

Slept like a baby. What`s up with Emeka? He seems to be developing a high blood pressure.

I wouldn`t know. He has seemed nice all day. But then, wear your bullet proof while going in.

I grinned: Roger that.

I glanced at the inscription on the door before pushing it in: SECURITY EXPERTS. Big name for small things, I thought.

Emeka was writing something on an A4 paper. I didn`t know what it was and I didn`t care. Emeka handled the paperwork. I handled the staff. I was good in reading people. Some people anyway. That`s why I had joined the force and probably why I left. Emeka, I don`t really know why he left.

Good morning, he greeted. I searched for the irritation in his voice but it was gone.

Morning. What`s going on? I said as I went closer to his desk. He stopped writing and looked up at me with his bifocal. He was a fiftyish, short man with bald hair and squinting eyes. He had the ability to look benign when he was smiling genuinely but when it was insincere, he looked like a wolf. He had a bullet—shaped head that looked like it can take a bullet. He could look handsome depending on the tie he wears.

You didn`t plan on coming today? he said, squinting at me.

I was having a coca—cola. He paused. I knew he was smelling my breath. I never took alcohol in the morning but he had a paranoid gene.

Are you going to tell me what`s up or what? He frowned at my language. He glanced at his watch.

You arrived three minutes earlier than you predicted though, he said as if I had not spoken. That`s a good sign.

I murmured a thanks to the taxi driver.

What?

Just getting impatient.

Why that? Would you rather be somewhere else?

You bet. He ignored the sarcastic statement and said:

I got a call from the governor. My heart paused at the mention of the title, and restarted some seconds later.

What did he want?

What else could he want? To come have dinner with him?

That would be nice for a start. I heard they eat as if they plan to fast for a year.

It would be really bad if you`re going to be talking about him like that this early?

Why would that be? I asked, making a guess at what he was going to say.

He wants us to do something for him.

Wow, that would be really nice. Did terrorists blow out his secret service?

No.

Then, what does he want with us?

What do you mean ‘what does he want with us?’ What do you think he would want with us?

To have dinner with him.

He shook his head in irritation.

He wants you to come to the government house tomorrow morning. The time is nine 0` clock.

I grinned: What did you tell him?

What did I tell him? I told him you`d be there by seven if he wants.

Come on, I said in a light tone. Where`s your pride? A client doesn`t just call you and tell you to come to his place that`s about two hours away—through treacherous roads with deep gullies and armed—robbers— the next day and you agree. Couldn`t you just tell him we`re busy and hence, he should make another appointment?

Emeka refused to see the joke in that.

We`re in security business, bro. We`re supposed to be on two—four—seven. Do you get that?

He paused and looked down on his table. When he looked up, his face was more serious. He gestured towards a seat. I knew what was coming. I obeyed. This was not the time for wise cracks.

We`re partners and all but you know I brought in more into the building of this outfit than you did. I gave up more for it than you did and even right now, I put in more into it than you do. But then, you have the youthfulness and the vibrant nature that we need to get certain things done here. You also have a gift for reading people. I saw that in you right from the start and that has been helping this outfit more than you realize. I`m saying this so you`d know your little efforts are appreciated. I held my breath as I waited for it.

But, he continued. "You have to step up on your game. There`s a somewhat slack approach you have towards certain things. It does not help us in any way. I would have gone ahead to mention examples but I hope a day wouldn`t come when I would.

We`ve been praying for a big break and something tells me this is it. This could be the time when our clientele would be made up of top brass politicians and big business men instead of retired directors and local government councilors. This could be our break and we`re going to take it. He squeezed his hands into a fist as he said that.

I nodded to show he wasn`t wasting his saliva.

Yes, we`re going to take it and that would depend on you. It would depend on what you do there, the impression you make on the governor. That would determine if we`ll become big—time or if we`ll remain small—timers.

I nodded slowly again and said: What does he want with me?

He didn`t say.

And you didn`t ask?

Who cares what he wants? We`re talking of the governor here. A man who has immunity from prosecution. What matters is that he wants you and you`re going to be there.

But can`t you make a guess? I mean I want to know what to prepare for.

Who says you`ll need any preparation? All you need to do is go in and listen to what he has to say, you come back and report to me. Then we`ll decide on what to do.

Sounds fine with me.

"This is not just fine. We`re in for the big bucks here. We could charge whatever we want. These guys are rolling in money rugs. We could charge in multiples of what our original charges are. Times twenty or fifty. He would pay without sweat, they`re stealing us blind for chrissake and have forgotten the value of money.

But we have to handle it right. You talk to him with respect. No wise cracks, no sign of unseriousness. Remember we`re in security business, not a comedy outfit; Whatever he wants you to do, don`t say no", that would be hitting the nail into our coffins. Do you get that? A six incher into our coffins and there would be no getting out. These guys hate it when you say ‘no’ to them and they don`t forget.

Despite the poker face you`re putting on, I know what you`re thinking. You`re thinking this could be the big break we`ve been waiting for and I assure you it is. Handle it right and you could retire at forty if you want.

You don`t have to tell me all these. I know the governor has an unforgiving heart and a short temper.

With long arms. One slip and he would make sure you get it no matter where you run to.

I nodded impatiently.

Did he sack his security? I still wanted to know something about what was going on.

Are you crazy? That man needs military men to protect him. Do you think he would call a bunch of retired cops to protect him if there`s any need for security. If that happens, he would be dead before the day runs out. He`s not so popular in the state and so many people would like to see him croak.

I nodded.

He gave me a list.

I believe any of these could be the reason he has sent for you.

I read through it.

We would need a lot of help to handle any of these but what if it`s something not on this list?. Something like what?

Something criminal.

I hope it wouldn`t come to that but whatever happens, I know one thing for sure, I want the governor`s money in my pocket.

We worked at it for the rest of the day, making up our minds on how we`ll go about the business of the governor. When we were done with that, we switched to the other matters at hand like the councilor that said he wanted three more men. We considered how we`re going to get that much men in the shortest possible time.

When the time hit 5p.m, I stood from my table. I was as hungry as a starved cat. I stretched as much as my bones would let me and glanced at Emeka. He was still writing some stuff. I knew he was not getting ready to go home.

What`s up? What you writing? Without looking up, he said: Trying to get us some new customers.

I went closer.

How we doing with money?

We`re fine for the moment but I don`t know for how long. We`ve got to pay the staff soon and I don`t know if we have that kind of money now.

I leaned forward and patted his shoulder

Don`t worry, everything would be fine. I`ll do what I can to get us this job and when we do, we wouldn`t have to worry about little things as this.

He looked up at me with his squinting expression.

I hope you`re right. I just hope you`re right.

Brighten up, bro. The world is not coming to an end.

It sure isn`t, he said and turned back to his work.

As I walked briskly towards the door, he stopped me with a signature clearing of his voice.

I turned to look at him.

He said: Be careful. If there`s ever been a moment I want you alive, it`s now.

I grinned at him.

Don`t worry, I replied. Anything that comes to kill me, I`ll gladly give it directions to come get you.

Nneka was applying another layer of make—up in preparation for going home. She paused in her chore and stared up at me.

You`re going, she said.

Not yet, I replied. There`s a party in that hall over there tonight and I won`t miss it for the world provided you`d be there with me.

She giggled.

You`re not serious. A party in that two by two room?

That`s being taken care of. We`ve called Julius Berger and by the time you step in there by evening, you wouldn`t recognize the place.

So, where are you going?

Shopping of course. You wouldn`t want me attending a ball with you dressed like a school teacher, would you?

That would have been perfect, she said as I stepped out of the office to the stairs I had come through.

The traffic