Rulers and Preys: Reflection

By Ajagbe Ayodeji

Reflection: Rulers And Preys stars a student politician Comrade Oluwatimileyin Turner, Chief Whip, a cynical, manipulative politician determined to become President. He is willing to use every secret he knows, every pressure point he can find, and every dirty trick in the book to secure his own rise to power-and in the process confirms just about every dark and terrible thing you thought you knew about politics.

The author, Ajagbe Ayodeji drew on his extensive real-life experience in student politics for the book, and the result is an electrifying vision of how exceedingly violent governing can be behind closed doors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Mar 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9783969313558

Book preview

REFLECTION:

RULERS AND PREYS

AJAGBE AYODEJI

REFLECTION: RULERS AND PREYS

WRITTEN BY

AJAGBE AYODEJI

[e-mail]

ISBN: 978-3-96931-355-8

Verlag GD Publishing Ltd. & Co KG

E-Book Distribution: XinXii

www.xinxii.com

logo_xinxii

COPYRIGHT (C) 2021

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author or publisher.

Text copyright © by Ajagbe Ayodeji

Lincoln's Art copyright © by Olalekan Olapade

Published by:

COMMUNE WRITERS INT’L

www.communewriters.com

[phone]

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This book wouldn't have been possible without the help of my editor, Miss Mutiat Mustapha (Enigma). Thank you for editing and proofreading the book.

My gratitude also goes to Olalekan Olapade for the awesome book cover design, and Kehinde Alade for taking his time to arrange the book.

I want to acknowledge the DailyPress Team for their unending support; my uncle- Oluwadamilare Bode Adewuyi-, who never ceased to amaze me with his endless support and words of encouragement; and Micheal Akintayo, who constantly encouraged me to get that book done. I can't thank you all enough for being my unrelenting sources of inspiration.

I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to friends who helped in advertising the book and who also gave detailed and constructive comments on the book. Friends such as Aremu Sodiq, Adeyemi Feranmi, Oluwatumininu Fetuga, Gbadamosi Hussaynah, Odeyemi Oluwabukola, Bello Busayo, Felix Chinonso, Irhodia Kehinde, Adeosun Esther, Odu Samuel, Oderanti Olamilekan, Ajagbe Olajumoke, Adeoye Comfort, Olowodara Oluwapelumi, Jatau Sarafina, Adesoye Zhullaykha, and Akin Ajagbe, for their wonderful support and guidance.

Special thanks goes to those who also worked on this book but whose names were not mentioned.

Thank you.

DISCLAIMER

This is presented as a work of fiction. All incidents, dialogues and characters- with the exception of some well-known historical and public figures- are products of the author's imaginations and are not constructed as real. Where real-life historical or public figures appear, the situations, incidents and dialogues concerning those persons are fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the fictional nature of the book. In all other respects, any resemblance to persons, either living or dead, is purely coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep...

What the hell is that noise and where is it coming from? I groaned, then hissed when I realized it was the alarm. I groped the bedside drawer in search of my phone and quickly pressed the mute button. I looked at the time to see that it was 6:50am.

I jumped up, the last bits of sleep clearing away from my eyes.Oh, shit! I have an appointment with the Deputy Speaker and the President at the Facultysecretariat today. I exclaimed.

I hopped out of bed and had a quick shower, went straight to the wardrobe to retrieve a shirt and the French suit I got from France during the last sessional break. Looking at my phone screen for the second time that morning, I saw it was now 7:15am. Trust a guy to get ready in less than 30minutes.I quickly straightened my curly hair to avoid issues with the security men at the school gate, got into my car and drove out through the hostel gate.

I drove into the secretariat few minutes later and met with the secretary.

Hi. I'm here to see the Deputy Speaker and the President. I greeted with a smile.

Oh. Good morning, Comrade Timmy Turner. The President is not available at the moment as he had to travel to Osun for an important function at the Obafemi Awolowo University, but he will be back before noon. The Deputy Speaker is around, though. she replied with a smile.

I nodded my thanks and headed to the Dep. Speaker's office. I used the stairs since the elevator was faulty and met so many people on it, it seemed like they had all chosenthat day to visit the secretariat. On getting to the third floor, the cool breeze on my face and the smell of an air-freshening product on my breath indicated that I had gotten to the last floor. I walked slowly into the reception to see dozens of people seated there: some corporately dressed as expected by the University management while most were dressed in contrabands, especially the ladies in clothes that revealed their cleavages.

What is your name? The receptionist asked as I approached her.

Oluwatimileyin Turner. I said drumming my fingers on her tabletop.

Okay, please do have a seat. The Deputy Speaker will attend to you shortly.

I nodded and took a seat at one end of the various lines of chairs. I was deep in thoughts when a sweet, feminine voice disrupted that. My head shot up immediately and the owner of the voice met my gaze.

Please, send the souvenirs to my office for distribution and, erm... I'm going to need you to forward some mails to the Office of the Faculty librarian, Comrade Hussaynah. Comrade Bashirat, the Welfare Director said, her gaze never leaving my eyes. I found the strength to break free from her gaze and looked down at my hands instead. The receptionist she was speaking to nodded in acknowledgment and began to type away on her computer like someone who was about to miss a deadline.

One after the other, the visitors left as soon as their needs were met. As it was getting late, I started deliberating if I should return to my hostel and make the visit an unofficial one.

Finally, the last guy to go in came out with a bitter-sour expression.

Hello, sir. Comrade Timmy Turner is still around. The receptionist announced on the phone. You can go in now, she said to me, and sorry for the delay. she added pitifully.

I stood up slowly from the seat and walked towards the Dep. Speaker's office. The office was bigger than I had imagined, and well furnished. Frames housing the pictures of the Governor of Kwara State, The University Vice Chancellor, and the Dep. Speaker himself hung from the wall beside a table on which his awards were kept. A plasma television was made available to entertain the official as well.

"As-Salam Alaykum sir." I said, stretching out a hand for a handshake.

"Walaykum Salam. the Dep. Speaker- Honorable Ridwan- replied, while taking my hand for a shake in his, smiling all through. Please have a seat, Comrade." I sat on the chair placed directly opposite his. He brought out my file and began to look through it.

Wow! So you've worked as a Campaign Manager for the former Faculty President? he asked, impressed. "You did excellently well. In fact, I must commend you for a job well done. I was just an honorable in the House back then and, uh, I've always wished to see you. AlhamduliLlah, here you are."

Thank you very much sir, I'm humbled. Erm, I have actually come to see you for something else, sir, and I'd love I if you can help me, I started, looking quite troubled.

What's wrong, Timmy? You can talk to me about it

Actually, I am aspiring for the post of the Faculty President. I was told that there are two other aspirants from my department already, and a total of five in the Faculty. This greatly troubles me as I do not think I can ever make it, I said, feeling bad.

Ha-ha, funny you! Is that what has been bothering you? he asked amidst laughter.

Is that not enough a reason for me to be bothered, sir? I asked rhetorically.

You see, Timmy, I want you to see me as a colleague and not as a politician this time around. I won't lie to you, this year’s election will be hard, as it will be a battle of survival of the fittest because we have the best of the best aspirants campaigning against each other. Friends are turning against each other because of the fight for power. This year, we have the likes of Comrade Tolu from MCB Department, Comrade Maleek from your department, Comrade Mujeeb from OVS Department, Comrade Feranmi from ZLY Department, but to mention a few. The post of the General Secretary is quite occupied too,so I won't even advice you to take up any form for now. I can only advise you to accept the offer to be an Ambassador for the Faculty, he paused, cleaning up sweat from his face.

Ridwan, I agree with all you just said as I am not oblivious to things happening in the Faculty. I know I've messed up by not attending stakeholders’ meetings, but I want you to help me with your power as the Deputy Speaker and bring me into the picture. I know you're in the best position to speak to both the Speaker and the President on my behalf.