When I returned from Europe in 2012, I went to Abuja to see a then serving minister with whom I developed a relationship when I was abroad.
I sat in his living room and his househelp came to ask what he could serve me.
He returned to the kitchen to bring non-alcoholic wine and the rest. But before he got to the living room, my host was already sitted chatting with me. He heard his househelp’s footsteps and asked him what he was doing in Hausa language.
The poor help told him he was bringing drinks for him. He shouted at him to return the drinks to the fridge saying I’m not the type of visitor who should be offered drinks. The help quickly did as instructed returned the drinks to the fridge.
Unknown to him, I pretended as if I didn’t understand what he was saying.
I did not allow his utterances to cause disaffection between us.
I continued to respect and promote him in my newspaper.
Last month, he called and informed me that his daughter was deployed to Ibadan for her mandatory NYSC scheme.
She needed accommodation, I asked him which area of Ibadan. He said she was deployed to ring road, former NEPA office.
I said I have a building in that area that has been locked up for years now. I gave him the number of the security in charge of the place.
Two days later, the man called and asked me to see him if I’m in Abuja.
I drove straight to his house at Asokoro. He was at his door waiting for me.
I was surprised and asked whether he was expecting a visitor. He said, “No, you are the one I am waiting for.”
Humm, me, I don’t know what his daughter told him!
Before I sat, he asked me what I would love to drink.
Whaoo, the same drink he denied me a few years ago.
So, we started gisting and he asked if I have a house in Abuja or where do I normally stay whenever I am in Abuja.
I told him I have a place.
He said he was asking me this question because he wanted to sell his house and relocate to his village in Kebbi State. But he needs to pay bank loans and his two sons got admission into a university in Dublin through a scholarship but need to pay for accommodation.
I told him not to worry about accommodation in Dublin because my family is there and all our children have moved to England after completing their university education.
So, there are vacant rooms for his children to stay.
About his bank loan which he said he had N10m outstanding,
I asked him to be patient and will get back to him.
I left with no clear idea on how to raise ten million for my friend. I started drawing patterns in my head, then drove to one of my Oga’s houses. I told him that I wanted to go and see my family in Europe and as usual, he gave me 20k dollars.
I ran back to my friend and give him the $20k that my Oga gave me.
He started praying for me, he called his wife. I told them who gave me this money and he should direct his prayers to him and his family.
The lesson of this story is never to look down on anyone because you are in a position of authority.
Let’s treat people with decency.
©Aare Wole Arisekola.