The Bad Samaritan

Chapter Eight

35 The Bad Samaritan Chapter Eight A fter choosing the political party and the position he would contest for, Esole decided to see the SDO once more. When he got to the SDO’s office, he rose, gave him a warm handshake and made him sit down. Echoes of Esole’s popularity had reached him and he was manifesting his respect for the prospective MP of the area. “Prof., or should I say ‘Monsieur le Deputé’,” he addressed Esole. “I’m glad you have come. I was about sending for you. You know my position does not warrant me to do overt politics. But blood flows in me as it does in any other person. We must lay down strategies now to destroy the incumbent Mayor once and for all. He must go. So, I want you to use every iota of your resources to start beating him from the reorganization of the party. He should lose his positions of chairman of the party, Mayor of Lebmot, and even citizenship of Lebmot. Party reorganization elections are next week. I have already inserted your name in the list as a candidate for the party chairman with the understanding that if you win, you will cede the chairmanship to one eloquent young man I shall want you to incorporate into your team. You should nominate him for Mayor. He has a good following and the two of you will surely win the hearts of the electorate. He is called Ebong Emmanuel.” “That should be the business of the party. The ruling party can reorganize its organs the way it chooses. I don’t think it will be wise for me to interfere. I am running for the opposition,” Esole responded. 36 Charles Alobwed’Epie “What, Professor!” the SDO exclaimed. “Yes, the exploitation of the masses is done by people this ravenous regime has put in place. What the Mayor is doing is not different from what the Ministers and the Director Generals are doing. The whole set up is a fief of thievery, kleptocracy at its peak. I can’t be part of it,” Esole said. The SDO went dead. He lost his train of thought and stood transfixed for a very long time. When he recovered from the shock, he told Esole he could not believe what he had said. He advised that Esole returns to his house and think over the matter overnight. He would believe him only the next day. If he came and confirmed that he had not made a mistake, he would take him for his word. The next day Esole reiterated that he had not made a mistake. He had opted for the opposition because the salvation of the country could only be done by the opposition. “Which party have you chosen?” the SDO asked greatly disappointed. “The Serious People’s Deliverance Party (SPDP).” “The party that provoked riots after the last Presidential elections that it claimed it had won but was deprived of victory by the Minister of Territorial Administration? The party we have been instructed to regard as enemy number one of the country? That party is in our red books? Professor, what is the driving force behind your decision?” “The nation, our loving and beautiful nation.” “This nation? This nation is your driving force? What a farce! Terrible!” “Yes, This nation, the shrine of our forefathers.” “Professor, I believe you have been misled by unknown forces in town. Please return and tomorrow we shall review your stand.” The next day, Esole told the SDO that he was the master of himself and there were no forces that were in control of him. 37 The Bad Samaritan “Then to be frank with you, you can’t win elections here. You can’t win in spite of your popularity. We shall prefer a nonentity member of the ruling party to defeat the incumbent than a genus from another party to beat him.” “So be it. So, you know the results of elections before they are held?” Esole asked with a frown. “Professor, look, not all secretes are secrets. It is an open secret that I belong to the SPDP. I militate in the party but I can’t make you win here. The Senior Divisional Officer, (SDO) himself a member of the SPDP can’t make you win here. That is true. See, in the last election, wherever the opposition won, both the...