The Bad Samaritan

Chapter Thirty One

159 The Bad Samaritan Chapter Thirty One T he H/M heard about the meeting The BS held with the chiefs. He heard about the poor entertainment they got. He heard that some chiefs had regretted attending the meeting and had said openly that if The BS’s politics was a politics of moralization, he should enter the priesthood. With that, he knew The BS’s position was weak. So, three days after the meeting, he sent envoys to all the chiefs of West Bassiland inviting them to a meeting to prepare for the inauguration of the office of the ruling party. Most chiefs thought that was a test to their resolve to abandon the ruling party. As such, they boycotted the meeting but sent low level representatives. The H/M felt extremely disappointed. In opening the meeting he blamed the chiefs for subjecting themselves to the manipulation of unproductive forces. “In politics people are never categorical about issues. People adjust themselves as things evolve. For example, if one’s hen loses all its chicks to a kite, it doesn’t mean that when it starts laying again its eggs should be thrown to the kite. His Excellency, the Honourable Ndolotane himself will come to inaugurate the office. So, whatever questions or grievances our people have against him, they will have the opportunity of expressing themselves to him. I believe it is imperative for the people of West Bassiland to receive him in pump and pageantry. Villages should organize dances, people should wear party uniform, and a day before the event, each village should send a team of women to Kole to help in the cooking. Cooking would be organized according to village groupings. There would 160 Charles Alobwed’Epie be five cows – one for the dignitaries, one for NW, one for NE, one for SW, and one for SE villages of West Bassiland. After the inauguration and departure of the dignitaries, there would be dance till day break.( TDB)” The attendants carried home the message to their respective chiefs. “Amue,” chief Nkume addressed chief Ntongwe who was paying him a visit . “The ways of politics are like spittle in the mouth; even if one does not intend to swallow it, circumstances force one to. I would not have liked to attend the inauguration the H/M is inviting us to but I have an interest there. The other day, Ngwene told us that the H/M intends to move the Head Quarters of West Bassiland to Kole. I want to hear whether that is what he and the incumbent are calling us for. I want to hear it from the horse’s own mouth.” “I believe it is necessary for us to attend the inauguration. To fight an enemy effectively, we must know his tactics,” chief Ntongwe responded. Although the chiefs did not meet to discuss their reaction to the inauguration, each decided to attend. So, all of them were there and some of them saw The Western for the first time. The Honourable Ndolontane and his entourage arrived on time. The M.C. introduced the occasion and led in singing the National Anthem. Then he asked the H/M to make a welcome speech. “Your Excellency, the Honourable MP for Pekuguba Division, The Sub-Divisional Officers of Lebmot and Tonye, The Lord Mayors of Lebmot and Tonye, Your Royal Highnesses the chiefs of West Bassiland, Religious Authorities, Illustrious sons and Daughters of West Bassiland, Ladies and Gentlemen, 161 The Bad Samaritan It gives me singular pleasure to welcome you all to this our beautiful and peaceful land West Bassiland. I pray to the All Mighty God who brought you here safely for this occasion, to take you back safely after the celebrations. Today is a new dawn for West Bassiland. West Bassiland is joining the bandwagon of our great and powerful political party. West Bassiland today presents her symbol of unalloyed loyalty to the national party, and in all humility and respect, asks His Excellency, The Honourable MP for Pekuguba Division, to inaugurate it himself. Your Excellency, all protocol respected, West Bassiland has always remained loyal to our great party. Unfortunately she lacked a concrete structure that could proclaim her unflinching loyalty to the party. We all know a structure was not necessary in the days past when there was no adulterating indoctrination, that is, when the West Bassiland man was one man. But today, in...