There is nothing more intoxicating than power. My phone had been ringing endlessly since I presented the projects to my godfather. Apparently, he had told some of my political party members and they in turn had told some people. Now everybody wanted to be a partaker. I stopped taking their calls when the first three people said the exact same thing as if they had rehearsed before calling.
Source
"Mr Governor, I see the good work you're doing in our state. Weldone. So this your school project, what's the update? Has the money been released?"
I thought I was understanding the game of politics until I realized I was swimming in neck deep water with completely selfish and self centered people. When I had initially spoken to my godfather about the project, he had listened carefully without cutting me once.
"Baba I want to build at least one standard school in each local government. Then I've looked at the major roads from our state into other states and even into towns, they're horrible. I want to construct those roads as well."
My godfather was an intelligent man, the major reason I submitted myself to him. He wasn't like the other politicians who spoke from their bellies instead of their heads. His bulging eyes stayed on me as I spoke, he nodded a few times in agreement to some things I said, but when I was done, he cleared his throat. A sign that he too had something to say
"Errr…Bamidele Austin, You're a good man but you are not superman. How do you want to achieve what no governor has achieved for the past 16 years in this state? let me tell you what will happen. When that money is released, you will appease all the stakeholders in the political party. Then keep for your family and future generation. The bible says a good man leaves an inheritance for his children".
As he gathered the folds of his large outfit and walked out of my office, I rested my elbows on my mahogany table, covering my mouth in shock. It was in this position that my wife came to meet me.
"My Governor" she did that mock bow of hers and took the seat my godfather had just risen from "is everything okay?"
She was as shocked as I was after I relayed everything to her. "So what are you going to do? You know how sneaky these people are. They can make sure you lose the election next tenure".
I sighed deeply. Losing the next tenure was not the challenge, the challenge was that according to the statistics that had been drawn up for me, there were only 4 good schools in the entire state and none of them belonged to the government. These schools were extremely expensive and only children born into elite families could afford it. What about the poor and average?
The major roads leading in and out of the state were a complete eye sore, making traveling a nightmare, then some over bloated bellies were seated and waiting for another chance to become even more bloated while the children of the people we taxed heavily were dying in penury.
"I know what to do" I suddenly said aloud. My wife was listening attentively "I'm going to call the minister for construction in this state and discuss what it would take to get those schools done in record time. The roads too"
"But my husband, how will you deal with these insatiable men breathing down your throat?" My wife's beautiful face was etched with genuine concern for me, seeing that made me smile.
"The schools and roads would be built simultaneously. Before they know what's going on, there would be 10 standard schools and 4 major roads in this state"
I knew what was on my wife's mind, those projects were seemingly impossible to achieve within record time but I had a plan. It wasn't until three months later when the projects had commenced that my godfather reappeared in my office
"Bamidele Austin, you think you can bite the fingers that fed you?" His bulging eyes bulged with rage "the entire political party is calling me to rain insults, because of you, a small boy I helped to success…"
" Baba, I paid my dues too, besides, I am only fulfilling the propaganda I promised my people. I am not superman but I am an honest man"
"Look at this mad person" he spat bitterly in the Yoruba dialect "you see this drama you have started, I hope you can keep up with the consequences." He walked out slamming the door.
My head was in my hands when my secretary called and informed me that I had someone come to see me.To my greatest surprise, it was our party vice chairman. He was one of the most respected man in the country. I rose to greet him.
"Governor Bamidele," he began when we had taken a seat "You are one man I admire and I am proud of. You know, when you came in through that crooked old man you call godfather, I thought you were like them, but you just proved me wrong. I want us to work together for the betterment of this state."
"With all due respect sir, I am not going to share the money for this state's project with anybody." He threw his head back and laughed hysterically
"Do I look hungry Bamidele? I just want to make sure you don't falter due to the pressure from those miscreants".
My heart swelled with gratitude. At least there was one man who could look beyond himself and have compassion for the people suffering out there. I then realized that If everyone was as selfless and compassionate as this man posed to be, the world would be a better place.
