"Ada, they're coming" Mgbeke, Ada's neighbour, came running towards her at the farm. Yelling at the top of her voice.
Ada straightened her back from the ridge she was making on her farm. She looked far into the distance and adjusted her hat made with palm fronds. The sun that hovered above Umuoma that afternoon was like a stubborn guardian. She wiped her sweaty face with the back of her palm. Her skin was proof of the years of tilling the land her ancestors had nurtured first and handed down to her.
"Who's coming?" She asked, confused.
"Chief Okechukwu and his thugs’' Mgbeke replied, breathing tiredly. She supported her weight on her knees.
But instead of showing fear, Ada smirked "Let them come,” she replied, her voice steady as a rock. She still stretched her neck to see who Mgbeke was referring to.
Soon they were in sight. A convoy of black, heavily tinted and scary-looking SUVs drove down the dusty road, kicking up clouds of dust in its wake. Just the way the owner was known to kick up problems and oppression to the weak villagers.
They came to a halt in front of Ada's farm. Their screeching tyres sent dust to Ada and Mgbeke's eyes. From the largest vehicle, a man who reeked of arrogance, entitlement, and pride stepped out of the car. His golden chain and shiny wiped shoes competed with the glow of the sun.
"Ada my sister. How are you?" His croaky voice echoed.
"Watch your tongue. I'm not your sister anymore. Your relationship with me died the day you put your eyes on the only thing our father left for me," Ada raged, her eyes screaming fire.
"Adannem o" Chief Okechukwu called her respectfully by her full name. “You're the one that's stressing this issue. I'm just trying to make your life better by buying off this land from you and building my company on it. A company I even promised to make you the manager. We’ve been over this again and again" His hoarse voice echoed.
Ada was boiling within her. Not minding the security details Chief Okechukwu had around him, she wished to pounce on him and yell into his ears that she wasn't selling. She wondered why it was so hard for her younger brother to understand that.
Ever since he travelled to the city and made his ill-gotten wealth. He has been suppressing everyone around him with it. Taking away their properties forcefully, and bribing the community Chiefs with large sums of money so they would look the other way.
Ada's hands tightened into a strong fist but she took a deep breath. She clenched her teeth.
"Ada, maybe you should think about it. I mean, this stressful life is not what you would want forever," Mgbeke chipped in, her voice showing signs of doubt.
"Shut up! How dare you? This is my only inheritance in a land that barely remembers women when sharing their father's properties, and I'm not giving it up," Ada rebuked Mgbeke immediately, still standing firm on her words.
Chief Okechukwu laughed, a deep, condescending sound that sent chills down Ada's spine. “You’ve always been a stubborn woman, I’ll give you that. But the thing here is that the government supports me. So no matter how you fight it, you can’t win.” Chief Okechukwu turned and opened his car door. He put his head in and returned with a blank check. "I'll be kind enough to give you an open check. Name your price and just sign the papers. I’ll pay you enough to start a new life anywhere you want. You can't fight this Adannem.” he groaned wickedly, handing Ada the check.
Ada slapped the check off his hands and walked closer to him.
"Okechukwu, I’m not fighting you. I’m only protecting what’s mine. If you want this land, you’ll have to take it from my dead body" Despite her small stature, she made sure to look her brother dead in the eye.
Chief Okechukwu chuckled, his eyes narrowed. He hadn't seen anyone brave enough to challenge him. He motioned to his men and stepped back into his car. Soon, they were zooming away, still kicking up dust just the same way they came. Leaving Ada standing there with Mgbeke and the check on the floor.
By the time Ada got home, her house was surrounded by fellow women who were experiencing similar challenges at the hands of Chief Okechukwu. Women whose farmlands were near Ada's own, and Chief Okechukwu had already marked them to be bought too. Words had spread quickly to them by Mgbeke of Ada's encounter with Chief Okechukwu.
Making sure Ada was fully settled. The leader of the village women spoke “Ada, we admire your courage, but Chief Okechukwu is powerful. If he brings his thugs here, he'll...”
“He already did,” Ada interrupted, her voice steady. “And I'm sure he has already bought your loyalty to his side too." Ada stared at the women leader deep in the eyes. There were silent murmurs.
Jittery and with body language that tells how guilty she was. The woman leader tried to save herself. "Ada, how can you say such a thing? He just gave me small money to take care of my kids and husband. My loyalty is still with the Umuada....." she stammered
Ada interrupted her again, "Save yourself the stress, woman. What you sow that you shall reap." She paused and turned to the other women. "As for my brother, he’ll keep bringing his thugs until we give up. But this land belongs to all of us and we won't give up. If only we stand together, he can’t intimidate us.”
There were whispers of agreement rippling through the crowd. But still, the women were scared and hesitant until Mgbeke finally stood up and stepped forward, her voice strong.
“Ada. I'm ready to stand with you. Tell us, what do we do?”
Then another stood up, joining the battle and before Ada knew it. The women gathered in her compound were ready to fight for what belonged to them.
Ada’s eyes lit up excitedly. “We fight for our rights. Tomorrow is the council's meeting and Chief Okechukwu will be there. We'll match to that meeting and demand our voices be heard. If Chief Okechukwu wants a battle, we’ll give him one he won’t forget.”
Just as they agreed, the villagers marched into the council hall the next morning in their colourful attires. Ada led the charge, and in her hands were placards that spoke against oppression from the wealthy. Her followers weren't left out either. They were all chanting freedom chants.
Hearing the chaos going on outside, the council Chiefs all trooped outside to see what was happening. Chief Okechukwu was in their midst. He was flanked by his hefty guards and his lawyers. He wore a smirk that dared anyone to challenge him.
Ada raised her hand to silence the angry women, and then she spoke. First, she talked about their community heritage, the history of their land and the fight their ancestors fought to protect their land. She talked about how they lost their great warriors in the battle against the neighbouring village who wanted to take away their lands from them. All because the lands in Umuoma were more fertile than any other land in the nearby villages.
Then she likened all that to the oppression from Chief Okechukwu. She presented documents proving her family’s ownership and exposed Chief Okechukwu’s attempts to forge papers that would make them relinquish their lands to him. With the claim, it was from the government. She also talked about how some community Chiefs have been receiving bribes from Chief Okechukwu to frustrate and chase them out of their lands.
There were murmurs amongst the council Chiefs. All eyes rested on Chief Okechukwu and the community Chiefs.
"You don't need to believe these my Chief's. She's just a daughter of our community who doesn't welcome progress on our land. As we all know, progress requires sacrifice!”
Ada, not backing down, yelled back "Progress doesn't mean erasing our history, our livelihood just for your selfish gains!"
The council decided to use a few minutes and deliberate on the matter. And after a few minutes, they came up with their verdict.
"We ask Chief Okechukwu to desist from forcefully trying to take the lands away from our people. The lands rightfully belong to the people of Umuoma, and if they decide not to sell it or not, he should not pressure them." The council spokesperson said. "And to everyone who has collected a bribe from Chief Okechukwu, you'll be punished accordingly, and your title will be stripped from you for trying to be a tool of oppression to our peaceful village", he added.
Immediately there were cheers of joy amongst the women. They danced and lifted Ada high on their shoulders. And in a few days to come, they made Ada their new women's leader.
