Chapter 1: Wahala No Dey Finish

After working overtime for two straight months just to secure a major project, I decided to take two extra days off during the May Day holiday, using my annual leave. But when I came back, the company demote me say I no show face for work.

Omo, the thing weak me. I just stand for office corridor dey look space. The AC no even dey work, sweat dey trickle for my back, but cold pass my heart. You know that kain moment when breeze just blow your head empty? Before I gree believe am, I go straight to HR to argue my case. Person no fit chop this kind injustice and keep quiet.

The HR manager just looked at me sideways, with one kind yeye smile:

"The company no dey do well now. Everybody dey work overtime, but you—na vacation you go dey take? The sales department no need lazy supervisor like you. If na your type full office, we for don close shop tey-tey. Your chop money go suffer, make e serve as warning to others."

Her tone carry that classic Lagos office wahala. The way she talk am sef, na as if I dey beg her for loan. If you see her face ehn, you go know say na trouble. I nearly hiss for there.

But I clearly followed all the proper process, and before the holiday, na she even suggest make I take two days off.

As I dey argue for HR office, I dey remember everything step by step. I gats remind her say I follow all due process, so she no fit run me street like say I be JJC. My mind just dey boil.

Anger just dey boil inside me, I wan talk more—

My chest dey hot, my hands sef dey shake. Before I fit talk, something for my spirit just calm me make I observe well. E get as e be.

Then I noticed the person wey replace me na the new intern.

The way dem arrange everything, e no just gel. Na so I notice the person wey dey my former seat—na that intern wey never even sabi run sales meeting without help. My spirit just dey shout: something dey fishy.

I look his surname—same as the HR manager. The way dem dey close ehn, everything just clear for my eye.

For Naija office, once you see that kain closeness, e get as e dey go. I sharply check his file for table—surname dey, even the way dem dey yarn, body language, everything just dey speak family.

That moment, I understand wetin dey happen.

E just hit me like slap. Na connection. Na me dem use do stepping stone for pikin wey get person for management. My mind vex but I no show am. As e dey hot, e dey clear—this country na who you sabi.

Dem just use me clear road for person wey get connection.

Na so office life be for here. If your papa or aunty no dey inside, better shine your eye. My chest heavy, but I refuse make dem see say the thing pain me reach bone.