Chapter 6: Hope No Dey Finish

I reason am. If I really hand over my work, dem go get reason to stop my commission.

Na this kind Naija wahala dey teach person street sense. I gree think am well, dey calculate all the risk.

If I refuse, dem no get excuse. If dem stop my pay, I fit go council while I still dey work. Since everything don burst, nothing much to lose.

I dey plan am well. For this country, you gats dey two steps ahead.

That afternoon, when Halima come for handover, I no talk anything.

Halima stand there, look me, then waka commot.

Her face look pity, but I no blame her. Na job she dey protect. Even for Naija office, everybody dey run their own race.

After small time, Mr. Tunde and Halima come together.

Their face serious. Na so dem dey always do when dem wan act official.

"Ifeanyi, wetin be all this?"

"Nothing. Make una no do as if una no know. If una no assign me new work, why I go hand over anything? After handover, una go still pay my commission?"

I dey look both of them, no dey smile. For this kind wahala, smile dey encourage people to use your head.

I don see am clear. Mr. Tunde and HR dey together for this plan—dem decide am before oga even hear.

Everybody dey form team, but na for themselves dem dey play. For Lagos, na every man dey hustle for him pocket.

"Enough. Wetin you dey drag? I don send formal email to all your clients. From now, Halima go handle your business. All projects na Halima get am. You no dey involved again."

His voice loud, like say na court order. For my mind, I dey wonder if e sabi how I take build all those client relationships.

These people no get shame. All these years, I drink anyhow for client dinner, follow dem go suya joint midnight to entertain client, plan holiday for client family, even snatch client from competitors. Now everything stable, dem wan dump me.

E pain me as I remember all the times wey I risk liver for this job. Sometimes, na Okada I go enter midnight, just to meet client. Even small small gifts I dey carry go client house for Sallah and Christmas, just to keep business moving. Now, see as dem dey treat me like pure water sachet.

As Mr. Tunde commot, clients begin call me to ask wetin happen. I explain small, client quiet. After, he say:

"Bros Ifeanyi, your company matter—I no fit involve. If you need, I fit help recommend you for another job."

I thank am, hang up. For client, whether na Ifeanyi or Halima, as long as dem get wetin dem want, dem no go fight for you.

Na so life be. Whether na hard work or drink together, when e reach money, nobody go put head for you.

Even if you save person from rain for Lagos traffic, when company matter enter, na everybody dey cover own head.

Mr. Tunde no fit help, client no fit help.

Everybody dey look their own side.

Now everything don set. Mr. Tunde don start forced handover. E be like say I no get choice again.

For this life, dem fit use style chase you comot, but as long as person dey alive, hope still dey. My papa dey always talk say, 'One door close, na two dey wait for back.'

Na so dem go just push me commot like this?

For this Lagos, if dem push you, you go land for another place. I dey tell myself, 'Ifeanyi, e never finish, e never finish.' Tomorrow, I go show dem say Naija man no dey break easy.

All the business wey I build with my sweat, dem just snatch am—see as life be.

As I look outside office window that evening, I dey tell myself: for this Naija, if you no get strong mind, dem fit use you do groundnut paste. But me, I no go gree. As I dey pack my small things, I dey reason say tomorrow na another day—Naija no dey carry last.